Hey folks,

So forget my "Hop Up?" post.  How do I fix my problem?

Problem:

For a while, the bike didn't run as the spark plug kept turning black.  I pulled the carb, thinking it was running rich at 4200 feet in CO, and I still have the stock jets in there. When I put it back in  did not adjust the idle mixture screw.  I installed a new spark plug (ignition) wire and half of the coil, which comes with that wire, as well as the high tension seal and SP cap (the old one was at 22000 Ohms, the new at something like 20 Ohms.  Ran great... for 5 days.  Now It is hard to start and won't idle without some throttle, and even then it is definetly missing.  I ahve not had a chance to check the plug, but will do so tomorow; I assume it is black.

It is a 97. I got it in "02 with about 8000 miles, and I've ridden it pretty hard (cross country twice... had to have the timing redone after that). It now has 21000 miles on it.

So, Idle mixture screw, seals, what?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

KS

This sounds like the carb slide is hanging so the needle  does not regulate the main jet at lower rpms properly - a little of the MM oil or a very light dose of castrol tts 2-stroke (1/2 oz or so in the tank) lubes the slide - but it needs to be real clean -dirt and junk can/will build around the top of the slide near the diaphram-  I had an air leak due to loose clamps on the carb that was letting it suck in unflitered air when I first got the '95 that had the slide dirty and it would do what you describe - and self induced once when working on the spacer I had oil/dirt on my hands and on the slide it went - same problem came back.

By the way I assume your slide is coated - how much of the black coating is worn off the slide  ?

The slide sticking is actually fairly common on late model vacuum slide carbs, regardless of who made it. You can polish the slide with a dirty dollar bill and smooth it out pretty well. Then just add some 2 stroke oil or ATF to the gas, every tank.
-WD