After loaning my Savage out for a few days, it came back running bad. After a new  plug, it would start and idle good, but didn't want to take any throttle. It would just stall, unless I used the choke. Once underway, it will run very well, till you stop and come back to a idle. I also replaced the white washer with one half it's thickness. The brass plug is out of the carb, and when screwing it in, I get the engine to slow down, but can't get the throttle to respond off-idle no natter how many turns out I go. I need some ideas or thoughts on the pilot jet. Has anyone went to a larger pilot jet to get the motorcycle to respond. Would this be a symptom of a plugged pilot jet?  BTW I have a sportster muffler on it, but have had it on for over a year, with no ill effects, other than the annoying pop under decelleration/ between shifts occasionally. Am running a stock air filter, with no mods to the airbox. Also, I found some(2oz) old gas in the box drain when I removed the plug. Any help appreciated. BTW, it's a 98 model.

 Had the carb off the bike. Carb was immaculate inside. Pulled pilot fuel jet, it was clean. Double checked the diaphram with a light behind it, it was as new. I don't completely understand the CV part of the carb. There are 2 air jets under the diaphram area, manual mentions only one. Anyhow, on another thread, it mentions cleaning the slide. Just wondering, if the symptoms I'm experiencing could be some sluggish movement in the CV unit/slide itself? How should it react if iewed with the engine running, pulsating, steady, and what is it supposed to do when the throttle is whacked open. Is this cv carb the reason the motorcycle don't require a accelerator pump, like the SR500?

Have you made any progress with the carb?  With the symtoms you discribed, running before lending the bike and then problems after you got it back, runs a bit better with choke on...most likely something is blocking the passages in there.  If you have it apart you should take all the jets out of the carb body and blow out the passages with compressed air.  If you do not have air, then very carefully use tiny wire (with the plastic insulation still on it) of plastic toothpicks, or something similar, and run all the passages to make sure they are all clear.  Then check the float for any holes, or evidence of it leaking.
Give it a try, it's fun and satisfying!!

Beware The dreaded demon carbon build-up!