Questionsaturday:Subject 1974 Honda CL200
Question Even though you seem to specialize in Harleys, im hoping you can still answer my question. I finally got my parents motorcycle to start today, the first time in 20 years or so. The only problem is that it wont idle. As soon as i release the throttle/accelerator, the engine just stalls. Could the idle screws be set wrong? Im at a loss here, and i have no previous motorcycle/repair knowledge, so im thrilled that i actually got it working. Any help would be greatly appriated. Thanks a bunch.-chris
Answer IDLE JETS IN CARB IS PLUGED
A: can you tell me how to remidy this, if you think this is the problem?
B:I think i also found another problem, i gave it just enough gas to stay running, and after a few minutes, the exhaust pipe to the right chamber was hot (like a light bulb thats on for a few), while the left exhaust pipe was scorching hot. Does this mean that right cylinder isnt firing as much as it should, and how do i fix this?
AnswerChris,
2-strokes of the 60's and 70's not Harleys, it's in my bio. Sounds like you need to clean and adjust your carbs. Here are some basic procedures to follow I've given others on this matter:
Disassemble, clean all jets and orifaces with solvent and COMPRESSED AIR ONLY, use NO wire or picks to clean holes/airways. This can damage the precise action that takes place to provide the proper fuel delivery. Rebuild carbs with new gaskets and make sure your floats are set correctly (you will find the specs. in an aftermarket manual such as Clymer or Haynes). Also be sure your floats don't have a leak that is causing them to sit at the bottom, I've seen this w/ older models that use sottered copper floats. Do not overlook the float level, be very sure you are not starving for fuel. Check that the needle valve is moving smoothly and not worn to the point it is letting fuel by when seated. In relation make sure fuel flow is unobstructed and use a good in-line fuel filter from the tank to the carb. Even tiny particles in the fuel can get logged in critical areas and cause havoc. Start off with the fuel/air mixture screw set at 1 and 1/2 turns out from seated and adjust the idle screw accordingly once engine is running smoothly.
It is possible you are experiencing poor ignition on the colder side cylinder as a result of a worn plug, bad coil, poor connection on the way from the stator (altenator) or worn and/or pooly set points. Remove both plugs and test for spark, replace if neccesary and gap them correctly. First see if the carb. cleaning does the trick, if not you can move to ignition if you are still obtaining poor spark upon crankover after new plugs. I highly reccomend picking up the manual for this bike if you plan to do any serious work, they run about $20.
Hope this helps
