Stubborn New Bike
 

I took the leap and bought an unloved 2001 gz250. Since I got it I've cleaned the carb, got a new air filter, and flushed the gas tank. but the stubborn thing still won't idle for more than a few seconds. Any suggestions? I'm a fairly mechanical guy, but this is my first real bike.

Make sure you have no vacuum leaks around boots.Did you adjust your idle mixture screws (pilot jets) ? ;) :)

Try setting the petcock to "PRI". It's vacuum operated otherwise.

That'll tell if it is a problem with the vacuum pipe. But if it is, repair it straight away. Don't run the bike in prime. Since it's idling for a few seconds, that suggests that there's fuel in the carb. Will it idle with the throttle open? If so, it could be nothing more than the big white idle knob under the carb needs screwing in a few turns.

use the choke

texascam. did you get the idle issue figured out yet?

I disassembled my carb and it was a nightmare of varnish and gunk. I'm going to need a new jet kit or a new carb, whichever I can find cheaper. There's no way fuel was getting through. Anybody have a good source for a kit?

www.ronayers.com is going to have everything you need. Check out the Microfiche section.

You can get entire rebuild kits and just give the whole thing a good cleaning and you'll be good to go. :)

If all the plastic a rubber parts are OK a good cleaning will do it