Got it started but i have some questions...

Well, i finally got it to start and idle with half choke today. My 81' KZ1000 is on its way back to life. Now i have to go and get some fuel line from the auto parts store tomorrow with my mom. The old hoses are stiff and cracked. The only way it would start is if you put your hand over the carburetors while cranking it over. After it starts, you can take your hand away and let it run on half chock. It won't run without chock or else it will die. Well, It runs, but its runs really crappy. It revvs up to like 5000 RPM on its own and then drops down to 2000 then revvs back up to 5000 again. It won't stay at a steady idle and it does the revving all by itself. As soon as you give it alittle throttle, any at all, it dies. whats the issue sound like to you guys? I just cleaned the carburetors but like a dumbass, i had to hear it run so i hooked them up last night to try and get it to pop and i didn't put in an in line fuel filter. The gas in the tank was old but i think it was clean. I THINK... whats wrong with it? Also, im going to get it dyna jetted possibly... What does that usually cost?

Kitten Tooth wrote:

...After it starts, you can take your hand away and let it run on half chock. It won't run without chock or else it will die. Well, It runs, but its runs really crappy. It revvs up to like 5000 RPM on its own and then drops down to 2000 then revvs back up to 5000 again. It won't stay at a steady idle and it does the revving all by itself. As soon as you give it alittle throttle, any at all, it dies. whats the issue sound like to you guys?...whats wrong with it?....

Would suspect dirty carb pilot circuits plus air leaks.

Good Fortune!

+1 on the air leaks. Get her running and spray carb cleaner around the carb holders, I'm betting you'll hear an idle change as the cleaner temporarily seals up the leaky carb holders. New ones are available from z1enterprises. Also, did you put any intake on it? Or did you start it up with open carb throats? Without some intake filtration, either airbox or pods, you're likely way lean which will make it idle high on it's own a bit as well.

air the carb holders the manifold boots that connect the carbs to the motor? Also, i ran it without any airbox or pods, wide open on the intake side. Thats why i was wondering how much a dyna jetting would cost so i could get pods and it would be set up for that.

It's not going to run without air filter.

I installed the pods that came with the bike and it didn't make a difference...

you didn't clean the carbs good enough the pilot circuits are still messed up. and plugged thats why it is able to run with the enrichner on. and it wont with it off.and also just to fire it up and run it you don't need the filters on if it runs better when you have your hand over the throat of the carb then it is lean for sure. so that tells me you still have plugged passages in the carbs. how did you clean them in the first place.

Kitten Tooth wrote:

After it starts, you can take your hand away and let it run on half chock. It won't run without chock or else it will die. ///It revvs up to like 5000 RPM on its own and then drops down to 2000 then revvs back up to 5000 again. It won't stay at a steady idle and it does the revving all by itself. As soon as you give it alittle throttle, any at all, it dies. whats the issue sound like to you guys?

A giant ass vacuum leak.

Did you make sure to connect or plug the vacuum tube inlets? That could be the source of your lean condition.

timebomb33 wrote:

just to fire it up and run it you don't need the filters on

? you mean if its jetted for pods right?

No bike I've had is rich enough to run stock jets/off choke at idle without the airbox and filter installed.

Everything from air filter to exhaust end must be air tight!
Check valve clearances.
Clean, filtered fuel.
Check timing.
New plugs.
Check fuel/float height.
Mixture screws to 1.5 turns from lightly seated.
Change oil.
Charge battery.
etc.

that was another thing with the mixture screws... They are loose. They have those springs in there to keep them tight but they just don't seem right. I'm tempted to buy a whole new set of carbs. My dad owns an 81'KZ1000 as well. His runs great and is stock. The carburetors on my bike might as well be KZ1000 carbs but they are really 1982 KZ1100 carburetors. They have KZ1000 jets, mixture screws, gaskets, needle, and seat. I made sure to plug all of the extra vacuum opening that were for stuff on the 1100. I'm going to pull the carbs off of my dad's bike which are stock and put them on my bike and see how it runs. I'll put his airbox in too.

Kitten Tooth wrote:

that was another thing with the mixture screws... They are loose. They have those springs in there to keep them tight but they just don't seem right....

Don't know if applicable in this case, but some pilot adjustment screws are supposed to have an o-ring.

Just guessing that possibly a missing o-ring could cause the screw to be loose.

Good Fortune!