Started after 18 months

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:15 pm

Started my L5 today for the first time in at least 18 months, have a couple of problems.

Cleaned the carbs of crystalised petrol first, did not touch the balance screws or anything like that.

While i was trying to start it, i could see petrol coming out of the overflow on the left hand side. Once it started this stopped and the bike seemed to idle nicely and i could give it some throttle without any problems.

Let the bike run for about 5 minutes, then turned it off to put some more fuel in the tank. Restarted fine but then petrol started streaming out of the right hand side overflow. Bike was still idling fine though.

Any ideas what is up?

Oh and i have a rattle which goes when i pull the clutch lever in.

Cheers,

Steve.

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Sun May 20, 2007 4:36 pm

Sounds like a float is getting stuck open, might have got a small piece of grit in them? Had the petrol tank been emptied? Could be a bit of grit from thier perhaps?

The clutches rattle anyway on ZXR's so probably just that, chances are it will quieten down after a few miles as sometimes the plates can stick together slightly after being compressed non stop for 18 months, just a good thrash will loosen them up

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Sun May 20, 2007 6:14 pm

Took the carbs off again and took the covers off, the floats look okay and the
little valve connected to each one looks okay, cant see anything obvious, floats move freely.

Put it back together the left overflow had stopped but the right one is pouring out, not just a drip a torrent!

Does this mean a stripdown and blast with an airline?

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:02 pm

Possibly, might be a lump of old fuel somewhere in there. Cant believe ive not mentioned it already but try cleaning them with some Redex

tomzxr400 · Post by **tomzxr400** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:07 pm

sounds like the float height is wrong the h manual under fuel systems will tell you ow to do it

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:18 pm

Will try the Redex first, thanks for the tip.

Could i have disturbed the float height when i took the floats out and the valves off them?

Just had a look in the manual on adjusting the float heights, looks complicated.

tomzxr400 · Post by **tomzxr400** » Sun May 20, 2007 9:50 pm

yer all it takes is for you to bend the bit that holds the tang to the float its easy to check if you read it a couple of times while having your carbs in your hands instead of it being on paper

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:04 pm

Good point it could be the metal tag they are connected to. Might have just caught it when removing the float bowl.

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:38 am

There must be a seal or something that the float valve sits against to restrict the fuel coming in, what about that?

This bike has not been used in 5 years!

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:46 am

The seal i think your on about is the float needle. They are small bits of shaped metal and have a pointed bit of rubber at the top that stps the fuel coming in once the bowl is full. Check those out and see what condition they are in. As far as im aware they should have a nice straight edge upto the point and look a little bit like Canary Warf Tower but round instead of square

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:37 am

Have checked the ends of the float needles, they are fine.

I must have crap in the bit they sit in then.

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:46 pm

Just opened the carbs up again and think i have possibly found the problem.

The brass sleeve that holds the float valve has a rubber O-ring around it so it is a tight fit in the body of the carb. Mine are all loose, the O-rings are shot.

Will order some from the stealers tomorrow and see if they make a difference.

tomzxr400 · Post by **tomzxr400** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:54 pm

that sounds like it could be it try http://shop.wemoto.com/pictures.dyn?u=1914495qqq25680

bikenut · Post by **bikenut** » Sat May 26, 2007 4:57 pm

Replaced the 4 O-rings and the overflowing fuel has stopped.

However:

Bike starts and idles fine, if you open the throttle slowly it revs up, shut the throttle and the revs do not drop straight away, they drop slowly.

Also if you open the throttle quickly the bike dies straight away.

If you have a bit of choke on then rev it quickly it seems okay.

This is doing my head in, i have had the carbs apart again today, they are spotless inside.

Post by **Northern ANdy** » Sat May 26, 2007 7:10 pm

lean idle characteristics , air leaks? whats your setup?