New MZ Baghira 660 owner!

[chisleu]

At light throttle, I think it is going super lean. It seems like it hesitates dramatically for a split second. I think I'm going to pull the carb off tomorrow morning and see if I can find a problem. I'm betting I find trash or something clogging a jet.

Any tips?

Also, I know the jets will need to be increased if I remove the airbox, but other than that is there anything else? I do not ride in the rain... bike is scary enough as it is.

EDIT: Holy crap I might have to leave this to a professional. I took the seat off and the filter to see if I could get the airbox out and looking at the carb and everything attached to it, it's much harder to get off than anything else I've ever taken off a small engine. I know I could disassemble it and clean if it I could get it off, but it looks like an absolute monster to get off. I've read a couple carb threads here and elsewhere on the baghira. Anyone have a step-by-step I could follow on removal?

[chisleu]

OK, I got the carb off.

The airspace (the barrel that the air flows through) on the side with the bowl on the bottom is full of oily black soot. There was not very much in the bowl that was dirty. I've cleaned it out very well, and cleaned the soot as best I can. I took the side off with the rubber flap and cleaned that (although it was very clean as well.)

I'm going to keep taking stuff appart and cleaning but I wanted to see if anyone had anything to say about the soot. This can't be normal, right? Could this be backfiring into the intake? That side is the high speed side of the carb right? (or am I totally off on that philosophy?)

Not sure what kind of problem that could imply.

EDIT:
I cleaned everything as best I could. Took apart everything that I can see and cleaned it although other than the black soot, nothing was very dirty. The bowl had a little bit of junk in it.
There was a screen mentioned that should be cleaned but for the life of me I can't see one.

I think I had it backwards. I found the 165 jet so the side without the bowl must be the high speed side. I've never taken apart a carb this big and complex, just a simple carb from a 250cc quad.

If there is anything I should look at or investigate I appreciate any input! Otherwise I'm going to get up in the morning and try to put everything back together and hopefully get it running. Maybe it will start. haha.

EDIT, decided to take the boot off of the spark plug to see how hard it would be to get out. I pulled on it and I pulled the wire out of the boot that goes onto the spark plug. Did I break it or is this suppose to be removable? I pulled the boot off, jammed the wire back into the boot, then pushed the boot back onto the plug.

I'm scared that I'll have more than one issue at this point. I would hate to have the carb be fine now and have an ignition problem to diagnose. haha.

[billr]

OK, I got the carb off.
There was a screen mentioned that should be cleaned but for the life of me I can't see one.

Check this thread for how to get at the float valve filter:
Float valve pics
You'll have to scroll down a bit.
And as I said there, be very careful of the float supports...they will break off.
Bill R

[chisleu]

OK, I got the carb off.
There was a screen mentioned that should be cleaned but for the life of me I can't see one.

Check this thread for how to get at the float valve filter:
Float valve pics
You'll have to scroll down a bit.
And as I said there, be very careful of the float supports...they will break off.
Bill R

YES! Thanks. I read that thread but I had a few beers last night and forgot.

That's the exact problem I'm having btw. The stumbling. What about the black in the low speed side? Is that PCV gunk or misfire? What about the ignition wire? Is it OK that I pulled it off of the spark plug boot? It seems like it firmly reattached.

I will go take that bowl apart again and get that filter out.

I saw that screw but I couldn't see how to get the floats off. I'll check it out again in a few minutes.

Thanks a ton for your help!!!

EDIT: finally got the float pin out. Was so scared I was going to break something. It should be noted that the thing with the filter on it "twists out" but you have to pull while you twist. I misunderstood it as "screws out" and was spinning my wheels for 5 minutes trying to get it out. It had several black hard pieces of debris in it and had collected a sort of film. I washed it out and put it back together.

I guess tomorrow morning I'm going to try to get the bike back together and see if it runs. Maybe I'll pick up some power on top of the issue being fixed!!! fingers crossed!

[harold]

Before you put it back together, I would either increase the size of your pilot jet, or ream it out with a welding tip cleaner. As far as your spark plug, since you got the cap off, take it out and look at it. If you are lean you should be able to see it. As you have seen how hard it is to get to the plug on this bike, a new one right now might be in order.
Then put the cap on the plug and ground it to your engine and see if it sparks. That will let you know if you were able to get the cable back into the cap right.

