[rmoore2112]

I purchased a used 2008 about three months ago with 650 miles on it. It was hard to start cold, backfired when not on the gas and would not take throttle until it was warmed up.



I followed the guides on the forum to assist in the following mods which probably cost ~200.00, but it was worth every penny.

1. Cleaned the carburetor
   
2. Replaced the stock main jet with a TK #130
   
3. Shimmed the needle with 5 .010" washers
   
4. Turned the mixture screw 2 1/2 turns out
   
5. Installed a new spark plug
   
6. Added the 12 volt outlet and wired it to the battery
   
7. Added the "Jimbo Shield"
   
8. Replaced the stock foam and cover with Seat Concepts foam and cover (my arse is happy!)
   
9. Traveled 12 miles to buy gas without corn in it, and added Seafoam
   

WOW - It's a totally different machine. Easy to start, has great throttle response and more power!



Thanks to all of the forum who have paved the way for mere mortals to work on their machines !

 

[JagLite]

Great post of what to do with our bikes when they just don't run right...

 

[n2o2diver]

I purchased a used 2008 about three months ago with 650 miles on it. It was hard to start cold, backfired when not on the gas and would not take throttle until it was warmed up.



I followed the guides on the forum to assist in the following mods which probably cost ~200.00, but it was worth every penny.

1. Cleaned the carburetor
   
2. Replaced the stock main jet with a TK #130
   
3. Shimmed the needle with 5 .010" washers
   
4. Turned the mixture screw 2 1/2 turns out
   
5. Installed a new spark plug
   
6. Added the 12 volt outlet and wired it to the battery
   
7. Added the "Jimbo Shield"
   
8. Replaced the stock foam and cover with Seat Concepts foam and cover (my arse is happy!)
   
9. Traveled 12 miles to buy gas without corn in it, and added Seafoam
   

WOW - It's a totally different machine. Easy to start, has great throttle response and more power!



Thanks to all of the forum who have paved the way for mere mortals to work on their machines !

I put my Seat Concepts seat on yesterday. I've only put about 20 miles on it so far but I can tell it is a big improvement.

I clean my carb and adj the valves today and that alone has made a big difference with cold starting.

I still have to raise my needle and replace the Jet. I added a battery tender too to keep the battery topped off.



Where did you order your jet and shims from? How do you like the Jimbo Shield? I want to add one next, as well as some hand guards and a cycle rack. Got a trip planned at the end of the month.

 

[PalmStateCrawler]

Jimbo shield is great for bring the wind up a bit and looks awesome. It will not keep you warm though.



I'm still playing with my carb. I have been using plastic jet shims, just like the one thats already on there. I have put one on which is close to .03 which helped. I just put another one on and now its too rich. Gonna take it out and sand it down to about .015. Should be just about perfect then.



I also have tusk dflex guards and a cyclerack which are pretty beat up now. The handguards are relatively easy to bend back with a vice. They have saved me a lot of money with all the falling I do.

My plastics and levers would have been marred and broken several times without them. I still havent taken the time to figure out how to bend the rack back to shape. It now touches the seat on the right side.

I am loving my new SeatConcepts seat! So much more comfortable for those all day rides. I also have my airhawk on there which makes it feel awesome.



I'm running out of mods! I am going to try to fab some wind deflectors for the forks.



Seafoam is MAGICAL!!!

 

[rmoore2112]

I put my Seat Concepts seat on yesterday. I've only put about 20 miles on it so far but I can tell it is a big improvement.

I clean my carb and adj the valves today and that alone has made a big difference with cold starting.

I still have to raise my needle and replace the Jet. I added a battery tender too to keep the battery topped off.



Where did you order your jet and shims from? How do you like the Jimbo Shield? I want to add one next, as well as some hand guards and a cycle rack. Got a trip planned at the end of the month.

I ordered the shims from www.mcmaster.com part number 99040A300. The sell the shims in a 20 pack, and I have 15 left. Send me your address via PM and I'll send you 5 of them for your needle.



The main jet and float bowl gasket were ordered from powersportsplus.com. I would recommend getting the float bowl gasket with your main jet order because if your gasket needs replaced, it make take a week or two to get one if the local vendors are out of stock.



The jimbo shield can be ordered via email. Jim will send back an email with color choices, pricing and payment instructions.

 

[rmoore2112]

Jimbo shield is great for bring the wind up a bit and looks awesome. It will not keep you warm though.



I'm still playing with my carb. I have been using plastic jet shims, just like the one thats already on there. I have put one on which is close to .03 which helped. I just put another one on and now its too rich. Gonna take it out and sand it down to about .015. Should be just about perfect then.



I also have tusk dflex guards and a cyclerack which are pretty beat up now. The handguards are relatively easy to bend back with a vice. They have saved me a lot of money with all the falling I do.

My plastics and levers would have been marred and broken several times without them. I still havent taken the time to figure out how to bend the rack back to shape. It now touches the seat on the right side.

I am loving my new SeatConcepts seat! So much more comfortable for those all day rides. I also have my airhawk on there which makes it feel awesome.



I'm running out of mods! I am going to try to fab some wind deflectors for the forks.



Seafoam is MAGICAL!!!

Yea ... the motorcycle is the cheap part! My next mod is a ramp / winch system for my tacoma so I can self load and cart this thing on my camping trips.

 

[Stromper]

I used either an size 8 or 10 split lock washer that i beat flat for the needle shim



like $0.08 at your local hardware store



Next I will look at some kind of shovel based bash plate and my own bark busters.

I have handle bar clamps from a previous mirror project.



farkle me farkle me

 

[rmoore2112]

I ordered the shims from www.mcmaster.com part number 99040A300. The sell the shims in a 20 pack, and I have 15 left. Send me your address via PM and I'll send you 5 of them for your needle.



The main jet and float bowl gasket were ordered from powersportsplus.com. I would recommend getting the float bowl gasket with your main jet order because if your gasket needs replaced, it make take a week or two to get one if the local vendors are out of stock.



The jimbo shield can be ordered via email. Jim will send back an email with color choices, pricing and payment instructions.

I'm out of shims ... sorry, you can order them from mcmasters