Well, here is the deal. machine is a 2004.5 sp 500ho I go to start it cold after it sitting a week and it needs a large amout of choke for it too idle...if you take off the choke it dies. it needs half choke to run and it wont idle down it stays up at 1700 rpm with it at half choke...again all or nothing...So I know its not getting gas at the low end, so i cleaned out the pilot jet, (seemed dirty) put it back together, runs fine... next weekend same deal, clean out then runs fine...now this week same thing,,,but im not cleaning it out,(sick of that) need to find real problem...i have adjusted throttle cable and put in new gas. also carb cleaner added to gas....any ideas guys????? not sure what to do next.(bigger pilot?)never had this problem before...Ok thanks for the replies!

 

Sounds like its running lean. Try spraying carb cleaner or wd-40 around all the intake and carb connections. Do this with the airbox in place if possible and if the engine smooths out you found your leak.

Steve Lubecki

 

thats an idea but it runs fine after i clean the pilot jet... so not sure, if it leaked air wouldn't it do that all the time for the most part?? and it only does it at idle. spark plug looks goodd...oh and does anyone know how to get the throttle cable out of the carb.??? had a hard time last time and never got it off...thanks

 

Yeah, I just did this on a Scrambler 500. Take off the cover for the throttle connector at the carb. There is a spring loaded piece that turns when you push on the thumb throttle. Reach in and turn that open with your hand then using a small screw driver work the cable out of its slot and lift out the round end. Put it back in the oposite order. Sorry, hard to describe how to do this but the key is to open the throttle down at the carb end first before you can remove the cable.

 

just a thought... hows your fuel filter?