The Single Most Common Carburetor Problem (Clogged Pilot Jets) and How To Fix It | MC GARAGE
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2017
- There are a LOT of things that can go wrong with carburetors, but more often than not running issues (like hard starting, bogging off idle, or a hanging idle) are caused by the same issue: the pilot jet. This video isn’t a comprehensive troubleshooting guide (that would be an hour-long episode), but it does address the single most common carb issue. Hopefully it helps you.
--
A motorcycle carburetor is just a mechanical mixing device. It mixes gas from the float bowl with air passing through the throat in a precise ratio, and if that fuel/air ratio is off, you're going to have problems.
Far and away the most common problem carb problem is clogged pilot jets. The pilot jet, along with the mixture screw, are what make your bike run at idle on up until about quarter throttle, so that’s where you should look if your bike is hard to start or only runs with the choke on, bogs or stalls as you crack the throttle open, or has an idle that revs up on its own or “hangs” at a high idle before settling down.
All of these issues are indicative of a lean running condition, meaning that fuel/air ratio has too much air and not enough fuel.
More likely than not your pilot jets are jammed up with debris or gummy gas, and cleaning it means pulling the carb or carbs off your bike. Then you’re going to need to pop off the float bowl and clean the pilot jet, which is typically the smaller of the two brass jets visible on the bottom of the carb. Often it’s removable, so you unscrew it and blast it out with solvent and compressed air.
While you have the carb off your might as well give the thing a thorough cleaning, so click here to see our MC Garage video with step-by-step instructions for a complete carb cleaning.
So why is the pilot circuit such a common problem? Because it’s got the smallest passageways in the carburetor, so they’re the first to clog. Pump gas now has a bunch of ethanol in it and it starts to go bad and gum up in just a matter of weeks, so if you’re not riding your bike regularly you can save yourself a lot of trouble by adding a fuel stabilizer to keep the gas from degrading.
There is one other thing that can cause a lean condition at idle, and that’s an air leak. If your bike has rubber intake boots or relies on an o-ring or gasket to seal the carb to the flange or the flange to the cylinder head, that’s also something to check. But the majority of the time, it’s just an issue with the pilot circuit.
Full story here: www.motorcyclistonline.com/mo...
Subscribe: ruclips.net/user/Motorcyclist...
Motorcyclist Shirts: teespring.com/stores/motorcyc...
Shop Products We Use: www.amazon.com/shop/motorcycl...
See more from us: www.motorcyclistonline.com/ 
Авто/Мото
Good video Ari, but I do have 3 comments:
(1) When spraying carb cleaner through the pilot jet make sure that you do a couple of sprays with your finger over the bottom exit hole so that you can make sure the side holes are also clear. You want to see a nice strong mist of solvent coming through.
(2) If the jet is completely clogged often no amount of solvent will clean it. Before I pull a carb for cleaning I hit my local guitar store for a piece of steel E string . They will usually have some left over from stringing jobs and will typically give it to you for free. This is very fine but very stiff wire and you can gently work it through the jet without damaging it. Once there is a passage through the jet, the high pressure cleaner will then remove the rest as it passes through.
(3) I HIGHLY recommend holding the jet in a towel before you blow compressed air through it. Often your fingers alone won't hold it strongly enough and you can blow it across your garage never to be seen again (ask me how I know, LOL).
wouldn't it be easier to soak the pilot jet in a solvent, such as even rubbing alcohol?
E string smart!!
Copper wire works fine
@Mada-yq5sf I have found copper is to soft to work through really crusty clogged jets. Guitar string works better. But to get the last of the residue I like blasting carb cleaner through.
Cool stuff
When blasting out your pilot jet, hold on real tight so it doesn't go shooting across the garage and land behind the impossible to move workbench.
Wish I saw this comment earlier...
Why would your impossible to move work bench have gaps things can fall into ?
That's the real question
Hi there I'm from South Africa need some advice I'm not sure if it's the carbs but when I start my Suzuki bandit GSF 400 and it's warm when I begin to pull away and I open it to 6 thousands revs it then drops to 4 thousand revs then it jumps to 12 or 13 thousand revs why does it do that it's like when I want to pull away and open the throttle to quick the bike dies I have to open the throttle slowly to ride fast or pull away how can I fix this ? Thx
Sounds like he knows this from experience...
Quintus 😂
This video series is great. In fact, the worst thing about it is the time between episodes
Never really a problem until Mr. Ethnol cam along .
I just found this channel yesterday, watched about 6 hours worth of content so far. Your videos are insanely well done guys.
