Almost forgot to mention, I tested the compression and got just above 155psi.

savage_joe wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


Is the problem, that the bike won't idle?  Okay, the first thing that you always do, is only change one thing at a time.  That way you can go back to where you were.  I mean, if it won't idle then why change the spacer?  They aren't related.

Black plug?  Flames?  Put everything back the way it was and start over on the carb....are all the hoses connected correctly?  No leaks around the carb to intake mount?

Lancer, I got your PM and I am thinking about buying a carb.

I do want to get it running with the stock carb so I have something to compare it to.

The idle is my main issue right now.  The idle mixture screw does not seem to effect the idle.  The pipe has black smoke coming out.  I think everything is sealed up good, no air leaks.  Just keeps stalling.  How long can you run these air cooled bikes without running into heat related issues.  It started up good when cold with no choke at all and it idled ok for the first few minutes, then it wants to stall.  Any ideas?  Thanks...Joe

Ok, small update.  I tried pulling out the choke a bit when the bike is idling rough and it seemed to smooth it out some and bring up the rpms.  I also do not see any difference when adjusting the idle mixture.  Could this be a blocked or partially clogged pilot jet?  Thanks again for the help.  Joe

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


I sent you a PM, do you prefer a PM or keep adding to this thread?  Thanks...Joe

I am getting gas, and it is clean.  
The floats also seem to be operating ok.
I do want to keep the airbox in there as it is also the mounting point for the side panels.
Just to note I have a 47.5 pilot jet, and I have noticed most people on here and the newer bikes have a 55 pilot jet.  Could this be my issue, too lean on the pilot circuit?  With a too small pilot jet would it be next to impossible to see any difference when trying to adjust the idle mixture screw?  This mixture screw is pretty goofed up to from being stripped out.
I do not think it is flooding out due to the floats or anything.  

I am tempted to go pick up a 55 pilot jet and try that out to richen up the idle circuit.  

Let me know what you think.  Thanks...Joe

Yes, I did buy it this way, and the previous owner put the mac pipe on it, and goofed around with the carb, and even tried another carb from an 86, then put it back on and sold it to me as his wife just decided to buy a newer and larger bike.  So, I really do not have a "starting point".  I do understand your thinking as you really have to change only one thing at a time to be certain what changes are causing what results.

Yes, I checked the float vent tubes with petcock on PRI.  I also pulled the carb out and verifed the float needle and seat are sealing good and working properly with the bowl off and the gas hooked up.  Not sure about the level, but it is not flooding out the carb and I do not believe the float is low as the bike idles good with a bit of choke on, and the choke is drawing fuel from the float bowl also.  Also when I remove the carb from the bike, a decent amount of fuel is in it.

Idle mixture screw was pretty well stripped when I got the bike  Looked in and saw two small triangles instead of a flat slot, hence why I asked what kind of bit it took, as I was hoping it was a special bit instead of being a badly stripped flat head.  I tried to remove it with no luck, as it gets to a point where it just spins and spins and does not come out of the bore enough to grab it with anything.  I can manage to adjust it though, just takes a little patience and a nicely sharpened flat head.

I picked up a 55 pilot jet (the only one they had in stock) and may give that a shot tonight.  I'll let you know if I find the time to try it out.  I do have the 1/3rd spacer in there right now also, and I do not see the decel backfires anymore (which it did bad with the stock white spacer in the carb).  Also to note, the previous owner told me he took the white spacer out, yet it was in there when I opened it up.  They also told me they had tried another carb (from an 86) and had raw fuel leakage at idle once and promtly switched the carb back to the 87 stock one, they probably tried the 86 carb without any white spacer explaining the fuel leakage they experienced and I have read about on here.

So, I hope I answered all the questions you asked, and probably a few that you didn't.  Thank you very much for your assistance, it is greatly appreciated.  Joe