Need throttle to start up bike
 

FACTS:
My 2002 Suzuki GZ 250 needs to throttle to start up.
The carburetor was already recently cleaned at a service center.
The battery is new.
It was working fine before the a three-day weekend in which I did not use the bike.
(Note: when I first got the bike I had to keep throttle on at stops to keep it from stalling. After a few weeks of use I no longer had this problem but now it seems to have returned and with the additional problem of having to use throttle to start the bike up.)
I have tried adjusting the idle speed but I am not sure which way to adjust the little white knob and I don't want to turn it too much for fear I might screw it up.

DETAILS:
When I start my bike I give it max choke and have to be turning the throttle prior to pressing the starter button in order to get my bike to start. This start-up issue still persists even if I have ridden the bike for an hour and turn it off and try to start it up again. The bike has a strong gasoline smell when I try to start it up. It also sometimes has a lot of gulp gulp gulp sounds.

I also need to maintain throttle on my bike when I stop, if not the bike stalls. Sometimes after a long period of use I can remove throttle at stops for a good amount of seconds. But even then, if I leave the bike stopped for too long without throttle, it stalls.

ANY IDEAS before I give up trying to troubleshoot on my own and drive the bike to a service center?




My bike has an issue similar to:
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5194 -- Gas contaminated with oil.
http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/default ... 8&m=520984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUE30c_8s8U -- The guy from this video said the head and exhaust header gaskets were leaking, contributing to the problem.

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

Imagine that you're screwing in a screw (clockwise). This increases the speed. When the engine is hot, with the choke off, if you don't notice any increase of speed when you screw it in, then something is really amiss. You'll not do any harm if you screw it in a couple of turns. If the engine doesn't speed up, back it off to its original position (no need to be absolutely spot on) & then you'll probably find that the problem is that the carb needs cleaning. Have you run any carb cleaner through lately? The carb seems to be the weak feature on an otherwise good bike. :2tup:

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

...

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

A little bit of throttle to get it started when it is cold out is normal for my bike. These bikes need the idle set pretty high, I've read 1400 RPMs, to stay running. If adjusting the idle screw doesn't fix your problem, my guess is your carb is dirty. Various in-the-tank carb cleaners may work, but if a passage is totally plugged up they probably won't work, and it needs to be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned.

You don't say if the carb was cleaned since this problem started (or came back). It sounds a little like the problem I had when my carb had a plugged up starting circuit.

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

alantf: Thanks alantf. I turned my idle half-a-circle clockwise and it improved the situation somewhat. I'm going to try the carburetor gas tank fluid when I get a chance to stop by Kragen's. (Seafoam?)

Gz Rider: Good to hear from you again too, Gz Rider! I was actually thinking the same thing about the idle switch before you helped clarify the issue. I was just about to take a picture of the idle switch from the top and bottom angle, draw counterclockwise and clockwise arrows in the jpg picture, then post it here and ask: which clockwise? viewed from bottom or top? I still might.

Meme:
I did not get the carburetor cleaned when this problem came back and/or started. I figured since I just got it cleaned in October or so that it couldn't get clogged back up so soon. I guess I may be wrong then.

Conclusion: Despite fiddling with the idle switch, I still need throttle to fire up the bike. The idle fiddling did improve/help lessen stalling at stops. Fiddling with the idle also helped me get off the throttle sooner while warming/starting up the bike with the choke.

I'll try fiddling with the idle for some more rpm and get some carburetor cleaner to try to avoid a trip to the service center. I read from these forums that Seafoam is good? Any other suggested brands?

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

SeaFoam & Chemtool Berrymans b-12 are two of the best on the market.
:cool:

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

I put STABIL in the tank to winterize it, but the other day was so nice out and i rode it. It felt so smooth from the stabil i loved the way it felt. Got home and i put another tablespoon of it in the gas tank.

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

...

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

Yes, i topped it off with gas.

Re: Need throttle to start up bike
 

...