Bike stalling when idle

[IN54NEBIKER]

My Suzuki GZ250 has been in storage for the past year. Whenever I slow the bike and stop, the engine sounds like it is struggling, then splutters and stalls.

Is this a carburetor problem?

I have:
- Drained the fuel tank and topped it up with new fuel (before riding it again for the first time after it was in storage)
- Taken the fuel tap out and cleaned it
- Cleaned the spark plug
- Topped up the oil
- Cleaned the air filter

Any help would be useful...

[blaine]

Welcome.This is a very common problem on these bikes.You need to put some good carb cleaner in the tank and take for a good long ride.Most of the time this will fix your problem.Sometimes it takes a couple of tankfulls to get idle back to normal.It also a good idea to open the drain on the float bowel and flush some fresh fuel by putting the petcock on "Prime" for a few seconds.
:cool: :2tup:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by blaine

Welcome.This is a very common problem on these bikes.

:plus1:

Perfect answer.

I recommend Berrymans B12 Chemtool for a cleaner and suggest that your first dose might need to be about 2X the standard recommendation. You may notice MORE stuttering and rough running right at first as the cleaning progresses.

Increasing the idle speed just a TINY bit might help keep it from stalling but then you probably will need to turn it back down if the cleaner works.

Oh, almost forgot, keeping the choke on just a bit for a longer time will probably help too.
Partial choke is needed during warm up even on those that are working perfectly.

[alantf]

We can't get carb cleaner over here, so I add about an eggcupfull of fuel additive to every tankful of petrol. I find it helps enormously, & a €5 can lasts months. :2tup:

[tallaghan]

My GZ250 suffers from carb icing in cold and wet weather with the same symptoms that you are experiencing. I put a dash of Silkolene Pro FST into the fuel after every fill of petrol. Sorts the problem out completely

[alantf]

Originally Posted by tallaghan

I put a dash of Silkolene Pro FST into the fuel after every fill

Is that the same stuff as STP (Specially Treated Petroleum) that we used to get in England?

[tallaghan]

I am not too sure about that but I would say it is similiar enough

[alantf]

So it's similar to the "fuel additive" I get over here. I agree with you - I wouldn't fill up without it (I can't get the carb cleaner the Americans use, over here)

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alantf

So it's similar to the "fuel additive" I get over here. I agree with you - I wouldn't fill up without it (I can't get the carb cleaner the Americans use, over here)

Not the same brand maybe but likely pretty much the same stuff.

I don't think anything on the shelf over here is labeled just "carb cleaner" anymore.
Calling it "fuel additive" or "engine cleaner" or some such no doubt increases their sales some.

What you need to look for in the ingredients is "real" solvents, like xylene, benzine, etc.
Products where the two major ingredients are "light oil" and "naptha" are just overpriced snake oil in my book.

[Water Warrior 2]

In the mean time until the bike wants to idle properly you may want to increase the idle setting a smidge.