Thanks man, I am! Im a new driver, got a 00 bmw f650, and been having a lot of trouble with clutch linkage adjustment and hard shifting.
If I adjust cable to far out on handle shift lever, easy shifting but clutch slips.
If I adjust cable to far in, clutch slips still and super bad shifting.
Been too afraid to adjust anything where cable connects to arm below on engine (I dont know what thats called). Theres a sweet spot I guess for easy clutching vs slip? I have it set right now to where its hard shifting, but no slip. If this is a common thing can you do a vid about that? That'd be epic man. Or just bring anything else coming, Im sure I'd watch it! :)
Thanks very much for the reply sir!
@Ari! Can you please do an vid on replacing forks seals!
Mine need done, and I'm hoping I wont need to pay a shop to do it.. :/
I've been intimidated by how complex carbs look for a long time, but this video was very informative and I definitely have everything I need to clear out my pilot jets
"...or the bottom."
Smooth.
lol notice it too. how it suddenly falls on its back lol
scary, somehow
Lmfao 😂😂😂 Im dead
He a smooth operator 😂
Ari, thanks. I really get benefit from your clear explanations. I have a 1984 Suzuki GR650 Tempter. A bit of an oddity, but then so am I at 66 years old doing my first more in-depth build.
I am doing some performance and styling mods on the Tempter. Carb, exhaust, and air box work, is key on the performance front. I definitely had some high hanging idle with no sign of air leaks at the engine-side boots. Most of the problems seemed related to the pilot system.
I've rejet'd the pilots by one size, raised the needles by one notch, and rejet'd the mains by three sizes, to work hopefully well with the new more open mufflers and opened out air box. Of course I cleaned the carb interiors while at it. Fingers crossed :-)
This video was not “very brief” it was informative and not too long. Usually these videos are unorganized. This was not too long. Keep it up ! 👍
Thank you so much for this video! You saved me more hours of figuring out what was happening with my Honda Dominator, that it just didn't start (only by using starting fluid). Checked almost everything (fuel, spark, battery, measured stator, pulse generator, coil, electricity contacts, CDI box contacts, vacuum leaks around carb and air box, etc.), especially after disassembling and cleaning carb. In the end your video made me think that it still might be a carb related issue, because I started to remember that the problem started when I switched the fuel tank petcock to RESERVE. Removed the petcock and yeap - there were some debris on the bottom of the tank, without original fuel filter, which clogged the pilot jet. After blasting out the pilot jet with an air gun and assembling everything back together, Dommie now runs just great! Thanks!
I have a honda rancher 350 that will only run on staring fluid.
thank you for this fan-freaking-tastic video series because of this video series you have given me the confidence to perform maintenance on my motorcycle that I would normally have to pay a shop hundreds of dollars to do last March I put tires on my motorcycle front and rear 2000 CBR 600 F4 have a motion Pro balancing stand everything went off without a hitch this spring I am going to change the clutch thanks Ari
Thank you, gave me the confidence to give it a try on my 4 inline carb, removed it all and followed it to clean the pilot. Bike started and held idle fine, so happy!!!
Great little walk through on this most common issue. Appreciate you man!
Thank you so much! This clears everything wrong with my bike and it worked flawlessly. I’ve never seen a “perfect” tutorial but this covered absolutely everything needed!
Great vid Mr Henning .. I just rebuilt my carbs this winter, with confidence inspired by your first carb video ..
Thanks Ari
Been watching these videos for years ever since my first motorcycle!
Thanks. That confirms what I thought was happening. The main jet I know was getting fuel through but the quad would not idle and I'd have to hold the throttle down to keep it running rather rough. I also tried putting penetrating oil into the passageway to help clean out any clogging as well as carb cleaner. I don't feel air flow through but I'll try a bit more TLC cleaning before I reinstall it.
Thanks Ari! All your videos are great and really helpful
I just LOOOOVEE this MC Garage videos, so easy to understand. thanks... Mr Henning is a great teacher...
I have a 1974 CL360 and that is exactly what is wrong with my bike! Super helpful video. Thanks!!
My just rebuilt 99 ZX7 was running like a dream for a few months, but now it runs poor on low revs. Gonna check that pilot jet . Thanks a bunch
My VFR400 was notoriously bad for this. Great video! People should really watch this and learn.
Damn Ari, you explain it so good that it almost feels easy to mess with it. Great videos.
I just now found your video and it helped me greatly it was indeed a clogged Jet and passageway for the idle!.
