first bike---need help

[Cabreco]

That look pretty clean to me too. After the plugs & battery, the next thing to check if it's still off is carb sync. BTW Wes did you check the plug wires for an arc?
Just trying to think of all the "freebee" checks you can do.

I'm real curious, would just that amount of crud on top be sufficient to cause you this much trouble.

[wes]

the crud you see im top of #2 carb is a tiny bir of rust lookin deposit. didnt cinfirm arc on each plug. thought since all 4 pipes are heating up, there would be spark. not sure what is meant by seperating the rack on the tank on the tank for cleaning. this pic makes the tops look worse than they are. all the rubber boots look newer, no cracks. fuel lines look newer.thanks for the input guys. your help is appreciated.

[TOOLS1]

When the carbs are together on the mounting plate, it is called a rack. If you have a cleaning/soak tank large enough to put the whole rack in, you do not need to separate it. I just use a gallon can of carb cleaner, and soak them separately. Takes 4 days to clean all 4 carbs, but when I get done they are clean.
TOOLS

[wes]

the boots look good, still a lil flex, no cracks.fuel tubes look good.havnt taken them off yet. prob shoul remove them b4 a 4 day soak in carb cleaner. i have an old metal sink in shed. would kerosene do the same thing? i was told they are purty much the same stuff?

[Cabreco]

Can't say for the Kerosene but I know the gallon can of carb cleaner works great. I just rebuilt the carb on my 74 beetle & and after a 20 minute bath 37 years of crap came off & it sparkled like new. It did destroy all the O rings & gaskets on it so have a complete replacement set.

[sgtslag]

Kerosene is old school for cleaning the engine insides:  mechanics used to add a small amount to the crankcase to dissolve varnish and sludge deposits, but it thins the oil dangerously -- SeaFoam is much safer, and better (as long as you follow directions).  I do not know if Kerosene will destroy rubber.  Try searching the Internet on that topic.  Cheers!

[TOOLS1]

Kerosene is not near strong enough to clean a carburetor. I know it is a hassle taking 4 days to soak the carbs, but it is worth it.
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[shinyribs]

What kind of carb cleaner are ya'll using that comes in gallons?  All i can find is these aerosol cans and it aint cutting it.    Soaking would be great

[rich]

Did you get your charging issue straightened out? Mine's not charging either. I noticed it runs really good with a full charge on the battery. But only for a few minutes, once it starts to gets close to or below 12 volts, with the engine running and the headlight on it runs really bad. I thought I had carb problems too. But I finally let the battery get a real good charge and rode it for just a few minutes and it was running great, no backfires, missing or stalling.

[wes]

ive been sayin it all week, ive finally got a lil time. gonna get new battery and plugs tonight. will see where that gets us by sat eve.thanks for all the advice. i havnt seen a gallon of carb cleaner myself, only seen in cans. found a 3 month free replacement battery for $50 and a 1 yr replacement for $75. also found iridium plugs for 7 each. will keep erbody posted

[Cabreco]

wes wrote

i havnt seen a gallon of carb cleaner myself

I got my gallon can at Advanced Auto. I didn't see it out on the shelf, I just asked the guy at the counter & he got 1 from the back. I think it cost $23. (even comes with a basket to dunk parts into the can)

[wes]

had battery checked at auto shop. they said it was good.plugs will b here in the morn. ive sprayed a good 3/4 can of carb cleaner through the rack today to day and put back on. gonna try plugs in the morn. dunno if i should dump the gas in the tank, its low enough fuels only comin from from reserv on petcock.one of you guys was tellin me how to redo my dump valve on #2, with the pump in the bowl, i could fill corner of bowl enough to push rod with finger. fuel deff squirts out the port thingy. i got cleaner through all that. gonna put 2 galons of hioctane and plugs in morn.say a prayer im rollin.

[wes]

after fresh plugs and carb cleaning. still not caharging above a2.45 volts. use continuity check, looks like rectifier/regulator not properly working. will check one more time b4 ordering. that manual has it all in there.

[wes]

after fresh plugs and carb cleaning. still not caharging above a2.45 volts. use continuity check, looks like rectifier/regulator not properly working. will check one more time b4 ordering. that manual has it all in there.

[wes]

after fresh plugs and carb cleaning. still not caharging above a2.45 volts. use continuity check, looks like rectifier/regulator not properly working. will check one more time b4 ordering. that manual has it all in there.

[TOOLS1]

"That manual has it all in there. " You can say that again.
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[wes]

i dunno how that got up here 3 times. bike now runs great but bettery still not chargin above 12.3/12.45 no matter what thr rpms. are. it does climb a lil with rpms but not like it should. im thnkn its my rectifier if im using this vom correctly. lookin like they are around $100. anybody know a good aftermarket brand to use?

[TOOLS1]

I would switch it to the DOHC unit. I have a wiring diagram, for it somewhere. I think it is on my old computer. If your interested I will look it up.
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[wes]

if you say its good ill check it out. hmm, a dohc. if one side burns out can you flip it around?  what do you think about a used one? havnt looked for one yet. gonna try a couple of local bike shops today. when you call they put you on hold forever... really they just dont pik it back up. but when you go there in person, they are just standin around. nothin goin on. i dunno. might be ceaper on line. just got laid off this mornin so what else have i got to do?