TOPIC:

I haven't bee to the twins forum this summer and its not loading for me. I hope its not dead?

This always happens to me when I go to do a tuneup. My idle has been funky lately, dieing out when I'm at stop unless I give throttle, and idling too fast if I increase the idle. Today I checked the plugs and adjusted the points to spec. I wanted to get the idle set right at about 1300 before checking the timing, but I can't. It kept dying out when it would warm up and I'd close the choke. I tried increasing the idle as I closed the choke and it would still die ad and now it barely starts either. When it does start, I go through the same sequence and it dies again and won't start. I seem to be making matters worse.

At least it was running before I started "fixing" it. Help? Should I have set the timing first and then adjusted idle? What am I doing wrong? Not all that bright mechanically but I can follow directions

could be a carb problem, do you have in line fuel filter ? how does the inside of your fuel tank look ?
Pete

Also could be a vacuum leak from old carb holders,
you can check them while the bike is running, spray some starting fluid or w d 40 around the carb holders & see if the idle changes while spraying
P.S. ...don't be smoking a cigarette while doing this
Pete

carb holders are only a couple years old. besides wouldn't that make it race? I had what I thought were carb problems for years when I got this bike. I'd clean and reclean over and over and nothing ever changed. I found out my problem was that the screws holding my points plate were stripped and didn't hold it fast. Now I always suspect timing before carbs.. I'll check the fuel filter but its pretty new too.

boots are good. tank looks good and the petcock flows freely. Changed the fuel filter and still have the problem. It will only start cold, and and I can't open the choke even when hot or it dies.

What to do?

82KZ305Belt wrote: I haven't bee to the twins forum this summer and its not loading for me. I hope its not dead?

RIP

check fuel levels with clear tube. If high, will idle like crap.

82KZ305Belt wrote: I found out my problem was that the screws holding my points plate were stripped and didn't hold it fast. Now I always suspect timing before carbs.. .

check timing advancer and make sure it is operating right.

but if it were high fuel levels wouldn't it run better with the choke open?

Anyway I finally was able to keep it running once tonight while I went back and forth between opening the choke and adjusting the idle. Finally got it at a steady 2000 rpm idle (didnt want to take a chance with it lower) with choke open, set the left side timing and decided to call it a night. If it will start tomorrow maybe I'll be able to set the idle where it should be and check the advance.

Yes it appears to have died several weeks ago, But did anyone see it coming, and archive it for reference at least? This is a real shame.

bountyhunter wrote:

82KZ305Belt wrote: I haven't bee to the twins forum this summer and its not loading for me. I hope its not dead?

RIP

Insufficient valve clearance (i.e., too tight valve or valves) can allow starting a cold engine, which may idle okay momentarily, but runs progressively worse as it warms, and at normal operating temperature won't idle.

The correct "cold" clearance is designed to allow the valves to fully close in their seats at normal operating temperatures (where the gap is less than when cold, due to heat expansion).

Good Fortune!

Patton wrote: Insufficient valve clearance (i.e., too tight valve or valves) can allow starting a cold engine, which may idle okay momentarily, but runs progressively worse as it warms, and at normal operating temperature won't idle.

The correct "cold" clearance is designed to allow the valves to fully close in their seats at normal operating temperatures (where the gap is less than when cold, due to heat expansion).

Good Fortune!

I'm interested in this comment. I have a 305 also. It goes pretty well but the idle is never consistent. Generally it idles faster when it's warm.

So Patton, when setting valve clearance, if I have two feeler gauge leaves within spec should I go smallest or biggest? It's winter here and I'll ride any day there is no frost. So the engine warms up from being very cold. Maybe there's something in the valve clearances causing the inconsistent idle other than carb tuning?