New owner carb/choke question.

[edfmaniac]

Hi everyone,

I just bought an 01 Traveler with 28k mi and immediately ran into the problem with erratic idling and surging. It also won't allow you to give it any throttle, only choke, until it's warm enough to kick on the fans or else the engine just loses fire. So after changing the oil, giving the bike a once over and lubing the throttle cables, I proceeded to check the pilot jet screw(I think that's what it is called) and was surprised that after that many miles, it was still at 2 1/2 turns out. I set it to five and the idle became more solid. The surging at cruising speed went away too but it still won't allow me disengage the choke or give it any throttle until it gets warm enough for the cooling fans to come on. It's almost as if there is something tripped by the cooling fan circuit becoming live that suddenly wakes up the motor. Everything is roses once it reaches full operating temp but it takes about 3 or 4 minutes, even after sitting for a few hours in 100 degree heat. Do I need to go to a larger pilot jet or just keep coming out on the needle. I added one more turn before putting my fairings back on so as of now, I'm at 6 turns out with the same results. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Victor

[Fluffy_Dog_1018]

If it was sitting for a while you might consider pulling the carbs and giving them a good cleaning.

My traveller is always a bear to start cold unless I run the carb dry before I shut it down on the previous ride. A few blocks from home I just reach down and turn the petcock full counter clockwise and then let it starve in the driveway. Next day I just turn it to 12 o'clock and the bike always fires right up with fresh fuel in the bowl.

Good luck.

[edfmaniac]

Thought I would try to fire her up this morning without using the choke just to see what happens. She fired right up and would idle after about 30 seconds using just the throttle, no choke. Problem solved for now I guess but I'd still like to hear opinions.

[basser23]

Dirt....use some Seafoam in the fuel,after awhile it'll clear..or it should....

[DAVID THOMPSON]

my traveller never needs choke except in very cold weather
and runs good after sending gallons of heet gas treatment
and lucas gas treatment through the carb
the thing now runs good
but WHAT A GAS HOG
100 miles to a tank full
dave

gas now $3.57 9/10 per us gal here now 6/22/11
if i ride it every where i just need to go it costing about $25.00 a week
my vw new beetle diesel is cheaper to run

[billr]

Thought I would try to fire her up this morning without using the choke just to see what happens. She fired right up and would idle after about 30 seconds using just the throttle, no choke. Problem solved for now I guess but I'd still like to hear opinions.

I have to use a bit of choke on mine below 70degrees. Only for about 2-3 miles, then good to go.
I agree with the cleaning and making sure everything is tight. My Traveller had sat for quite a while and wouldn't run well until I cleaned out the carbs.
Bill R

[edfmaniac]

The choke hasn't been touched since yesterday and she is firing right up. The idle was still wandering a bit and I had a few hard hesitations today so I dropped by the auto parts store and picked up some Sea Foam. I didn't know that you could put it in the bottom side until I read the can so 4 oz went in the oil and 5 oz in the gas tank. She's really purring now and pulls my 300lb butt up and down the central Texas hill country with ease, possibly the best $1600 I've spent on a vehicle to date.

[Skorpion]

my traveller never needs choke except in very cold weather
and runs good after sending gallons of heet gas treatment
and lucas gas treatment through the carb
the thing now runs good
but WHAT A GAS HOG
100 miles to a tank full
dave

gas now $3.57 9/10 per us gal here now 6/22/11
if i ride it every where i just need to go it costing about $25.00 a week
my vw new beetle diesel is cheaper to run

Dave I think your bike may have a choke that's not closing fully, you should get 50 miles per US gallon easily.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

thanks on the choke comment
will check it out
dave

[edfmaniac]

Well the news just keeps getting better. I thought that I was happy with the power that I was getting until I watched some videos of guys running their bikes. It seemed that they were putting down a lot more power so I went and started doing some more aggressive runs. Once I actually opened the throttle, it was obvious something was wrong because there was major cut out. The carbs were pulled and opened up to find that most of the jet and needle work was already done. The problem was that when the last person reassembled the CV side, they pinched the diaphragm bad. I'm sure that side of the carb was barely functional. After putting her back together, all I can say is that my investment keeps making me more and more happy.

[edfmaniac]

Just got back from a 50 mi ride. The Traveler now has almost as much acceleration as my XR650 did after I uncorked it. Granted, I haven't tweaked the gear ratio yet, but I don't know if I want to exchange cruising RPM for quickness. It's got plenty of giddy-up for commuting as it stands.

[billr]

Dave I think your bike may have a choke that's not closing fully, you should get 50 miles per US gallon easily.

Somethings up for sure. I was getting 50-55 out of the Tour. The Traveller initially was running 40-45 when I first got it. After cleaning the carbs and a tune-up, I'm getting 47-50 (depending on the "neck wringing", if you know what I mean)
Bill R

[Srinath]

Mine seems to have a choke that does nothing. It starts just fine, but if parked for 2-3 days always need to get a little battery boost with my charger, but otherwise starts fine, but choke does nothing.
What could be happening. Mine has a supertrapp can stock filter/airbox and a dj kit.
Thanks.
Srinath.

[billr]

Just got back from a 50 mi ride. The Traveler now has almost as much acceleration as my XR650 did after I uncorked it. Granted, I haven't tweaked the gear ratio yet, but I don't know if I want to exchange cruising RPM for quickness. It's got plenty of giddy-up for commuting as it stands.

I know just what you mean.
Everytime I think of doing a modification, I come around to the fact that the blasted thing does exactly what I need and more.
Why mess with that???
Enjoy that bike.

Bill R