I got a 2000 ds and its been stalling on me. as it turns out, ive been letting it idle for about 10 minutes or so before i ride, and thats clogging up my carb. seems to run fine after i wind it up and burn out the crap that built up, but does it sound to anyone like something is out of tune? lemme know!

 

Do a full-out plug check (not the ride around the yard a few times and look at the plug type), and see if that gives you anymore information. Just a suggestion for diagnosing [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

It sounds like your idle mixture screw needs adustment. It's under the carburetor towards the engine. Try turning it half a turn counter-clockwise (that's out). This will give your bike a slightly richer mixture. Air gets denser with cold weather = more fuel needed.
If you get the mixture close, you shouldn't need to warm your bike up for that long, that and idling doesn't splash oil around the gearbox unless it's in gear with the clutch pulled in.

 

It could be the other way too.
If idling your engine is something you do out of habit and not because it wont run unless you do, then it sounds like its rich in the idle mixture and you need to turn the idle screw clockwise 1/2 to 1 full turn.
Do this after it clears out and warms up and you will hear the difference in the RPMs.
Turn it either direction untill you get your best RPM then clockwise 1/2 turn.

Mystereid is right, don't let it idle for long periods, it not good for engine.

 

thanx, guys. hey if there is some way i can tune it for a little bit lighter riding, that would be cool... because i usually ride it pretty hard, but on a nice day when i just wanna cruise thru the woods, itll choke itself up before long, and i have to wind it out... is this in need of adjustment, or is it the nature of the machine?

 

You do have a problem somewhere, have you cleaned or changed your air filter? Check the choke operation, it should pull out and push in with two clicks, mine stuck at first and I would have to force it in. Even running with the choke on made it feel blubbery with soft thrttle response but it wasn't stalling out. There are three stages to your carburator. The first is the idle screw controlling the fuel flow while the throttle is closed. Next is the pilot jet for off idle through midrange and the main jet is for wide open throttle. Each affects the others somewhat.
The idle screw is the most sensitive. You are saying that running your bike in the open with the throttle on the middle and main circuits it runs ok but putting through the woods it will choke up? Still sounds like the idle screw needs to be turned out (counter clockwise). If that won't do it then you should pop the carb open and clean it or have it cleaned. Also check the vacuum diaphram for a tear. Unless someone messed with the jets in a big way I wouldn't look at changing them just yet. The stock main is stamped 165. I can't remember the pilot #.