Help, I have a bear tracker that has been sitting for a month or two but the gas was even older and it will not stay running without the choke on. I drained all the old gas and refilled with new. Then I cleaned took the carburetor apart and cleaned it outh the best I could with spray carb cleaner. I did see a piece or two of loose varnish in the bowl but other than that it looked pretty clean inside. I forgot to mention that the gas I drained out looked pretty dark and smelled old. After re-assembly there is still no change. It will run ok with the choke on the first notch while at high idle but it immediately dies when you take the choke off even when warmed up. HELP!! Could there still be some varnish in it I didn't get out? Where do I look?

 

Help! anyone?

 

Open up the link to the picture at the bottom of this post. First, if you took it totally apart make sure you set your pilot screw right. (9) If thats not it, you might have some luck if you clean the pilot passage really well. It's the passage/jet right under the front of the carb closest to the engine. (where parts 9 and 10 are) If that clogs up it will run really bad at idle and stumble when you let go of the gas. Sometimes using a sprey can of cleaner just isn't good enough. You might have to get a 1 gal bucket of carb cleaner and let the whole carb sit overnight (totally taken apart, no plastic parts). I had a carb that would not idle right until I left it in a parts washer overnight. Using compressed air on all the passages also helps a lot. Another problem could be the air cut off valve on the side of the carb (Parts 18 and 8). It cuts off the slow air passage when you let go of the throttle at higher engine RPMs, like when you downshift. Make sure its not rotted or dried out. I also wanted to point it out so you know to remove it if you plan to dip the whole carb overnight.


Here is a picture of your carb off bikebandit.com
http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.../YA6673_14.gif

 

Thanks!! I didn't actually remove the pilot jet, I just cleaned it with spray cleaner. I am thinking that might be my culprit. I will work on it and try your suggestions tomorrow.

 

By the way, what is the approximate setting for the pilot screw from lightly seated??
Thanks

 

In most cases its 2 turns out, or you can check before you take it apart. Just turn it in 1/4 turn at a time until it just seats gently and set it back to the same amount of turns out when you put it back together.

 

Thanks for the help. I actually took the pilot jet out last night and sure enough is was plugged. I cleaned it out and it ran perfectly. What a relief, I can't stand it when something isn't right. What a pain the srecws are on that carb, they are soft as butter.

 

I've seen stainless allen head carb bowl screws advertised before but I can't seem to find them now. Anyone have a good source? Just taking the carb apart twice ha smangled the screws
Thanks

 

Been reading you advise to another Bear Tracker owner and I am about in the same boat. Mine runs rich (black smoke fm exhaust) and mild rough idle after taking carb apart and soaking overnight in cleaner and blowing out w/air. Is the pilot screw "inside" the bowl or is it the one "outside" the bowl? Do any jets/needle valves inside the bowl have any factory settings or just screw down to stop/snug.....this might be my problem?

 

this is the reason that i am in the habit of turning my fuel off when im about 30 seconds from parking mine. the bowl runs dry and then there is no fuel left in the carb to worry about. i bought a 99 Yam Big Bear 350 that sat 7 ears and there was a shitload of varnish in the carb. the previous owner never drained the tank nor emptied the bowl. it sat and sat and sat. cost me almost 600 bucks at the stealership to get it running. the entire carb was trashed.