Carb problem

[phantomtek]

Right, my bike has got a carb problem, it isn't fueling right and generally being a right arse. It backfires alot, and sort of stays at around 3k rpm and then goes up or down, short bursts of speed are not unusual and it is getting quite dangerous.

So my question is this.

How easy is it to clean the carbs on my bike? Assuming this is of course what needs doing. How do you actually get to them and take them off?

The bike is a Kawasaki ER5.

Has anyone got any guides on how to do it, or experience of doing it themselves because I really could do with help. Me and Matt cleaned out the float bowls today and there was a slight improvement but it just deteriorated again.

I just want my bike running properly

Cheers,

Joe

[shager]

i tell you what i would do go out and spend 3-4 quid on some carb cleaner all you need to do it take of your air box and tube then open the thottle and spray to ur hearts content, dont be supprised if your engine does not start first time as you may need to cick it up about 10 times. its great stuff. just remember to keep the throttle pulled back why you spray

[shager]

may i ask what bike uv got wheather it is a 2stroke or 4stroke

[Chiz]

ER5 = 4 Stroke

[phantomtek]

Cheers for the replies.

The ER5 is indeed a 4 stroke, I have been told it is past the point of carb cleaner fixing it but I might go get some anyway.

Anymore wisdom is greatly appreciated.

[shager]

get a wire brush on the little shit

[phantomtek]

Have you ever seen carbs on a parallel twin?

[meooo]

to clean the carbs you must remove them......quite how on your machine I dont know.......somebody here can probably tell you that, I assume it would involve removing the tank, whilst its off take the time to clean/check it out, there could be rust/water in it.
The reason for removing the carbs is to access the jets, these can be cleaned with the carb cleaner..........sprayng straight into carbs does no good at all.
However, before removing the carbs, try sprayng the cleaner around the inlet manifold and throttle plate shafts with the engine running, there could be wear in the shafts....noticed by revs increasing when you spray.......air leaks in the manifold area will show the same results

[phantomtek]

Thanks, karma will be coming your way soon enough

[ancientd]

I've done the carbs on a couple of ER's, the manual should give you most of the information. Unfortunately this forum doesn't give any indication of the area that you are in, else maybe I could help. Meooo's advice is good, you must remove them to clean them and I'd ignore advice from others who clearly have no idea of your bikes equipment.
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I ride 3 bikes, a Thundercat, an FZRexup 1000 Streetfighter and a Jawa 350 Combo, something for all seasons.

[phantomtek]

I'm in Leeds, look in my profile

Davo should be up here tomorrow to help out, any tips or advice ?

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

https://images.amazon.com/images/P/1859605621.02._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[ancientd]

Do 1 carb at a time, when removing adjustable screws count the turn and replace ti the same point after cleaning. Watch your eyes when blowing out gantry's with cleaner, it hurts. Carefully check the diaphragms for holes as that will screw up your performance, and when finished balance the carbs properly. Good luck.
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I ride 3 bikes, a Thundercat, an FZRexup 1000 Streetfighter and a Jawa 350 Combo, something for all seasons.

[phantomtek]

[iCraig]

Need a hand doing em?

I have infininate experience working on its sister bike the GPZ500, and i even have several sets of spare carbs that fit both bikes.

Also got a haynes manual for the bike, its your if you want it.

[phantomtek]

[mr.z]

Hang about!!

Before you whip the carbs off..

Is the air filter newish? are there any air leaks? (you can find them with a can of wd40 and spray arround the joins) or air blockages? are your sparkplugs clean/gapped correctly? valve clearances ok? fual line free of crud+water?

Ignition system working propperly?

Take the plugs out after a typicaly backfirey run and have a look, are they scorched? oilley? blackened? this will give you a clear indication of the offending side as well...

Good luck anyways, its orrible haveing a bike play up like that
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[phantomtek]

Cheers.

I have took the bike to pieces, Davo isn't here yet and I have no idea what I'm looking for, has been a good learning experience to say the least.

[mr.z]

A cracked sparkplug will probably have the spark leaping allover the place into the engine caseing, it would defenately make allot of sense.. you might need a spacial spark plug tool, halfrauds do them i think, they are shit but unless you get the propper kawazaki one (would have been one in the toolkit) then thats probably your best bet for now...

I'd try a new pair of plugs, if the underside of the cracked one is very oily/pertoly then thats probably your culprit.. it will have too much fuel in and only fireing occasionally (when it makes a big backfire)...

If the underside is dry/scorched then your runing lean, so a fuel blockage probably.. either at the tank of carbs if your unlucky..

Valve clearance check (which it probably isn't) wil be in the haynes manual, should be easy enough, if youve got the bike appart anyway

Could be so very many things just have to go through them cheapest and easyest first
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[phantomtek]

Haha cheers, I just rang Halfrauds and they didn't pick up. So I'm hoping someone will get in quickly so I can go down and ask them. If this is whats causing the problem it would be good, it sort has gradually happened over the past few days. Fudge knows where Davo is, I really hope he is ok

Cheers Mr. Z I am in your debt if this works!

[Robby]

Better late than never to help young jeff.

So you've got the carbs off. Sounds like the problem could be more electrical anyway.

Seeing as you have the carbs off, get the float chambers off (thats the bottom bits), take the jets out (the brass bits, they unscrew) and first off give them a good spraying with carb cleaner, then if you can see any crap still in them blow them through with an airline. Seeing as you probably don't have an airline, the adaptor to inflate a football on a footpump might do the job.

Spray the rest of the carb innards liberally with carb cleaner, including any little holes. You should really check the diaphagms like some guy up the thread suggested too, but I never do.

Righty. Put them back together, put them back on the bike.


Change your plugs, seeing as they're fucked and probably the cause of this problem. Spray the HT leads with WD40, because its shitty and wet outside.

Start bike. Swear. Turn on fuel and start bike. Hopefully it'll work.

You really should balance the carbs, but I doubt you have vacuum gauges or know how.

Ride it, see if it works.

[bish777]

I'd take the oppertunity to clean the carbs whilst the bikes in bits, and you can do a simple balace whilst your at it.

You can adjust the butterflys in the carbs by using a feeler guage (or a ruler or similar), this will allow for a adequate balance.

As for cleaning the carbs, remove all plastic and rubber bits and soak the buggers in a bucket of hot water with some swarfega or similar in them, then hose out thoroughly. Attack jets and the like with a toothbrush. Stick in a warm place and allow to dry.

Just spraying with carb cleaner will not remove all the shite as there are little channels and passages that cannot be easily reached, and carbs can aquire a layer of grease over time.
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GSXR1100J

[phantomtek]

The bike is now fixed, thankyou to all who contributed I have rated accordingly, and a massive massive thankyou to Davo, who came all the way up from Brighton just to fix my bike, and by jove he's done it.

What a guy.

I think it was the carbs and spark plug that were abit iffy, the spark plug was cracked all the way down and bent at the top, and I think I've used enough WD40 to lube and waterproof a small building for a year.

I can't get over the kindness. Plus that's another BCFer I've met

Cheers!

[Fadel]

Glad to hear it!

Wonder if my bike not reaching any higher than 6000RPM is carb and spark plug

[phantomtek]