Got Any Ideas?

My bike will start then die after a few seconds. It then wont start again until a few minutes later. If i turn the choke on it will idle very high (7K rpm) and die as soon as i shut that off. 1984 GPZ 550. Bought it not running and sitting outside for awhile. Took everything apart on bike for cleaning/replacement outside of engine (had extra one from previous parts bike that worked well 1985 gpz550). I am trying to get it running for the first time. 

Things I have tried:
-Checked spark plugs. Little fouled. Good blue spark at each.   
-Have auxillary tank hooked up with clear tube so i can see good fuel flow. Check fuel at each bowl as well. 
-tried removing air filter, but did not help.
-checked resistance on pulsing coil plug (not sure if i have anything else to check on 85 engine?) 

About fuel system:
-TK26 carbs, non pilot plug
-Main 120
-Pilot 32
-Air adjustment screw set to 1.25 turns out
-butterflies bench synced with paper a piece of wire
-floats set at 7mm +- 1mm
-brand new cmsl stock airbox
-the four vacuum ports are plugged for gravity fed fuel source. 

I have been able to revive a couple bikes in the past but this one has me a bit stumped being that the plugs get fouled and damp but the choke keeps it running but at a very high rpm. Let me know if you have any ideas. 


 

I dont know your carbs fuel level spec but are you sure it is right? 7mm sounds like alot.And about the 4 plugged vacuum ports.Does the petcock have a vacuum opening if it has and there is no vacuum hose from a carb plugged in it it will shut off fuel .

sorry did not read the post good enough i see you have a separate tan hooked up

How old are the head to carb rubber manifolds, it sounds like the choke is compensating for an air leak

According to Kawasaki service manual.

Could be. They were quite hard. I soaked them in very hot water then used silicon spray just to get the intake side of carbs to fit in. The clamps didnt seem to tighten down much either. Will give that a shot and report back. 

Rolf1976_KZ900 wrote:

I dont know your carbs fuel level spec but are you sure it is right? 7mm sounds like alot.And about the 4 plugged vacuum ports.Does the petcock have a vacuum opening if it has and there is no vacuum hose from a carb plugged in it it will shut off fuel .
 

He's not using the stock fuel tank at the moment so the petcock shouldn't be an issue: "-Have auxillary tank hooked up with clear tube so i can see good fuel flow. Check fuel at each bowl as well."

Yes i read that later so i was going to edit my post

Tried spraying around the intake boots, but no change. Not ruling that out, replacement boots on the way as we speak. Ive tried spraying around most the carb without any change.

The bike turns over, lets out two or three puffs then dies. Holding the choke about halfway allowed it to keep running for about 10 seconds very weakly. Also, if i walk away for a few minutes and come back it with usually run for a few seconds longer than the usual two or three puffs. Fuel burning off? But then why would choke keep it going?

Buffalo515 wrote:

Tried spraying around the intake boots, but no change. Not ruling that out, replacement boots on the way as we speak. Ive tried spraying around most the carb without any change.

The bike turns over, lets out two or three puffs then dies. Holding the choke about halfway allowed it to keep running for about 10 seconds very weakly. Also, if i walk away for a few minutes and come back it with usually run for a few seconds longer than the usual two or three puffs. Fuel burning off? But then why would choke keep it going?

If it has an air leak then it won't draw fuel, the choke gives it the additional enrichment

Ahhh gotcha. I will replace boots and clamps, then see how it works. 

If you have not done so as of yet I would suggest you  check out the info a passed member here posted about the carbs you have.  s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/TK26mainPage/TK26mainPage.html

He has posted some very interesting info on the TK carbs, as well several other things.

Okay replaced intake boots. Took carbs apart and blew out every port/jet/passage I could find with compressed air until I could feel the air coming out of its respective outlet. Can see a nice uniform clean passage on each jet. 

Still not running. Check for vacuum leaks spraying ether but no leaks appear to be present. 

Checked resistance through ignition coils and that I had visual spark at each plug. Gapped to spec. 

So what happens:

If will just crank and crank. Seemingly a bit weakly. If I spray some ether in the airbox it will start for a second or so if I turn the choke on, but not without the choke on. The rpm’s will raise very high in the second of running but shut off right away. 

I’m at my wits end.