carb problem

austin07 · Post by **austin07** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:17 pm

Okay, I disconnected the exhaust and have my 1988 honda elite lx started for the first time in over a year that I have had it. I cleaned the carb numerous times.

Now a new problem, it only starts when I spray the air filter side of the carb with carb spray, and runs for a few seconds then cuts out. If I continue this, it floods, then I have to wait until I kickstart it around 20 times to clear out the fuel and spray the air filter side again and it will start for a few seconds.

Possible air leak somewhere? gasket or carb not tight enough?

austin07 · Post by **austin07** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:25 pm

sorry, forgot to mention that i did reconnect the exhaust, it will run continous for around 5 minutes without the exhaust then gets hot and wont start for awhile. I reconnected the exhaust and now have this problem.

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:28 pm

Bad bystarter and or plugged air filter(replace)? Exhasut may also be a problem, check port for buildup.

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:13 pm

I would suspect no fuel in the carb. Caused by, bad (stuck) needle, bad petcock or a plugged fuel filter.

austin07 · Post by **austin07** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:18 pm

the carb screw leaks gas when opened, so I am guessing fuel is in the carb. I will check the bystarter to see if it is good, green to positive yellow to negative for testing?

If the bystarter is bad, can I tape the plug shut for now until i can get a replacement? I thought I read something on the forum about others doing this.

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:14 pm

austin07 wrote:the carb screw leaks gas when opened, so I am guessing fuel is in the carb. I will check the bystarter to see if it is good, green to positive yellow to negative for testing?

If the bystarter is bad, can I tape the plug shut for now until i can get a replacement? I thought I read something on the forum about others doing this.

What is a carb screw? If you are talking the drain screw, it doesn't mean there is enough fuel to run.

Post by **noiseguy** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:15 pm

Dude, disconnecting the exhaust and running the engine on a scoot is a really bad idea. Overheating from lack of backpressure at exhaust (run lean and hot) and lack of heat sink (run even hotter.) How long was it run like that? The reason it would stop is that you had a soft sieze.

Check your compression now. And when was the last time you cleaned the exhaust?

austin07 · Post by **austin07** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:20 pm

I disconnected the exhaust after replacing the piston rings.

It would not start, so I disconnected it just to see if it would start. After I disconnected it, I used lye to clean it out. I ran it for about 5 minutes without the exhaust and once I thought it was running okay, i put the exhaust back on.

Now I can only get it to start if i spray the carb cleaner thru the air filter side of the carb, but it only starts and runs for a few seconds. Yes the drain screw flows gas when opened, wouldnt that mean that there is gas in the carb? I will pull it and clean it again to make double sure.

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:28 pm

austin07 wrote:I disconnected the exhaust after replacing the piston rings.

It would not start, so I disconnected it just to see if it would start. After I disconnected it, I used lye to clean it out. I ran it for about 5 minutes without the exhaust and once I thought it was running okay, i put the exhaust back on.

Now I can only get it to start if i spray the carb cleaner thru the air filter side of the carb, but it only starts and runs for a few seconds. Yes the drain screw flows gas when opened, wouldnt that mean that there is gas in the carb? I will pull it and clean it again to make double sure.

Because it does not stay running means there is no fuel getting into the engine thru the carb. So either not enough fuel or the carb is dirty and plugged up. FYI running without an exhaust can cause problems with your piston and rings. Try plugging the air intake holes in the air box while cranking the engine and see if it starts. I will bet it is running off the propellant in the carb cleaner.

austin07 · Post by **austin07** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:19 pm

Thanks Bear
Well pulled the carb and cleaned for the 6th time, still was a little bit of crud by the drain screw, cleared it out with carb cleaner, and blew the idle jet clear, it looked like it was a little plugged. Reconnected everything, including the exhaust--that wont come off anymore now that it is clean.

It started right up after a few kickstarts, i didn't want to drain the battery.

I will run it tomorrow and see how long it goes, or maybe tonight, hopefully that cleared it all.

This forum really helps out, thanks to all.

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 12:10 am

austin07 wrote:Thanks Bear
Well pulled the carb and cleaned for the 6th time, still was a little bit of crud by the drain screw, cleared it out with carb cleaner, and blew the idle jet clear, it looked like it was a little plugged. Reconnected everything, including the exhaust--that wont come off anymore now that it is clean.

It started right up after a few kickstarts, i didn't want to drain the battery.

I will run it tomorrow and see how long it goes, or maybe tonight, hopefully that cleared it all.

This forum really helps out, thanks to all.

Sounds like you have a dirty tank. Remove it, clean it and install a nw inlet filter. When you did the carb, did you make sure all the passages were open by squirting carb cleaner, brake cleaner or WD-40 thru all of them?