Motorcycle Repair: Tune up, honda 250, tank valve

Question
Got a 1982 Honda 250 CM Custom (16700 miles) from my father in law. Good new battery but he/I can not start it. I do not have the manual. I cleaned the air filter but it seems that the problem is about mix of gas. There is a pointy screw adjustable by screwdriver on the right side of the carburetor (by the brake) and there is a screw adjustable by hand on the left for the air/choke. How can I tune and make it start?


Answer
Bernard,

-have you tried a new spark plug and/or checked
that it has spark? Make sure you have the
run/kill switch in the run position.
Have the bike in neutral or side stand
up and clutch pulled in.

-check that the engine has compression, around 130 psi or
higher.

-try draining the carb float bowl and see if any
gas comes out. Maybe the gas tank valve or petcock
is plugged or faulty.

-the pointy screw adjusts your idle speed.
-usually the choke is on when pulled out
or pushed down depending on the type.

-when bikes sit more than a week or two
they need to have a fuel stabilizer added or
else the jets in the carb may get gummed up.
You may have to check that fuel is getting
into the carb and may need to clean the
carb jets and passageways thoroughly.
This seems to be a common problem these days.
There are some carb cleaning videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aidv4e-KYIM