Engine Troubles Pt.II

[awaffa2003]

ok i'll give it to you straight people. after having my bike idle close to redline and making my headers glow red i figured that there was something wrong, i figured that this something was my idle set screws and they were screwed all the way in. i backed them out 1 1/2 turns, my baby purred like a kitten.

now today, i started her up and all was well exept my right cylnder was backfiring like no other and the bike kept shutting off. after a few restarts, i cranked on the throttle and the mother of all backfires blows the carb off the jug and into my leg. after i realize that my leg is not shattered, i notice smoke coming from the offending orfice. after hobbling over to my toolbox, finding a screwdriver, hobbling back to the bike, and putting the carb back on, i started the bike. now only my left cylnder is working (big surprise). i pulled on the right throttle cable to no avail.

shortly after i shut the bike off in utter disapointment, my right carb starts spewing gas...i think its the float bowl gasket, it shrunk a while back during a full carb cleanup and then i dipped it in gas to let it expand again but i dont think it was ever the same. i might treat myself to some silicone gaskets that i found at  http://www.realgaskets.com/files/motorcycle.htm.

[Justin B.]

Save your money and use the cork gasket.  If gas was dumping out of the carb then it means the float is not shutting off the gas flow or the level is set too high.  Tank your lucky stars that you barfed a carb in the privacy of your garage instead of in front of a couple of jap riders.    But, they did seem a bit envious of the BMW tool roll and the speed with which the carb was reinstalled...  How did your idle screws wind up in that condition, somebody messing with ya?

[awaffa2003]

ha no the idle screws, that was me...i forgot to back them out after putting my carbs back together.

so i still don't know what to do, is this a carburation problem or is it a engine problem? is it the gas? new floats?

[MrRiden]

ha no the idle screws, that was me...i forgot to back them out after putting my carbs back together.

so i still don't know what to do, is this a carburation problem or is it a engine problem? is it the gas? new floats?

It is an exorcize in trouble shooting!
Did you leave the gas petcock on overnight?
Did you absolutely verify the float level was set correctly and have a second party verify it. Sounds rude but I was so darn sure I'd set my floats right the first time I never rechecked them. Had someone with a lot more Bing experience check & adjust 'em and the problem I had was solved.
rich

[awaffa2003]

LOL i didn't even know the floats could be set. how would one go about doing this?

[Bill90Loyale]

Harrison - Allow me to respectfully suggest that you connect up with some local airheads for a "tech" session.   You might find this to be not only fun, but a good way of getting to know the bike.   All airheads have a similar set of quirks.   Post your location, and I'll try to come up with a couple leads for you.

[MrRiden]

Harrison,
Here is a quick and dirty explanation. http://wiki.airheads.org/index.php?title=Carburetor_Floats#Adjustment
rich

[Ed Miller]

You can also get an inexpensive book from the Bing Agency on setting up your carbs.  I find it worth owning.  When confusing, weird stuff like you described happens, I've given up on trouble shooting and just start over with the basics.  For me anyway, it's faster.

[awaffa2003]

since last time i wrote, my right cylnder still isnt working. i switched the carbs around to see if it was a carb problem but the right side still doesn't work. next i'm gonna check and adjust my valves and spark plugs if they need it, after that, i'm all out of ideas.... also gonna get some new floats and float pins.