from sealevel to 2300ft

I wasn't sure where to post this but Its engine related.
Anyway, i've recently moved from Vancouver BC to Prince George BC . I managed to get some late season riding in, after i moved up to Prince George, last fall and the bike seemed ok until my last ride, she seemed to crap out on the top end. the Bike is set up like so;
110 Mains
17.5 pilots
needle all the way on the bottem(5 slot needles)
stock airbox C/W K&N
Mac 4into 1 pipe
DynaS ignition and coils

I started her up last week after she sat for5 months, and my hesitation was still there of course. At first I thought jetting up would help, so I installed 120's, but after some researce here I discovered That I should of put smaller jets in. So I did, now the engine will Idle for about 5 mins then die, Kinda sounds like its starving for fuel after you blip the throttle a few times:angry:
i've replaced the plugs, checked my advance mechanism,replaced my petcock valve, checked my fuses, rewired the wires coming from the alternator(the plug to the reg/rec looked a bit melted):dry:
The carbs now have 100 mains and the needle on the middle clip. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated:) o by the way this used to be my daily ride back on the coast and it never let me down!:blink:

Have you checked the float levels? Sounds like that could be sticking and starving you of fuel.

oops, I guess I gotta put in my info every time I post


1978 KZ650 C2:woohoo:

I don't believe that your jets or needle setting will cause the bike to die after a few minutes of running. Look more to fuel flow issues. Before you change the carb adjustments are you looking at your plugs? Are you running lean or rich?

I'd put it back where it was last year and look at the plugs to see where your are.
KZCSI

KZCSI,
I've replaced the petcock vavle with a new one and also installed a clear fuel filter. I can see that the filter is full, telling me the carbs are getting fuel.
Each time I change the carb settings I am cheching the sparkplugs ..... each time they've been soaked, or black and sooty. The old plugs I had in last season came out looking tan.

Hey Mac,
If the bike had tan plugs last season go back and setup the carbs as they were and then figure out what part of the fuel system is gummed up. With the float bowls off can you lift and drop the floats and see them cut off and then allow the fuel flow?

Bill

Thanks Bill, I've had the bowls off and the floats seem to move freely. I think I might remove the carbs and "DUNK" them. This is the first time I've ever let my bike hibernate, I used to be in Vancouver BC,where you ride all year. Now I'm further North and east, and ice racing on a KZ650 doesn't sound like fun:silly:
One other thing, I don't have a filter on the fuel system so I may have taken in a lot of dirt etc... over the last 2 years:ohmy: :blush:


Mac

Mac...You moved from Vancouver to Prince George?!!...LOL...yup...You'll need some studded tires for Your bike,for SURE!
I lived there for a total of about 15 years(off and on)
I still get the snow where I live now...but NOT the -40 weather!!:ohmy:
What part of P.G. do You live in?

Your carbs...ya...get them all apart and do...get them into some carb-dunk for a day or 2,and clean them out good with some carb-kleen.Do You have an air-compressor?
On my compressor,I fit a rubber tip onto the end of My air-nozzle,and poked a small hole into the end of it.The rubber forms around and seals tightly,so any air that You blast will go through that orifice(watch Your eyes though...safety glasses).
Check Your needles-and-seats too,for wear,and give all of the jets a spray of carb-kleen.Stick the straw right into the openings.Compressed air will really help,so if You don't have a compressor,maybe see if a garage will let You borrow Their air-gun...OR...get Your Own air-gun and just go to a gas station that has an air hose...lol...why not!
Anyway...good luck.

As mentioned already a good carb cleaning will probably solve a lot of your problems. Also check the carb vents and make sure they’re not plugged or restricted. If they are gas won't flow into the carbs fast enough, the float bowls will empty out and the engine will die. Then while your trying to restart it just enough gas will flow in to run for a minute and it will die again, very frustrating!

You shouldn't have to re-jet right away when going to higher elevation, the bike will just run a little rich which you can take care off by adjusting the air screws. You can jet it down later if you notice the plugs are too sooty. I regularly ride from Denver 5000ft to the mountains 10000ft + with no problems, so a few thousand feet probably won't make much differace.

Hey Sandy, I'm in Miworth, I was going to "dunk" them for a day or two, pull the pilots, and just make sure everything is good and clean. I do have compressed air in the service truck as I am a Heavy duty mechanic, so I will use it liberally!

Hey Where in the kootneys are you ,I got an Uncle near Kimberly:)

mgweiss, What you described is exacty what's happening!, Not sure If it's the vent tubes ,but I've been meaning to change them anyway they feel hard and won't bend too easily: :ohmy:

Thanks guys!!
Thanks for whoever moved me over here, I know now this is a fuel problem, wasn't sure at first!

Post edited by: madmac74, at: 2006/04/07 21:48

Ok, an update,
I removed the carbs from the bike and tore them down, they seemed to be in good shape so i cleaned everything and blew compressed air through the passages. I also used some electical contact cleaner in the passages too(dries quickly, leaves no residue;) Q-tipped the seat, set the floats at 26mm and put my 110's back in. I decided to put my needles back to the 5th notch, so It was set the same way I had it before I moved:pinch:

Next, I installed The carbs back onto the bike and left the air box sitting on the freezer,I didn't feel like dealing with THAT:angry: just yet. I fired her up set the air screws, sounds interesting by the way:S .Went for a test ride.... Bike pulls good for about2-3 good cracks of the throttle, then sputters, runs on two cylinders and dies. I wait for about 5 min, fire up ride back to the drawing board:whistle:. Pulled the plugs and sure enough LEAN, so I upped thejets to 120's. Test rode again,same result, better power. Removed inline fuel filter, now the bike is rideable, but still not getting enough fuel :huh: . I do Plan on putting my airbox back on once I repair this fuel delivery problem, but I'd like to have it running well before I do this.:dry:

Recently I installed a suzuki Petcock valve from Z1.
I had to turn the vaccum casting 90 degrees to allow for fitment. Not sure if this is the problem. any one know If the flow rates are the same between the Kaw and the Zuk? I know this Is probably the longest post I've ever written here, but I'm a bit annoyed and thats never any fun:angry:

I think I found my problem. I installed the Susuki petcock and had to turn the vaccum casting in order to clear the frame. BUT I only turned it 90 degrees, so that the cast vaccum pipe was facing down , I tried it at 180 degrees,the pipe now faces the front of the bike. Went for a ride and good power all the way to red line. Ithink i need a to do the vavles though.
Thanks you guys
Mac

Post edited by: madmac74, at: 2006/04/09 21:58

Just to update this oLd thread... My problem turned out to be Electrical... My power wire for my Dyna S,was connected using a Suitcase connector( once you use one pack your suitcase because it will fail !!). Any way I soldered and shrunkwrapped the wires and all seems good now.