what to do 77 kz1000

my ride has sat for a month.i wanted to go for aride but it will not idle.i don't think that the gas would go bad that fast.called around and everybody said rebuild the carbs,at about $300.00.what can i try?

kzbasket wrote:

my ride has sat for a month.i wanted to go for aride but it will not idle.i don't think that the gas would go bad that fast.called around and everybody said rebuild the carbs,at about $300.00.what can i try?

if it s only sat a month the carbs should only need a light cleaning, if at all.pull the bowls and spray the jets with carb clean....check the plugs...if old...put in a new set..
battery good?....if you dont get 12v across pos and neg with a volt meter set at 12v or higher, battery is toast..
a toasted battery will do funky things.........

Try some fresh gas and add some seafoam.

Gas will not set for any time now. Roy

x2 on the seafoam.

It sounds like, while your bike was sitting, some water got into the system. Either by rain or condensation. This can cause small particles to build up in the float boles. In turn this can clog your pilot circuits. I would drain the float boles first, to remove any garbage. Thai I would poor some 99% Isopropyl Alcohol in the tank. About a pint per 5 gallons of gas. Slosh it around to allow it to absorb all moisture. Isopropyl is the only Alcohol that will mix with water and gas at the same time. I would install a good fuel filter in the fuel line between the tank and the carburetors. Remove your float boles and clean out your pilot jets with carburetor cleaner. If there is gunk in them it must be removed. Remove the idle pilot screws and blast carburetor cleaner into the openings. Then, re-install the pilot screws by seating them gently and backing them back out 1-1/4 turns. Reassemble everything and ride.

thanks for the reply
this weekend I pulled the float bowl's off,cleaned used carb cleaner on the main jets and pilot jets,blew them out with compressed air. reinstalled with new gaskets. put some sea foam in the tank about 2oz. runs better but the idle is still bad.should I put more sea foam in it ? and how much ?
thanks kzbasket

I would just wait and ride the bike to clear the plugs.

Adjust the idle up until it clears out. Roy

I have it idleing at about 1200 rpm now.put new spark plugs in it and new battery.should I just let it idle for awile or ride it.it runs great at 1/2 - full throtle

throw a can of sea foam in the rank and ride the wheels off of it!

+3 on the Seafoam.

Seafoam is a great product - but at the same time it is no magic cure.

If I was you I'd run a can of seafoam through the tank. If the idle is still rough after you're going to have to break down and clean the carbs. Likely it's just a clogged pilot jet which is easy enough to clean.

When the bike first fires up and you haven't revved it, feel the headers. Is one or two of them colder than the others?

Any reason why you can't soak the jets over night in the Seafom itself?

Seem like something I'd do anyways...

Old Man Rock wrote:

Any reason why you can't soak the jets over night in the Seafom itself?

Seem like something I'd do anyways...

you just like taking carbs apart! :laugh: