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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Newbie here with questions about weird idling
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Message started by TerranTino on 07/16/14 at 10:50:53

Title: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by TerranTino on 07/16/14 at 10:50:53

I've been lurking for about 2 years, figured I might as well officially join.

Purchased my s40 in Savannah, GA after a lovely lady from New Jersey totaled my vespa. The Vespa was a 1963 and I did all of the maintenance myself. I'm no star mechanic, but carb cleaning was not completely foreign to me. That being said, I'm still incredibly air headed sometimes, and apologize if this post causes excessive face-palming .

First! I've tried tuning the mixture screw and playing with the idle, while always making sure to stay at relatively high rpms. However, any day the weather is below 70, she just wont keep a steady idle regardless of how long I let her warm up with the choke half out. Infact, the engine flat out stalls, and then will only start up again with the choke in and lots of throttle. I read that this could be a carb problem, so that brings me to my second question!

Because school kept me so busy, I was resorting to sea foam for a quick cleanse rather than removing the carb entirely. I finally pulled out my carb a few days ago, and it didn't look too bad. only part that was even remotely dirty was the upper part of the carb, housing the (excuse my ignorance) big black rubber bowl thingy with the needle in it. I blasted the jets and carb with cleaner, wiped it all down with a microfiber cloth, Reinstalled the carb, and possibly sealed my doom when I set the gas lever thing to "Prime"? The engine spun and spun but would not start. I checked the screw at the bottom of the bowl to see if the gas was flowing, and it sure was. Emptied the bowl, tightened the screw back up, set the gas lever to "ON", and got the engine to start! Buuut it's not idling now.

And I forgot to mention the fun part, I spent so much time trying to get my bike to start, that I might have drained my battery, because the starter is spinning noticeably slower than before.

Save me you Savages, you're my only hope!

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by Dave on 07/16/14 at 11:14:23

Leave the petcock in the PRIME position and try removing the vacuum line that goes from the petcock to the carb, and plug the vacuum port on the carb. It could be the vacuum petcock is leaking air or fuel into the carb in a place where it is not supposed to be leaking.

Other than that...it sounds like something is wrong with the Pilot Circuit and not allowing fuel to flow properly.

And a low battery can make the bike impossible to start - however it should idle properly once started.

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by jman on 07/16/14 at 11:22:01

310A0710010D16100B030E11620 wrote:

I second the petcock issue. From what you're describing, it sounds very similar to what my wife's bike does when the petcock is in the "On" or "Reserve" position.

I'm just waiting until I get paid on Friday to order a Raptor petcock.

Direct swap, except you have to plug the vacuum port on the front right side of the carburetor. $26 from Bikebandit.com. Here's the link:

http://www.bikebandit.com/search?q=5LP-24500-01

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by TerranTino on 07/17/14 at 08:01:03

It ran perfectly with the petcock on prime and the hole on the carb plugged up! New petcock has been ordered. However, now my battery is dead and the starter wont spin anymore.

I've never had to work with a battery before, do I need a new one, or can I charge this one?

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by Dave on 07/17/14 at 09:15:50

0426353C352A6260500 wrote:

I've never had to work with a battery before, do I need a new one, or can I charge this one?

No way to know over the internet. If you try to charge it, and it doesn't hold a charge....then it is time for a new one.

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by Serowbot on 07/17/14 at 09:28:00

Since it was cranking okay until you ran it down,.. I'd guess the battery just needs charging...
Use a charger with output of 2 amps or less... (some higher power car chargers have a lower setting that you can use, but don't use full power on one of them)...

You can also use a car battery to jump a bike... but, never have the car engine running when you do it...(again the output is too high)...

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by TerranTino on 07/17/14 at 13:34:54

Just purchased a battery tender that should do the job. I feel like a 12 year old charging up his RC car battery, running downstairs every minute only to be greeted by a red light.

Thanks for the help guys!

Title: Re: Newbie here with questions about weird idling
Post by verslagen1 on 07/17/14 at 14:30:09

Many have said that a "battery tender" might not be capable of charging a m/c battery.

Although I see the brand "battery tender" has a few models that say they can.

So you might check to see if the model you have is capable of 1.25 amps (as noted by battery tender)