divot
New Member
Voices in my head>Battle of Disarm
Posts: 61 
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Post by divot on Feb 28, 2015 13:08:32 GMT -6
So I just finished going through the starting system of a '88 en450 I got a few months ago, and I am ready to move onto carbs/-fuel. Though am hoping to get some help so I understand the systems a bit better first.
I read these bikes have some type of vacuum/positive pressure that controls fuel . When I turn my petcock to on ( pretty sure it's the on position-lever is @ 6 o'clock) the carbs fill and start leaking out. Not sure if leaking from overflow, i think it's coming out of places on the carbs themselves.
With that info to go on could anyone help me form a plan of attack?
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Post by Blaine on Feb 28, 2015 15:41:59 GMT -6
If you are in the "on" position fuel should only flow with the bike running.It will run with the bike not running if your in the "Pri" position. Not all petcocks have the "Pri" (prime) position.Some petcocks have "on" "off" "res".That being said it sounds like you have a float needle sticking flooding the carbs.You can try tapping on the bowls,sometimes that will unstick a sticking float.Also check your oil to be sure no fuel has got into the engine.   |
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divot
New Member
Voices in my head>Battle of Disarm
Posts: 61
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Post by divot on Mar 1, 2015 9:12:58 GMT -6
Thx , will give that a try. Must have sat a min before i got it cuz the relay were also stuck-had to tap on those too.
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Post by eaglerider on Mar 1, 2015 11:45:39 GMT -6
'88 ,model should have on-off-reserv on the petcock...sounds like stuck needle(s).
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Post by Thud300 on Mar 1, 2015 18:47:30 GMT -6
The petcock on my '89 also has ON, OFF and RES. I presume early models had vacuum operated petcocks with ON, RES and PRI positions? I was thinking mine had been converted.
Do the carbs have an overflow system to prevent hydrolocking the engine when a needle valve fails to seal?
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Post by Blaine on Mar 1, 2015 22:19:03 GMT -6
The petcock on my '89 also has ON, OFF and RES. I presume early models had vacuum operated petcocks with ON, RES and PRI positions? I was thinking mine had been converted. Do the carbs have an overflow system to prevent hydrolocking the engine when a needle valve fails to seal? The carbs have a over flo but that will not keep the carbs from putting fuel into the crank case.That is the job of the vacuum operated petcock.To shut the flo of fuel to the carbs off when the bike is not running.If someone replaced the petcock with a non vacuum one you need to rember to shut if off when you shut the engine off. |
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divot
New Member
Voices in my head>Battle of Disarm
Posts: 61
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Post by divot on Mar 2, 2015 9:15:40 GMT -6
So does the stock petcock only release fuel in the on position when engine cranking or running(and vacuum is being produced) ? That is if eveything is adjusted and working correctly.
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Post by Blaine on Mar 2, 2015 14:43:14 GMT -6
So does the stock petcock only release fuel in the on position when engine cranking or running(and vacuum is being produced) ? That is if eveything is adjusted and working correctly. Yep.That is correct.If in "Pri" fuel can flow all the time. |
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Post by eaglerider on Mar 2, 2015 20:32:38 GMT -6
Your petcock does not have a PRI, and if stock, is vacum controlled. Easy to tell, as the petcock will have a vacum line going to it from one of the carb vacum ports...or there will be vacum hoses "T"d together from both carb vacum ports.
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Post by Blaine on Mar 2, 2015 22:17:53 GMT -6
Your petcock does not have a PRI, and if stock, is vacum controlled. Easy to tell, as the petcock will have a vacum line going to it from one of the carb vacum ports...or there will be vacum hoses "T"d together from both carb vacum ports. Yes. You petcock should have "on" "off" "Res" Some have "on" "Res" "Pri" |
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divot
New Member
Voices in my head>Battle of Disarm
Posts: 61
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Post by divot on Mar 3, 2015 9:00:20 GMT -6
Person who had bike from me took off vacuum assist, choke cable and air box. Put on pods and i assume "T'd" vacuum ports but haven't looked- and rode it like that somehow til lost 1 pod/started running rough and couldn't afford to fix so sold to me.
Winter in midwest so I haven't tried to start or ride it yet. Going through it to rebuild carbs, install choke and vacuum /valve system before I attempt to start it.
All that said-it's missing the choke cable plate/support that bolts to one of the top carb screws. Before I give bike bandit $20+ $8 for shipping- are there any alternatives you know of other than that stock Kawasaki part?
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Post by Blaine on Mar 3, 2015 15:02:52 GMT -6
Person who had bike from me took off vacuum assist, choke cable and air box. Put on pods and i assume "T'd" vacuum ports but haven't looked- and rode it like that somehow til lost 1 pod/started running rough and couldn't afford to fix so sold to me. Winter in midwest so I haven't tried to start or ride it yet. Going through it to rebuild carbs, install choke and vacuum /valve system before I attempt to start it. All that said-it's missing the choke cable plate/support that bolts to one of the top carb screws. Before I give bike bandit $20+ $8 for shipping- are there any alternatives you know of other than that stock Kawasaki part? None that I know of......The vacuum for the petcock goes straight down to the port on the left hand carb.The right carb can just be capped off. |
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Post by eaglerider on Mar 4, 2015 8:00:17 GMT -6
look on ebay....see if you can find the choke part on there....may not, as it is normally connected to the carb. One of the members or I may have what you need, I will have to look. Is the choke cable and rest of the control still there on the throttle control on the handlebar?? If not, you can get the cable from a Vulcan 500 and use it.....it does not use a handlebar control, just a cable and a knob. Check ebay for that.
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Post by wanchesenative on Mar 5, 2015 7:03:50 GMT -6
I've got an old pair of carbs that are basically complete. I can look this weekend to see if I have the clutch cable mount
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divot
New Member
Voices in my head>Battle of Disarm
Posts: 61
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Post by divot on Mar 6, 2015 17:17:41 GMT -6
That would be great if so. I would happily paypal ya some cash to keep it from costing you.
At this point I have everything except that "plate" (Kawasaki name for that part) and the choke cable. So gettin close.
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