[chisleu]

Before you put it back together, I would either increase the size of your pilot jet, or ream it out with a welding tip cleaner. As far as your spark plug, since you got the cap off, take it out and look at it. If you are lean you should be able to see it. As you have seen how hard it is to get to the plug on this bike, a new one right now might be in order.
Then put the cap on the plug and ground it to your engine and see if it sparks. That will let you know if you were able to get the cable back into the cap right.

I appreciate the advice, but I'm not comfortable modifying the jets like that. I am scared that I would mess it up and need parts from over the pond. haha

The spark is fine. I got the carbs back on today and it cranked up. Unfortunately I ran it for so long that the exhaust heated up and I can't get those tubes that connect to the airbox on.

One thing... I understand that running without the airbox will lean it out. It was popping when I would give it some throttle (as I released the throttle). I'm hoping that's just from the airbox being disconnected.

[chisleu]

I still have a problem with the light throttle stuff, especially in 1st/2nd in parking lots. It also pops a lot when I slow down with the transmission in-gear. the pops seem to get progressively louder so I end up using the clutch and brakes a lot more than I would like.

From everything I've read, and the suggestions made, this is an issue of the pilot jet being too small, or the needle for the pilot jet being set wrong. The needle (which I think was the one under that rocker) is out of my pay grade. I don't need to be trying to get that out in one piece.

Can I order a new pilot jet online or a drill bit that will enrich that? I do not want to do it haphazardly. I also plan to take it to a mechanic to have the carb removed and the work done. I'm really uncomfortable doing this kind of work myself. I wanted to pull the carb once, but it's not something I feel I should be doing as I will break something.

Thanks for all the help and this great resource!!


EDIT: Another issue entirely, my air filter is held against the side of the airbox in a very strange manor (a big clip with a hook on it). It is a huge foam filter (unsure if this is the stock or not.)

The filter was very clean, as it should be, since the bottom side of it has a 1" gap between filter and the plastic surface it is suppose to be pressed against and to make it worse, the bottom of the airbox is melted where it is close to the exhaust pipe. Is there suppose to be something in the bottom of the airbox that this metal rod goes into or something? The way it is designed, it just won't hold the filter on all the way.

[billr]

I don't remember if I had any black gunk when I pulled the carbs on the Traveller. I did spray every orifice I could identify with carb cleaner til I saw it coming out another opening...
How bad is the popping? Gunshot loud or just a rumble, pop, grumble.
My Traveler is bone stock and "gently" pops on deceleration at time...I think that's part of owing a big single...
Having the air filter loose like that will definitely impact how it runs (mine worked loose once and gave me fits before I thought to check in there).

If you're not comfortable with the carb work, best to take it to a mechanic to get it sorted out.
Once it's running better, you can start doing some of the routine stuff til you're more at ease working on the bike.
Bill R

[chisleu]

I don't remember if I had any black gunk when I pulled the carbs on the Traveller. I did spray every orifice I could identify with carb cleaner til I saw it coming out another opening...
How bad is the popping? Gunshot loud or just a rumble, pop, grumble.
My Traveler is bone stock and "gently" pops on deceleration at time...I think that's part of owing a big single...
Having the air filter loose like that will definitely impact how it runs (mine worked loose once and gave me fits before I thought to check in there).

If you're not comfortable with the carb work, best to take it to a mechanic to get it sorted out.
Once it's running better, you can start doing some of the routine stuff til you're more at ease working on the bike.
Bill R

OK Then I'll see what I can do to get the air filter mounted flush.

The popping is unsettling. I don't mind loud, but it sounds like it would keep getting louder and louder with each pop. With the louder-than-stock pipe, it's scary loud.

I don't mind the noise, I only worry about the surging at low throttle. I sprayed everything out as best I could. I'm scared that if I got into a turn and had the clutch engaged, and it surged like it does in parking lots, I'm going to fall off the damn bike. haha.

[MarkM]

I got up to 70mph cruising a back road and the engine started to act like it was out of gas again. I switched to reserve and tried to get back up to speed but it forced me to slow down as if I was out of gas. Eventually it let me get back up to 55 and then it did it again.