My bike's would only run on food show and everytime I give it gas it wouldn't either rib out of control a title or die when giving it more air
Love this channel. Ari makes any topic feel like lemon squeezy!
Thanks for the video. I have cleaned many pilot jets and never have I only had to spray cleaner/air to clean them. LOL. When those symptoms occur, It's usually HARD deposits restricting the hole or plugged completely. Have to clean with a small wire, or jet cleaner tips, etc. Jets are cheap, but seems I never have them on hand when needed! Just yesterday, out of the blue, my reliable Vulcan 800 wouldn't idle. Pilot jet was almost closed completely with hard black deposits. Took 15 minutes to clear. Thanks for the videos!
Thanks, directly on how to fix the problem, no five minutes of talking :)
i have all this problem, i do step by step like your video and now she run like a new! i'm so happy, thanks. :) 1994 suzuki DR125
This explains so much about a bike I recently sold... definitely time to pop out the carbs on the SV and see what they look like.
Ari, how about a vid on synchronizing a bank of carbs on a 4 cyl? Another good one, and a critical setting, is float height. Again, on carbs for an inline 4. Maybe show the method of using a clear piece of tubing connected to the drain port (usually done on the bench). Love the work you and Zach do on this channel, keep it up guys.
I have no idea what you're talking about but I love this series.
I have just discovered your channel, it is amazing.
Thanks for your work.
Excellent video! I would like to add (myself being the owner of 30 motorcycles) that fuel with ethanol in it makes the bike run leaner at idle (in the older bikes any way - such as the Kawasaki KZ`S, Suzuki GS`s and such). Pretty much every bike I own, I have turned the idle air screw out 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn for a much better idle. Hope this helps!
Great video 👍🏻. I’m having that problem with a keihin fcr on my old yz450, I think my issue is the orifice that the pilot jet screws into though, rather than the jet itself, which I’ve already cleaned with no result. Good job 👍🏻 mate ✌🏻
ah crap, i never thought of the ethanol issue, thanks for this video, very informative and i learned something ! Merci.!
Z50. Love it. Owned one along with the MIni Trail 70 when we were kids.
Thanks for the great video. This almost confirms what I was thinking. I ride a '88 GSX1100F and up until a day or two ago it idled and ran great. I filled it at the shell station the other day (V-Power which I believe is non ethanol) and it stalled on me a couple of times while giving the wife a ride to work today. It runs like crap just at idle and a bit above, but when I roll it on it almost rips my arms off. I'm thinking a bit of crap in one of my pilot jets.
This series keeps getting better. ...or the bottom... nice.
Spot on. The leakge in intake manifold rubber to engine head is very notorious. Also the mouth of the part that is locking with engine head should be properly screwed (using gel sealant in most cases)
Leakages should be taken good care 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
VERY VERY good young man. iam Moe back in the 60s i did a lot carbs. on big American cars. looks like you know what you are doing. keep up the good work.
vary helpfull, thanks. wish I had watched this before completely cleaning everything but the pilot jet, then putting it all back together, ha. thanks again!
Great series, Ari! Thanks a lot.
This video series is awesome.
Thank you ! I think this has verified my boat problem !!!
These videos are great. Keep em' comin
Awesome! Keep the carb videos coming!
Great video! Solved the problems my YZF600R had (which i bought yesterday :))..
Hello, Ari.WE love your videos with lots of information..keep em posting. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A 2017 SUPERBIKE SHOOTOUT. ????????????
Always order a Carbrebuilt kit, you might use it afterall and you don't have to wait shipent time. Give the carb some ultrasonic love.
Awesome video as always. Carbs are the main reason I decided to go with my fuel injected fz6. Coming from a 200cc dual sport and a vstar 650 it's best decision I've made. Can't wait until I get done with college and can get a real bike lol
I'm having this in my Honda Trigger 150. When I open throttle, the engine goes off. But I failed to repair as per your information. But your video gave me the idea how to fix it. Thanks.
your videos are so informative. Thanks to you
And thank you for the tip im running a pwk 21mm on my bicycle motor and I've been experiencing pilot jet plugging maby i should buy a new fuel filter BUTT thanks I've subscribed and a total thumbs up
Excellent video.
Hey Ari, I love these videos so much, keep up the great work! Can you do a video on servicing ABS equipped bikes? I once tried to put a stainless steel brake line on my CBR300R and people all over the forums said that you shouldn't mess with the brakes on an ABS bike because the ABS module needs to be specially flushed by a certified mechanic. Is working on ABS really that scary or impossible?
