I have 2 problems which I think relate to the same thing:
1. Really hard to start on hot. Cold: 1-2 kicks.
2. Stalls when slightly opening the throttle from idle.
I'm a beginner mechanic not very experienced with bikes so I try to explain everything step by step.
FE 400 2002 had 17 hours and 300 miles on the clock from new.I dig her out of my mates shed, tow her round the yard and she fired up. She has been fine until I decided to give her a service at 30h, lol. Checked the valve clearances and they seemed too loose, I could easily stick a 0.15mm filler gauge under so I have set them up using a 0.1mm filler gauge. Noticed that the spark plug was black. I have also cleaned air filter (and oiled it like hell) and set up the mixture. Bike seemed much better, better response on high revs and more power, until I stalled it and couldn't get it going again on hot. It eventually started and was able to get back home. First thought - mixture too rich - leaned it out to the point when revs started dropping - and half a turn back - 2 1/4 turn from bottom position - little difference. Next - set up the valves much looser and clean the air filter of the excess oil so its almost dry now - a bit better but still almost impossible to start on hot. I have finally decided to set up the valves 1/6 turn and leave them alone(4th try), thinking that it must be fuel related.
Carb cleaned. Spark plug has a healthy pale brown color now and I can start it on hot after 5-10 serious kicks but only when I lean it so the revs are dropping down and have to compensate with the rev screw turning in,setting the revs so it idles smoothly (for some reason it doesn't seem like a right technique to me) . Mixture screw 2 3/4 out.
In the background there is other problem all the time which is stalling when fast opening the throttle a little bit from idle - it puffs and dies. when opening the throttle full its fine. when opening throttle slowly revs are going rough and then pick up after a while.
Reading the forum, learned a little bit and it seems to me like a too rich mixture on idle and low revs, but still not 100% sure what to do with it.
Carb is Delloroto and everything standard for FE 400 2002 model.
Needle - K51,
Clip - second from the bottom of the needle(third from top?),
Needle jet - 270 DR,
Pilot jet - 40H,
Mixture screw 2 3/4 out.
Choke jet - I think its 45 (forgot to note) - it will be whatever is standard on those.
I ride 100 to 400 m above the sea level. North Yorkshire temperatures about 5-20 deg C at the moment, and quite humid.
When starting from cold it is:
slightly rich on choke
bike starts well everytime but you need to blip the throttle or the revs might drop and it might stall. you have to be near the machine! 8-strokes within 10 seconds.
I have to blip the throttle, then release the choke quite fast , hold the throttle for few seconds the realese - it takes about a minute to built up to the higher revs.
So my question is:
What needle do I get and what else do I have to replace?
Where is the best and the qickest to buy it?
Can the needle be worn after 35 h and 800 miles?
Sorry for the essay, lol
Cheers
1. Really hard to start on hot. Cold: 1-2 kicks.
2. Stalls when slightly opening the throttle from idle.
I'm a beginner mechanic not very experienced with bikes so I try to explain everything step by step.
FE 400 2002 had 17 hours and 300 miles on the clock from new.I dig her out of my mates shed, tow her round the yard and she fired up. She has been fine until I decided to give her a service at 30h, lol. Checked the valve clearances and they seemed too loose, I could easily stick a 0.15mm filler gauge under so I have set them up using a 0.1mm filler gauge. Noticed that the spark plug was black. I have also cleaned air filter (and oiled it like hell) and set up the mixture. Bike seemed much better, better response on high revs and more power, until I stalled it and couldn't get it going again on hot. It eventually started and was able to get back home. First thought - mixture too rich - leaned it out to the point when revs started dropping - and half a turn back - 2 1/4 turn from bottom position - little difference. Next - set up the valves much looser and clean the air filter of the excess oil so its almost dry now - a bit better but still almost impossible to start on hot. I have finally decided to set up the valves 1/6 turn and leave them alone(4th try), thinking that it must be fuel related.
Carb cleaned. Spark plug has a healthy pale brown color now and I can start it on hot after 5-10 serious kicks but only when I lean it so the revs are dropping down and have to compensate with the rev screw turning in,setting the revs so it idles smoothly (for some reason it doesn't seem like a right technique to me) . Mixture screw 2 3/4 out.
In the background there is other problem all the time which is stalling when fast opening the throttle a little bit from idle - it puffs and dies. when opening the throttle full its fine. when opening throttle slowly revs are going rough and then pick up after a while.
Reading the forum, learned a little bit and it seems to me like a too rich mixture on idle and low revs, but still not 100% sure what to do with it.
Carb is Delloroto and everything standard for FE 400 2002 model.
Needle - K51,
Clip - second from the bottom of the needle(third from top?),
Needle jet - 270 DR,
Pilot jet - 40H,
Mixture screw 2 3/4 out.
Choke jet - I think its 45 (forgot to note) - it will be whatever is standard on those.
I ride 100 to 400 m above the sea level. North Yorkshire temperatures about 5-20 deg C at the moment, and quite humid.
When starting from cold it is:
slightly rich on choke
bike starts well everytime but you need to blip the throttle or the revs might drop and it might stall. you have to be near the machine! 8-strokes within 10 seconds.
I have to blip the throttle, then release the choke quite fast , hold the throttle for few seconds the realese - it takes about a minute to built up to the higher revs.
So my question is:
What needle do I get and what else do I have to replace?
Where is the best and the qickest to buy it?
Can the needle be worn after 35 h and 800 miles?
Sorry for the essay, lol
Cheers
