'82 LS Running Poorly

[Bob_Roller]

I was going to take my '82 LS out for a ride yesterday afternoon .

Pushed the bike off to the side for a few months, wanted to get some electrical work done and haven't had a lot of free time since I got back from vacation the third week of November .

I ran the carbs dry took the float bowls off and emptied the remaining fuel, drained what was left in the tank .

Yesterday, I reinstalled the battery filled the tank with fresh fuel .

First problem, the right carb overflowed, removed the float bowl, turned the fuel on to flush any debris that may have been in there out .

The fuel lines were replaced in November, both carbs were rebuilt and synched afterward .


After getting the fuel problem corrected, the bike was difficult to start, probably 'flooded' the right cylinder, finally got it started, did not want to idle without the 'choke' on, took it for a short ride around the neighborhood and the engine ran quite unevenly .

The engine ran perfectly when it was parked .

I'm kind of at a loss as to what happened .

[Luca]

That it doesn't run off the choke is a sign that at least one cylinder is starved for fuel.  Since you had a float needle fail to seal, and since the carbs were recently cleaned (varnish takes a while to build), I'm betting there is a piece of debris in your right pilot jet.  A partially clogged jet will also affect the carb balance, hence the uneven running.

Should be able to take the jets out and clean both of them without removing the carbs.  Just be careful with the o-rings that are on the jets.   As to the source of the debris... do you have a fuel filter installed?  What's the condition of your petcock screen?  Adding fresh gas to an empty tank likes to stir up all the crud at the bottom.

::edit::  i meant clean both pilot jets, left and right

[montmil]

Bob, If I don't go out and start our little Chinese pit bike scooter, the pilot jet clogs and I have to strip the Bing-looking CV carb and hit the jet with some carb cleaner. Nothing but a vacuum fuel shut off on the little rascal.

As you do, I keep all my bikes on a battery tender. I also make it a point to either ride 'em once a week or, at least, crank 'em up.

Fuel delivery seems to be your issue. Might have been remaining fuel in the lines or debris from dried hoses. Something simple, it is. Annoying, too.

[Bob_Roller]

I wasn't in the greatest frame of mind yesterday, that's the reason to take the bike out and 'clear my head', it was a nice 75 F. day .

I'll take a clearer look at things today when I get home from work !!!!!

Like you said, it's usually something quite simple, you just have to find it .

I've got an inline fuel filter, so nothing in the tank got through .

I'll remove the bowls on both carbs and take a look to see if any small holes are plugged, only removed the right one yesterday .

[Bob_Roller]

I went out after work today to work on the bike .

I started it to see if it still was 'acting up', the engine started and ran fine today, WTF !!!!

[montmil]

Simple. She was toying with you 'cause you've neglected her needs.

Oh! I forgot. Bob's a bachelor. Must be something else.

[Bob_Roller]

Got a few hours of work on the LS on Saturday .

What I found, is that there was no fuel in the left carb, after running it in the garage for a few minutes, I inadvertently put my hand on the left cylinder, to get up off of the floor and the cylinder was cold .

Removed the float bowl and found no fuel in there .

Removed the carb disassembled the float and needle valve, cleaned it with carb cleaner .

Started it up after reinstalling it, now it starts and idles, but 'dies', when the throttle is opened .

I guess I need to clear all of the passageways on both carbs with carb cleaner .

Trouble shooting from the Bing manual, says an idle circuit is most likely blocked .

[montmil]

Maybe remove the mixture screw, then the small brass jet. You may find the blockage right there. Turn on the fuel and flush the circuit. Could possible escape the full carb disassembly.

Luck to ya!

[Bob_Roller]

Well, I think I found my problem .

I purchased fuel line from a NAPA store close to me in September last year and installed it in November when I rebuilt the carbs .

I looked at the pleated paper fuel filter I have installed, it was black on about half of the filtering element that I could see .

Removed the fuel lines and took them back to the store that I purchased it, with the sales receipt .

They looked at the line and said it was faulty, they got a bad batch of fuel line around the time I bought mine, it was vacuum line that was mislabeled as fuel line .

They replaced the fuel line and gave me two cans of carb cleaner, no charge .

It's refreshing to see a bit of good customer service nowadays .

I have everything back together, but my battery is discharged, starter solenoid is just chattering when a start is attempted, need to let it charge up and see if I have solved my running issue !!!!!!

I pulled both carbs again and found debris in both float bowls and both idle jets were clogged .

A bit of a good learning experience !!!!!!!

[montmil]

Well, I think I found my problem. <snip> I pulled both carbs again and found debris in both float bowls and both idle jets were clogged.

[smiley=clap.gif] Yep. Something simple. Usually is.

Now, if this had been a "modern" $20K sporty bike, you'd have it trailed to the dealer and get a $600.00 ticket for a clean n' tune.

Ain't Airheads great! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Bob_Roller]

After I got that accomplished, the engine still wasn't 'right', better, but not right .

I noticed on the new fuel filter, when I turned the fuel on, it only ran for a short time .

I've got the same filter on the '81 R65 and when the carbs are dry, the fuel runs for 30-40 seconds before stopping .

On Saturday when I had the carbs off, I checked the float levels and found they were off buy a bit, so I adjusted them both .

While I was adjusting them, it seemed like I wasn't seeing any change in the angle of the float, with the adjustments I made .

With the float bowls off, I turned the fuel on and pushed the floats up, to see where they shut off, they shut off way too early, adjusted them to where they deliver the same level of fuel in the bowls, as my '81 does .

Problems solved, it appears, ran out of time  today to take it out for a ride, but the engine runs like it did, when I got done synching the carbs .

[montmil]

Be sure and check the float needle and seat for debris. That flaky, incorrect fuel line may have left behind a little Easter treat for you to hunt.

[Bob_Roller]

I removed the carbs and sprayed carb cleaner through all of the passageways to get rid of any rubber bits .