about to lose it with the carbs....

[yclept1132]

Not sure if it's purely out of frustration, or maybe the gas fumes are contributing....

If been through the carbs more times than I can count. Currently running:

TBR exhaust
Unipods
158/42 front
155/42 rear
RC30 needles (looked like the ones JD posted in one of the other threads)

Bike idles for <1 min. and then dies, sounds almost like it isn't getting enough fuel. Been through the floats more or less every time I pull the carbs just to make sure they're not the problem but I could be wrong. I'm also noticing that there's some white fumes coming out of the carbs when the engine quits. Any suggestions/tips/help greatly appreciated.

[yclept1132]

I also just realized looking through the shop manual that I'm missing the spring behind the needles. I'm guessing that probably has a lot to do with the problem...

[Copytech]

What do your spark plugs look like? Are they wet or dry after it dies?

[Doc]

I also just realized looking through the shop manual that I'm missing the spring behind the needles. I'm guessing that probably has a lot to do with the problem...

The big long 8 inch spring behind the needles? Yep that would do it.

[yclept1132]

No, I've got the big 8" spring that holds the slide in place. I'm missing the really small one that holds the needle in place inside the slide.

Haven't checked the plugs recently. They were getting flooded/covered with carbon deposits a little while ago, but it's been a couple days of adjusting float valves/jetting/etc. since then. I guess I know what I'm doing tonight...

[hawkLer]

Are your fuel pump and relay working?

[GTR647]

Are your fuel pump and relay working?

had the same bugger over here but that was because of a electric problem that fried half the bikes elektronics (Pump, Fuel relay, rectifier, coils)

[yclept1132]

Pulled the plugs after it died a couple more times last night. They weren't wet, but definately covered with carbon. Not sure if it's because of when it was running rich earlier, or if it's still running rich, but I'll see after I put them back in tonight.

Fuel pump and relay are both working.

[squirrelman]

maybe start with fresh plugs..........remember that your main jets, needles are irrelevant at idle;only float level, mixture screws, and pilot jets affect idle speed running.

have you checked to be sure you don't have stuck choke cable(rust not uncommon) and that the choke valves are fully returning to the OFF position??

if your air filters are excessively oily it could cause your problem, but first verify that your fuel pump is sending fuel to carbs.

as for those little missing springs, they are on a very wide range of carbed bikes, Honda and others, but i'd try using a spring from something else, maybe a click-type ball point pen, hardware store, etc.

[yclept1132]

Thanks for the tip squirrelman. I'm pretty sure at this point I'm back to what I thought might have been the problem in the first place: float height. I think my float valves might be shot.

Everything else seems to be in order other than that though. Thanks for all the help and tips.

[squirrelman]

pull out the float valve needle and check to make sure your rubber tip has no visible ring where it contacts the needle seat; in other words, you should see a perfect cone of rubber with no low spots. careful there as the rubber tip can be damaged by heavy contact. use a q-tip with brake cleaner to spin around in brass inlet valve up where needle seats, maybe remove some junk keeping valve from sealing properly....normally, the float valves last a long time, need replacement only on high-mileage bikes.

as for missing spring, i just measured one and found this: length 10mm, diameter 4mm................looks like spring from ballpoint pen would work is shortened to 10mm.

if your bike quits with wet plugs, maybe leaky float valve/s; if quits with dry plugs, maybe fuel supply, i.e., filter, pump, petcock blockage, etc.

[yclept1132]

If I'm getting a little ring around the float valve needles... replace? or just clean out the valve they seat in like you were saying?

[squirrelman]

if you see the ring, replace.
good luck!