Motorcycle Repair: Starting problems, bill silver, speed settings

Question
Bill,
I realize that this is not your usual bike preferrence, but Mike Shively was too busy to ask.  Maybe you can help.  I have a 2000 Katana and my 8 year old step son thinks that the idle know is a toy.  My idle button has been turn both ways to the extreme and I can not get the bike started now.  I have tried with the choke full, half and not even on.  It is to the point that I am running the battery down try to start it.  I have on a couple occassions got the bike running at about 1000rpm but if I try to adjust the idle or give the bike any gas it kills the engine.  Is there a way to reset the idle or tell where it should be or can you just trouble shot me thru starting it some how.  I am in no way an expert or even very good.  I can change the oil and that is about it.  Please help if you can.

Thanks for any help.

Nick Harmon

Answer
Nick.... a "2000 Katana" doesn't tell me much as I logged into
http://www.powersportspro.com/partsfish/login.asp
and found Katanas in 600/650/750/1000/1100 sizes.

I would check the idle speed screw knob and loosen it until it feels like it isn't doing anything, then turn in until you just feel some resistance. That should get you in the ballpark, anyway.

IF you had been trying to start the bike with a lot of throttle (high idle knob setting+choke), then you may have just loaded up the spark plugs and they are partially fouled.

Dunno how easy it is to get to them now, but I would pull one or all and look at the electrodes. If the ends are all blackened, then they are toast and need replacing.

With fresh plugs, you can try to restart it and just allow it to warm up fully before you start to mess with the idle speed settings.

Bill Silver