My bike is running very rough, it takes almost full throttle to get it started, dies when I idle down and lags when given gas.  If a bike is running rough in this manner can anyone tell me if it is running to lean or too rich.

ill try that.  ive run a few tanks of gas through it though and the problem persists.

You can waste your money on SeaFoam, or any other additive, if you think it will make you feel better. But it won't make your bike run better. It won't clean your carb, it won't clean your spark plug or your air filter, and it won't improve your love life. You are going to actually have to find and fix the problem instead of attacking it with a magical snake oil.

For a start, remove the fuel line either from the petcock or the carburetor. The fuel line is the larger of the two lines. With the fuel valve in ON or REServe, fuel should not flow. With it in PRIme, fuel should flow (be ready to catch it). Put the petcock back in ON or REServe. Remove the vacuum line. This should be dry inside. Apply vacuum to the petcock. Fuel should flow. Remove the vacuum, flow should stop. If the fuel flow is correct, reattach the lines and move to the carburetor. If it isn't, your problem is the petcock or screen.

Charon wrote on 10/29/08 at 15:56:32:


Do you have something to back this up or is it just your opinion?

  charon when did you use SEAFOAM last,just wondering,Last time I seen it work was 4 days ago ,cleaned up a 4 wheelers carb,the 4 wheeler was bogging,cleared it right up in fifteen minutes,You can also put it in the crankcase,cleans up the valves,try it you'll like it.

Did you check the vac line that runs from the starboard side of the carb to the back of petc0ck - it should not have any gas in it at all

Given the description, if it were me I'd pull the diaphram/slide out of the carb,check it for holes and clean it - sure doesn't take much dirt, oil or what have you to make it sticky - it has to slide free.

i would clean up the idle circuit jets and midrange jets since the high speed range seems operational. if it is the low speed side of the carb you might want to consider an inline filter. if you are going to use carb cleaner do not use it near orings. some might cry foul but i use kerosene and wd40 as a solvents to clean carbs. there more friendly to modern rubber materials.