Thanks so much! This is exactly what i needed to know
Hey great video, this may answer many of the issues I have on my 85' Suzuki GS550L;
would a stuck pilot also lead to having a gas leak from where the Air cleaner tube is connected? Some suggest a Sticky Float or another person suggested it may be "valve starter" that is loose due to a stripped Holding cap.
Thanks man very help video ,, I got me a Suzuki boulevard but I don't know anything about so you help alot
That may be the most clever, bumper video / logo animation I've ever seen.
Great Vid! Thank You for posting!
very helpful vid god job tyvm nice and explanatory and not too complicated I have a bandit 600 and her idol hangs something chronic so this helped me a lot i have had so many ppl inputting rubbish ideas this help me ty ty ty :)
Hi Ari, short question: What would you recommend after a K&N and Slipon Install on a Honda CBF 600 (like a Hornet but slightly detuned). I was planning on 1) bigger main jets, 2) raise the carb needle one position and 3) open the idle screw ½ turns. Also; carb clean and synch. Do you have a better idea? Thank you, great videos, greetings from Switzerland
could you please make a video of your rc390 race bike !! about what modes u have done on it, what one needs to take care while preping a race bike, what should one look for while buying a aftermarket parts ! your video will make alot of difference. please do one !
Very informative, thanks!
Thanks. I think I have a carb cleaning in my future,
Great video. I’m having problems with a virago 535 as in the back carb cannot be made to run leaner so can air fuel jets get clogged up. Regards from England
My first step with a poor running bike is to dump a bottle of seafoam in the tank. A good portion of the time, that cleans the carbs nicely and I don't even have to take anything apart. That and a good carb balance every once in a while are all I've done to my '85 CB650 carbs.
Thank you. Helped a lot!
again very informative, could you do a video on different sorts of fuels, fuel additives, ethanol as cleaner/fuel etc please...
is there a effect on the bike engine, when you remove the air filter/air cleaner ? it's common here in my country especially in mc underbone and scooter tuner. I don't know the right term but they used to call it "OPEN CARB" some put velocity stack on it and others just a open aftermarket carb.
Nice vid, my bike isn't Carb'ed but what stabiliser do u recommend as my Daytona sits for about 6 months.
Well presented video 👍🏼
The Single Most Common Carburetor Problem = THE OWNER!
fwh79 what if you bought a bike with a problem
@@calebkroll4698 Previous owner
Of quality of petrol?
@@lynnmckenney1987 ALWAYS
an owner whos a squid and always on high RPM
can you do a video on diaphram carbs vs pump carbs
This resonates with me as I have had constant pilot jet problems with my Kawasaki engined lawn tractor with Walboro LMF carb. Unfortunately on this carb it is nearly impossible to clear pilot jets due to the idiotic design of the carb so on one occasion only a new carb would do.
very interesting beginning...thx
I want to put pod air filter on my yamaha ybr 125
Does this really makes power up?
And what about fuel mixture and about carbuerator tunning?
Biker mike has the solution for really stubborn clogged pilot jets! And it’s real easy!!!
excellent as always
I have an 1994 Honda xr100r and about 3/4 of throttle the bike lags out what should i do? (I may add this bike is great)
Fantastic video, thanks!
That exact moment engine falling was awesome! I thought it happened by mistake.
1:38 that was dope haha
the carb fell over and u played it off smooth lol
Thanks for posting this video
I love this channel.
Well made video 🤙
thanks for sharing ideas
Did you guys go to Phillip Island for the new GSXR? Just curious if you have a video or article in the works.
Would you do the difference of single sided swing arm vs conventional one?
Ari Henning. Can you make a video on effects of running the engine lean?
Does that Motion Pro tool work really well? I bought a different brand with a ninety degree bend and it's very difficult to get any sense/feel of pilot jet movement. Great videos
Thanks. Very helpful.
What might cause my bike to just rev to the max at idle? Its also pouring gas out of what i think is the crankcase vent tube. Any info will help thanks
Nice video, will help out a lot of people. my second choice would be a failing needle valve causing the bike to flood and puke gas.
My pilot jet was clog and destroy. I got a 45. Hope it fits and it doesn't do all the crap it was with h you showed us. I'm praying! Lol ty for the video
Great video!
Great video 👍
Excellent vid!!! Thanks much!!!!!
Perfect, many thanks. Brief videos are great, nothing worse than listening to someone rattling on just to make content.
I cleaned all the jets..still does the don't run without choke. Ink where mix screws at for 89 zx10