[jksduke]

I just found a 2008 TW in Florida with 16 miles on it. Despite the varnish smelling fuel, it runs ok but will not idle after turning off the choke.

I have spent a bit of time reading all the carb related posts (lots of them) and have been unable to find information addressing this sole issue.



Using common sense, I drained the fuel and cleaned the tank, removed the carb, cleaned out the bowl, needle and jets. Filled the tank and added a couple of ounces of Techron for good measure. All appeared great.



Started fine, warms up and I close the choke and it quits. As if I hadn't touched it.



I see a lot here about altitude. I brought the bike home to Tennessee from Miami. I understand I am nearly a thousand feet higher now but there is no difference with this issue. Personally, I have never had a problem with a carb equipped bike being "out-of-tune" from less than a thousand feet of altitude change. Even with some very high performance equipment.



So, I am turning to the experts.....You guys. My first thought is to raise (shim) the needle a bit but I will just be throwing darts and you guys should have already thrown them.



If anyone has some advise I would appreciate you sharing. Otherwise, I guess it's a trip to the dealer.

 

[pgilles]

Did you remove the pilot/mixture screw and clean it and its respective carb orifice thoroughly? That's part of your idle circuit. If clogged, that would explain why its running only with choke. Take a look here (identified on bottom view of carb) for what part I'm talking about... http://tw200forum.com/index.php?/to...ts-identification/page__pid__19750#entry19750



The 1000 feet is not your issue. Don't be rejetting until this issue is fixed. A 2008 with 16 miles still probably had the same gas in it from when it left the showroom.

 

[lightcrab]

The same exact thing happened to me 2 weeks ago with one I bought. My carb was dirty and I needed a new float. It starts right on up now.

 

[qwerty]

Symptoms indicate a clog pilot circuit. If it was mine I'd do a thorough carb cleaning. The passages in these carbs are tiny.

 

[jksduke]

Ok thanks. I will try again paying close attention to the pilot/mixture screw and passages.



Will post the results.



Thanks again!!

 

[vidwiz]

did you get it running duke? considering buying one with same issue.

 

[jbfla]

did you get it running duke? considering buying one with same issue.

Vidwiz, this thread is 5 years old, but the "choke only" problem is common.

A cleaning of the pilot jet/circuit in the carb is usually all that is necessary.

jb

 

[rbm]

Vidwiz, this thread is 5 years old, but the "choke only" problem is common.

A cleaning of the pilot jet/circuit in the carb is usually all that is necessary.

jb

This.

 

[D and J Wooden Boards]

I have the same issue. I appreciate this thread I’ll be looking through my carb with the suggestions you all put here. Thank you.

 

[Ski Pro 3]

I have the same issue. I appreciate this thread I’ll be looking through my carb with the suggestions you all put here. Thank you.

I have had this problem more than once. Each time the fix was to replace the pilot jet. Spray won't clean it enough. Then I discovered a dental tool elime sent to me. It's used to file root canals. They come in several sizes. I think he sent me a white one. He said it was slightly too large but that was all he had. It worked anyways, they are tapered and when it widened enough to stop, I just twisted it to clean, then pulled out and did the same from the other end. Look for them on Amazon. I used this root canal file to clean the varnish that had built up on the pilot jet. It worked!
Here's a link. Notice you can buy just white or a kit of several colors. Each color is a different diameter.
Root Canal Files for cleaning varnish from Pilot Jet

 

[mikidymac]

Pluck a wire out of a wire brush. It’s fine enough to fit in the pilot jet and with some carb cleaner you will be good to go for almost nothing.

 

[D and J Wooden Boards]

Pluck a wire out of a wire brush. It’s fine enough to fit in the pilot jet and with some carb cleaner you will be good to go for almost nothing.

I’ll do that! Thanks

 

[jbfla]

I’ll do that! Thanks

Another option for cleaning the holes in the pilot jet and the emulsion tube:

jb

 

[Ski Pro 3]

As a side note; just because you can see light though the jet and it's side holes, or that carb spray will eject vigorously through those holes doesn't mean they are clean. I thought that several times, thinking I had thoroughly cleaned the pilot jet only to have the same problem. It wasn't until I replaced the jet that the bike started to work right. Then elime sent me the root canal files. Game changer! A wire MIGHT do the job, but it doesn't have rasp on them like those tiny files do. Doesn't hurt to give wire a try though. That's been the go-to for years.

 

[D and J Wooden Boards]

I’ll pick up some of those. Does getting a carb rebuild kit mean that the Jets come with it? Are there more holes to clean if you are doing a car rebuilt?

 

[mikidymac]

The problem with files and welding tip cleaners is that they remove metal from the soft brass jets. That has pretty much been a no no forever because they change the size of the jet.

Not that people haven’t been doing it forever...

 

[Ski Pro 3]

The problem with files and welding tip cleaners is that they remove metal from the soft brass jets. That has pretty much been a no no forever because they change the size of the jet.

Not that people haven’t been doing it forever...

I don't think these would do that, they are designed to remove dentine from teeth, not brass. I suppose someone aggressively working at it could, but my experience with them is that I can finesse them to burnish and not remove brass.

 

[mikidymac]

I don't think these would do that, they are designed to remove dentine from teeth, not brass. I suppose someone aggressively working at it could, but my experience with them is that I can finesse them to burnish and not remove brass.

You are probably correct. I haven’t seen dental files, I was really referring to the welding tip cleaners.