I have a 2005 Honda 400 ex that won't idle. Used to ride it every day but went off to college and it sat for about a year. I can get it to crank and it runs fine as long as I am giving it gas but as soon as I let off it dies I have took carb off and cleaned as well as I could and it wasn't that dirty but I don't know much about carbs. I have adjusted idle screw all the way in and out with no difference being made . only way I can get it to idle at all is by adjusting throttle adjustment on handlebars. Any tips or help please !

 

Don't know if you have a safety device on the throttle housing or not,but adjust the play in the thumb lever first to where you have about an 1/8" play or so at the lever.Crank it up and then see if you can adjust the carb to where it idles.

 

When you say adjust carb do you mean idle screw?

 

So I adjusted throttle to where the throttle had about that much play and the idle is completely cranked down but still no luck

 

Yes.. if that doesn't help then sounds like you need to recheck your carb work.May still have some dirt in the jets. Jets have to be clean and open,especially the pilot jet or it wont idle.

 

What's is the best way to clean the jets because I have no experience at atv carbs at all

 

Spray carb cleaner and an air gun usually can get things clean. You should be able to see daylight throw the jets. Also the small openings should be clean and blown out with an air gun. There's some good helpful videos on youtube.

 

Ok thanks so much man ill try in the morning and see how it goes.

 

Ok so I took the whole carb off and diss assembled completely except for air girl ratio jet cause I didn't have the tool . it was a little gunky but I cleaned it thoroughly and put it back on . now it will idle fine with choke on but as soon as you take it off it dies . what else could it be

 

Still sounds like a pilot jet is stopped up,openings not clean in the carb,idle isn't adjusted right,etc.