Just a few questions....

[Water Warrior 2]

I do hope you are joking.

[blaine]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

I do hope you are joking.

Spark plug gap is 0.6mm to 0.7mm.

[patrick_777]

Originally Posted by 5th_bike

You know how to check the gap don't you, when your nail just fits, it's good to go.

Most ridiculous thing I've seen posted on this board in a LONG time. God, I hope you're joking.

[Water Warrior 2]

Anyone know or care about the thickness of 3 coats of nail polish ?? On the other hand I have been told that a penny match book cover is 18/1000ths of an inch thick. Doubled over it is 36/1000ths and a cheap easy way to be close on a plug.
That was told to me by an old backyard mechanic who set his chevy ignition points that way at 18/1000ths.

[5th_bike]

Originally Posted by patrick_777

Most ridiculous thing I've seen posted on this board in a LONG time. God, I hope you're joking.

Thank you for your appreciation.
This was taught to me when I was about 13, toying around with mopeds. Actually, you should use your thumbnail.
I recently checked after I set my spark plug to 0.6 mm - my thumbnail still fits exactly.

So, was I kidding - kind of, but also kind of not.
Do I use a feeler gauge to set the spark plug gap - yes.

FYI the average male nail is 0.6 mm and the average female nail is 0.5 mm. A little nail polish should help there (thanks WW).
Nails also get thicker with age, so you can't use this shortcut forever...

The point being, did you realize you are carrying your own set of feeler gauges around ? :2tup:

[fairweatherrider]

Now THAT'S Funnnny

[Viirin]

damn 18mm? i was way off - sorry

[GZ Jess]

I have yet to get to checking the plug but I have stopped using the idle screw to start the bike and have run about a whole tank with the Berryman's in it. Now I "turn on the choke" and start it but have to keep the throttle on a little for a few minutes and then turn the choke off. After that it will stay running, but the engine will occasionally still race after it is run hard or a quick stop. I wish our bikes had the throttle lock! The popping (or what I called backfiring) has decreased and it rarely ever does it Yay! So I think I am making progress.

Jessica

[bonehead]

Jessica, sounds to me like you may need your valves adjusted on the bike. Don't know the service history, but mine was doing exactly what you are describing and I adj. the valves and it fixed the problem.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by bonehead

Jessica, sounds to me like you may need your valves adjusted on the bike. Don't know the service history, but mine was doing exactly what you are describing and I adj. the valves and it fixed the problem.

WOW......good information.
I think she is indeed making progress.

It sounds to me like the throttle cables might be sticking now.......or there is a vacume leak.
It also sounds like things are working well enough that the idle screw could be tweeked up just a bit now.

Does moving the choke lever change the idle speed......while it is warming up ??
If it does NOT, then there is still a probem with something in the carb.

I feel a need to repeat that the choke is not an all or nothing device. Once the bike starts, you should be able to reduce it in small steps to maintain a proper idle speed until you finally have it all the way off. If your idle speed is not coming up enough to keep it running then, of course, that doesn't apply......and there is still something amiss.

At some point, you may have to consider taking it to a shop. Manually cleaning the carb should take about 2 hours of shop labor, which would cost about $150 in my area. Maybe they would find something easier and cheaper instead.