Jashoda

Hi All! Really appreciate all of the info on this site, especially for newbies like myself!!

I have an 87 rebel, that was running great, but started leaking gas thru to the air filter box. I took it to a mechanic who said carb needed cleaning, and air mix screw broke. 2 weeks without the bike, and I get it back and it is running ROUGH. (how about 38 mpg instead of the 80+ before the leak and cleaning)

A friend led me to a mech who checked the plugs, not gapped, and wrong heat capacity. Runs nice and smooth. Good mpg, but plugs continue to foul after putting some miles on it.

Any ideas/input would be great.

Thanks!

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flitecontrol

Sounds like there is either too much fuel and/or poor spark. Was the air mix screw replaced? Who broke it, you or the mechanic? If he did, then sounds like he should make it right. The initial setting for the screw is 2 1/4 turns out. Turn all the way in until it seats lightly, then turn back.

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

Jashoda

too much fuel for sure, but the new mech says if he pulls the screw out anymore, she stalls? Old Mechanic broke the screw... also put the wrong plugs in, not gapped properly, etc. Im looking for a refund from him, not looking for him to mess with it any further....

Thought we had it figured out cause the sleeve on the air filter wasn't a spec part, but some really dense foam around the canister. Even with taking that off to improve the fuel/air mix, its still messing the plugs up. New mech said the air screw is set to 2 3/4 turns. (it was at 3.5 when I brought it to start with)

Would there be residual "junk" in the plug sockets that might cause the problem? Like, can the inside where the plugs seat be cleaned out?

I'm running about 80 miles before I need to pull the plugs and clean them... not sure how long I can keep that up!

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flitecontrol

Unless my understanding of the air/fuel adjustment screw is backwards, turning the screw out increases the amount of fuel, and turning it in reduces the fuel flow. So if you can turn it, it needs to be turned in to reduce fuel to the cylinders because you are running rich.

Are you sure the carbs are clean? A sticky float or gunk on the float valve could cause it to run rich.

Here's a diagram and parts list for your carb:http://cheapcycleparts.com/model_yea...ssemblies/6405

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

Fridgitator

Perhaps a silly question, but did anyone drain the puke tube, and make sure it isn't clogged?

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'09 Rebel 250

Loud ties save lives.

Soul Searcher

Was the main and pilot jets checked for the right sizes when carb was cleaned ?

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GearJammer

Some good points being made by others.......

You'd do better to lightly seat the mixture screw and bring it back out to the ballpark setting of 2 1/4 turns out. You might also want to make sure that the choke (an enrichener) is operating correctly and the puke tube that Fridge mentioned is a drain tube coming from the separator/canister and that drain tube/hose has a plug in it. I'd remove that plug and LEAVE IT OUT........removed the one from my 250 as well as my 450. The proper jet sizes suggested by Soul Searcher would also be a good thing to check out.

No worries on what you asked about residual "junk" in the spark plug wells. Should not be an issue or related to what you're experiencing......

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"Ridin' Ain't A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle"

1986 450 Rebel

Soul Searcher

Jashoda,

You have another problem with the carb. The carb FLOAT BOWL VENT is pluged. The drain for that is on the bottom center of the float bowl. You should have gas dripping underneat the center of the Rebel before it floods over into the air cleaner housing.

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flitecontrol

A good way to remove loose junk from the spark plug wells is with a vacuum cleaner. Slowly slide the nozzle over the plug before removing them. If you think stuff may have already gotten on the internal threads, causing the plugs to not seat properly, remove the plugs and clean the threads thouroughly with an old toothbrush dipped in gas. Yes, plugs that aren't properly seated would lead to poor compression, poor ignition, and fouled plugs. You want to make sure that isn't a problem right off.

Are the air filters stock, and are they clean?

__________________
I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
Putting your bike info in your signature helps others help you!

Guba

I also want to point out that 2 3/4 turns out is for the new generation Rebels, '96 and up. The '80's Rebs have a different carb, so flite might have it right with 2 1/4 turns out.

I also want to point out that one side will run a little richer than the other, this is normal. At least for a single carb REB.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles