Carb problems following needle shim mod

[Goose]

Well, I did the needle shim mod today and it made my bike run like crap. It jerked and didn't want to rev smoothly. Not sure if the higher altitude made it run too rich after the mod or not, but that was all I could think of.

Because of the way it ran, I decided to switch the washer back to its normal position. I pulled the carb apart again and managed to put a small bend in the little spring that holds the needle in place. I re-bent the spring, reversed the mod, and put everything back together. It now runs OK, but is slow to return to idle and doesn't rev smoothly, but will rev every time I pull the throttle. If I hold it at 1/4 throttle it runs very rough and at one point stalled out. once I let it warm up it would return to its normal idle after a few seconds at higher RPMs.
These are not problems that were happening before the mod, so it seems I did something wrong. Could the fact that the needle spring isn't perfect affect this? (I already have one on order with the dealer, but if it might be the problem it would make me feel a little better.)

Some additional info:
It's an 06' with just under 700 miles on it

This current tank of gas is half used, 91 octane, and has been running a dose of seafoam engine/carb cleaner in it since I filled it.

I did not remove the carb all the way to do the mod. I loosened the manifolds and rotated it. I did remember to tighten the clamps back up.

The throttle is snapping back as it should

While idling, I sprayed carb cleaner on all the air hoses to check for a vacuum leak. I didn't find a leak.

I'm sure I forgot some sort of vital info, so please ask anything else that might be pertinent.

Thanks.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Goose

This current tank of gas is half used, 91 octane, and has been running a dose of seafoam engine/carb cleaner in it since I filled it.

One thing at a time....ONLY ONE. Why the Seafoam in the gas??
You should NOT have started any mods if it wasn't running right in the first place.

And all the "performance" mods make it run richer.
If you live in a place where running richer is not good, you probably shouldn't have undertaken the project to start with.

And, lastly, you probably shouldn't "tinker" with something that you don't want to have out of service for a while.......because you learn the MOST when things DON'T go according to plan.

Hope the GZ isn't your only transportation.

[Goose]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

One thing at a time....ONLY ONE. Why the Seafoam in the gas??
You should NOT have started any mods if it wasn't running right in the first place.

And all the "performance" mods make it run richer.
If you live in a place where running richer is not good, you probably shouldn't have undertaken the project to start with.

And, lastly, you probably shouldn't "tinker" with something that you don't want to have out of service for a while.......because you learn the MOST when things DON'T go according to plan.

Hope the GZ isn't your only transportation.

Gee... thanks dad.

#1. The bike was running fine, however it sat with out being properly winterized and the seafoam was there to help flush any fuel that was there that didn't come out when I emptied the float bowl and any other grime that might have been in there. Because seafoam doesn't hurt the engine I didn't see any harm in adding it to a tank to flush things out.

#2. Because I didn't know if running richer would be a problem or not, I decided to give it a shot. This is not my first time pulling a carb apart, but is the first time I've modded one. I can see why running rich would be a problem now that I've tried it. I realize now that I probably shouldn't have done it, but since the only way I would have known that it would run TOO rich was to try it, and since I don't have a time machine, I'm stuck where I am. Thanks for the 20-20 hindsight though, it didn't help a bit.

#3. At no point did I ever imply that this was my only form of transportation. Look in my sig. I have another vehicle. Besides, I live in a small town and mostly get around by pedal power. I like my GZ though and would love to know what the problem is with it. I'm simply asking a question and hoping that someone will have an answer. I'm sorry if my posting on the board, my lack of experience with the GZ, or my desire to not leave things bone stock offends you.

I'm simply hoping to gain knowledge from this site and, eventually, have enough knowledge to share with others.

[New GZ250]

I totally agree with Goose! Easy Rider's comment was 100% worthless, plus it didn't address the problem!

[Dupo]

Noobs - 2
Easy - 0

:popcorn:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Goose

I'm simply hoping to gain knowledge from this site and, eventually, have enough knowledge to share with others.

And what exactly makes you think that I am doing anything different than that ??

Nothing in my post was nasty or demeaning. Responding in that fashion will certainly encourage others to offer their thoughts, won't it ?? :skull:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by New GZ250

I totally agree with Goose! Easy Rider's comment was 100% worthless, plus it didn't address the problem!

And THIS comment helped with his problem.......HOW ??

[5th_bike]

Easy...

Dupo's just messin' with ya ! :poke2:

[ Apologies for not contributing to a meaningful solution for the posted problem(s) ]

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by 5th_bike

Easy...

Dupo's just messin' with ya ! :poke2:

I know that Dupo just "tollerates" my being here......because he TOLD me so.

If I continue to catch crap for innocent, well meaning comments he may not have to tollerate me much longer.

[Goose]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

And what exactly makes you think that I am doing anything different than that ??

Nothing in my post was nasty or demeaning. Responding in that fashion will certainly encourage others to offer their thoughts, won't it ?? :skull:

You had no knowledge to offer in your original response other than what was already obvious. As I said... 20-20 hindsight. Instead of suggesting WHAT I might have done wrong while performing or reversing the mod you simply pointed out that doing the mod in the first place wasn't a wise thing to do. However, because my bike doesn't run correctly, I'd already figured that part out, which is why I posted a question in the "troubleshooting" part of the forum.

Your post had the feel of trying to rub salt in an open wound, not trying to help. Please explain to me what part of your post was geared toward a discussion about what is actually wrong with my bike and NOT the fact that I shouldn't have done the mod in the first place.

Of course now this thread has deteriorated into nothing but a pissing match, which is likely to leave me with no help.