Guys,

I did my valves on 05 sportsman ho 500 carb.
Took it all apart plastics,gas tank, pulled the plug on coil. Made sure the T was lined with pointer foe tdc. Set valves to .006. Put all back to together, new fuel filter, new air filter, now it starts easy enough sounds good when it is cold but as it warms up the idle creeps up to 1800 to 1900. There is a bit of ticking now I believe sounds normal. No ticking before but valves had no clearance, just can't figure out the very high idle when it's warm. Thoughts...please

 

Do you have the thumb lever too tight? Should have a maximum of 1/8" slack at the lever. Plus is the idle adjuster cable still hooked to the clip on the bottom of the carb? I've found plenty of these that were broken and the idle adjuster cable can turn and idle up and down from engine vibration.

 

Check and check both of those are good, could the valves have anything to do with idle ? I am not very mechanically inclined but had to change gasket on cover so figured to check valves. And found them tight. Now I am thinking I should open it up again to double check valves? But not sure that 's causing idle issue, or choke cable not positioned right? Stumped and frustrated. Hate to spend $$$ at dealer on 10 year wheeeler

 

Retrace your steps especially the throttle cable and choke cable for any binding even if it means taking the plastic back off.

 

Thanks, I will strip it down tomorrow. So you are thinking it cables. Given the fact it creeps up as it warms up?

 

Higher idle than normal can allow the clutches to engage and creep in gear. If it wasn't doing that before,then I's suspect biding either in the choke cable or throttle cable.Plus if turning down the idle adjuster doesn't help,then usually that's a sign of binding cables.

 

I have not touched the idle adjust. It's fine when cold, starts climbing up to about 1800 to 1900 as it warms. I will remove all plastics and try starting. Is there any diagram for cable routes?

 

No diagram on cable routing. Just make sure you can turn the bars back and forth and the lower part of the throttle cable is free and not binding and idle doesn't change when you turn the bars. If idle does change,then you may still have the thumb lever too tight or cable is binding and pulling the idle up. Same for the choke cable,needs to have a little slack at the choke lever. If you suspect it being too tight you can loosen the choke nut at the carb and turn the adjuster in a tad. Another thing you can do is to spray some wd40 around the intake manifold when it idles high and see if idle changes. If it does,could be an intake manifold leak.

 

Thanks OPT

I have reading your post on here for a couple years now. All have been helpful. Thanks again

 

Ok, plastics are all off, both cable have good slack no binding and idle is down a bit to abut 1650. That is still high and a bit erratic can't figure out why it would be this high it was fine prior to valve adjustment.