The thing that seems to make the most sense is it's running lean? Maybe I should take the carb off and clean it up? Maybe it needs a larger main jet?

You don't have normal gas tank venting if you've got that plastic bag sealing the filler, as you noted a few days ago. Let some air in the tank and you probably get normal fuel flow.

[chisleu]

I got up to 70mph cruising a back road and the engine started to act like it was out of gas again. I switched to reserve and tried to get back up to speed but it forced me to slow down as if I was out of gas. Eventually it let me get back up to 55 and then it did it again.

The thing that seems to make the most sense is it's running lean? Maybe I should take the carb off and clean it up? Maybe it needs a larger main jet?

You don't have normal gas tank venting if you've got that plastic bag sealing the filler, as you noted a few days ago. Let some air in the tank and you probably get normal fuel flow.

Yes it's definately part of the problem with the highway cruising, but I don't think it's part of the low speed problem. Maybe though. I'll get the cap in tomorrow and hopefully the rain will clear up in the afternoon so I can do some testing.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

there is a filter in the carb behind the float needles tip and seat
sounds like its clogged
and do be careful getting the pin out that holds the float in carb
or you can break the holders for the float
dave

do read my posts in this link
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4705&start=15

[chisleu]

there is a filter in the carb behind the float needles tip and seat
sounds like its clogged
and do be careful getting the pin out that holds the float in carb
or you can break the holders for the float
dave

do read my posts in this link
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4705&start=15

Already cleaned that, thanks for your thread!

EDIT: I was today told that I could have something in the "circuit" but when I sprayed into the holes it sprayed out elsewhere.

I'm hoping that the gas cap solves the problem magically, but I don't think it will. If it doesn't I think I need to replace or modify the pilot jet, but I need to figure out which size I have (I've read there were 2 different sizes put out.) and figure out which size I need to go to.

[harold]

Teikei jets are hard to find, unless you get one that came in a Yamaha. www.boats.net sells them. The part number for the largest I could find is 43f-14342-25-00 and is for a 50 pilot. When I bought mine, I found out the previous owner had already changed the stock pilot for something larger than the 50, so I reamed it out one more size with my tip cleaners- and it helped. At least on my Baghira, the pilot circuit was running very lean, with the popping as you also describe. This larger size stopped the popping, and gave more low end power.

Before you take the carbs off again, set your air screw adjustment again. Start at 6 turns and ride it, and then go 1/2 turn at a time more. I have heard of people going to 7-1/2. Of course at some point the screw is going to want to fall out, so determine where that point is first. I saw a big difference with just this adjustment.

[chisleu]

Teikei jets are hard to find, unless you get one that came in a Yamaha. http://www.boats.net sells them. The part number for the largest I could find is 43f-14342-25-00 and is for a 50 pilot. When I bought mine, I found out the previous owner had already changed the stock pilot for something larger than the 50, so I reamed it out one more size with my tip cleaners- and it helped. At least on my Baghira, the pilot circuit was running very lean, with the popping as you also describe. This larger size stopped the popping, and gave more low end power.

Before you take the carbs off again, set your air screw adjustment again. Start at 6 turns and ride it, and then go 1/2 turn at a time more. I have heard of people going to 7-1/2. Of course at some point the screw is going to want to fall out, so determine where that point is first. I saw a big difference with just this adjustment.

Yeah, I had it 6 before the carb cleaning, then I went to 5. It got worse. I'm going to twist it out and see how far that is, and set it to a turn or so in from that, maybe 7 or so? All of this after I get the cap just to rule that out.

Then I'll get a 50ish. Isn't stock (probably) 46 or so? 50 would be a big improvement.

The gas cap we ordered for a 400cc grizzly ATV does NOT fit. Mine screwed onto it, but vice versa is a no go. Now I'm hunting a gas cap again.

I ran without a gas cap, and 7 turns out, and the popping was much better, but the surging wasn't close to solved, so I'm guessing that I need a larger jet. Ordering that today too..

Ordered:
Acerbis 2070749999 gas cap (not certain, but we think it's the right one.)
Yamaha 43f-14342-25-00 from boats.net