My first carb cleaning! Wish me luck!

Budweiser

Budweiser

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
63
Age
54
Location
Central NY
Started up my 2000 SXR 700 for the first time today and for the first time I've owned it it didn't run right!
It runs fine but then starts to bog down and stall unless you give it some choke, then it idles back up.
I think the carbs needs to be cleaned. It has 10,500 miles and I've never cleaned the carbs! Flame away! But its always run perfectly. Its my secondary sled. I've always stored my things with seafoam and full tank of gas. Never any problems.

I've replaced the plugs (no difference).

Do you guys agree I need to clean the carbs? Some good info in the tech section, I'll follow that. I'm pretty mechanically inclined but have always been intimidated by cleaning carbs. I'll start by draining the old gas and replacing with new premium.

Every year when I start it I've wondered when I'll have to clean them! This is the year!!!!!!

Feel free to toss in any suggestions!!
 
I can only imagine some of the "spirited" responses to your post. I'm sure I am going to speak for many here on TY and give you a resounding YES...clean the carbs! :o|

Actually, its a pretty simple task and it feels pretty good when she fires right up and purrrrs at idle thanks to your hard work.
 
Clean the carbs, and stop using Seafoam. It contains isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol in any form is not good for two strokes. Fuel nowadays has enough alcohol in it, no need to add any more
 
Yes, do clean the carbs, I've had 4 plugged pilots so far out of 6 carbs this year. The other 6 carbs I opened up this year needed to rejetted for back around here since we last rode at 10,000ft. I have anywhere from 3-9 more carbs to clean yet before the season.
 
Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I know I deserve to get slammed for not cleaning them before but if it ain't broke.....but now its broke!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully this will fix my problem.

Any suggestions on how to empty the tank? Easily?
 
You shouldn't be waiting until there's a problem before cleaning your carbs. Do you realize even a partially plugged jet will lean the mixture, and could damage a cylinder.
 
By all means empty that old gas out.. With clean carbs that's the last thing you want to do is run crappy gas through your earned work.... Good luck,, as you will find the process goes twice as fast the second time around.....
 
Budweiser said:
Any suggestions on how to empty the tank? Easily?
Click to expand...

get a shake siphon.... they work great. its pretty much a .5" ID vinyl tube with a check valve, u shake it up and down to start the flow and in no time at all, your tank will be empty. oh, and you can get one for about $8
 
Yes I agree clean carbs. Saves you big bucks if you do it every year..... Make sure the throttle cable is not too tight. I cleaned my carbs and it ran like dog crap after. I was told by person on this site to check the cable. I removed it and she ran mint right away.

cheers
 
Shake siphon huh?? I'll look into that. Can I get one at a autoparts store?

Thanks for the posts! I haven't gotten too beat up about not cleaning them yet!
 
Budweiser said:
Shake siphon huh?? I'll look into that. Can I get one at a autoparts store?
Click to expand...

just google "shake siphon," you may find a retailer...... autozone or oreilly might have them.
 
I use an old electric fuel pump attached to a plastic milk crate. Pump is wired with alligator clips and has hoses attached. Draws great and everything fits nice in the crate. Can clip it to a battery or run it off the battery charger.

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just be sure to set the throttle and choke cable freeplay correctly when you are all done. make sure all coolant and fuel lines are re-attached. a little trick i do is to put a small dab of grease or neverseize on the fittings for the fuel and coolant lines. this is to help with ANNUAL cleaning. i also put neverseize on the float bowl screws when re-installing. if you have trouble getting the float bowl screws out, install your phillips on the screw head, then tap the handle with a hammer a few times to shock loose the screw. also make sure to remove the jets to clean them, dont just shoot carb cleaner down there and blow them out. remove them. any questions feel free to ask. once you get the hang of it you can do this job from start to finish in 45 minutes.
 
make sure you get the carb/intake boots back on all the way as well. i leave the boots in the airbox and not on the carbs when re-installing.
 
I did it. Took about 3 hours start to finish. Wasn't that hard at all. I followed all the advice given and cleaning tips in the tech section.

They weren't dirty really. There was some white gunk in the bowl on 2 of them. Didn't look like anything was plugged either. I was expecting to see a lot of grunge in there. But maybe I did (white gunk) and don't know that was a lot!

Can't start it tonight, no fresh fuel. I'll do it tomorrow and let you all know it worked out. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!
 
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