800 carb issues?

[dfrank]

I took my '01 summit 800 out for the first time of the season today, with poor results.

I had drained all the fuel after the summer, and refilled it with fresh (10% ethanol) premium fuel.

I think I am having carb issues. It idled well, then ran for 4-5 minutes up the trail before it stalled. Then it felt seized up. It wasn't seized, just had cylinders full of fuel. It would restart and run well for a few minutes before stalling and I couldn't even pull the cord until holding pressure on it to drain off the unburned fuel. It did that a few times before refusing to start at all.

When I got home, I pulled the air box and shot some carb cleaner in the throttle body and ran it some more on the trailer. It seems to run fine now, but it seemed to run fine on the trailer all summer. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go ride it again tomorrow and see.

Should I put some fuel treatment in there too? I bought a bottle of b12 Chemtool for that purpose, but i hate to treat all 10 gallons, then wish it weren't in there.

Any further recommendations? Thanks for all your advice.

Dave

 

[Snow Duck]

Dave..
i would pull the carbs off and clean them complete....sound to me like you have a bad fuel seat in the cyl that was full of fuel and make sure the jets and bowl are clean or you might have a siezed motor for sure...good luck

 

[Motley Doo]

Sounds like you might have dried up the seal on the needle and seat. Take the carbs back out, pull the needle and seat and check them over. Also make sure the floats have full travel.

IMO, I don't drain the fuel out over the summer, last ride of the year I premix 150:1 so that the fuel in the float bowls have a bit of oil in them just to keep seals from drying up. Not to mention, a bit of extra oil coating everything couldn't hurt! Actually, in my experience, premixed fuel stays good longer than a tank with Sta-bil!

 

[byeatts]

Sounds like you might have dried up the seal on the needle and seat. Take the carbs back out, pull the needle and seat and check them over. Also make sure the floats have full travel.

IMO, I don't drain the fuel out over the summer, last ride of the year I premix 150:1 so that the fuel in the float bowls have a bit of oil in them just to keep seals from drying up. Not to mention, a bit of extra oil coating everything couldn't hurt! Actually, in my experience, premixed fuel stays good longer than a tank with Sta-bil!

Hmmmm.150 to 1.Thats not rich with oil thats Lean.but this is - JMO

 

[Motley Doo]

nah, we ADD it to the fuel, so 150:1 is in addition to the injection. Just seems to help run through the carbs as well. This is also how we break in our motors.

 

[dfrank]

Thanks guys. This is a sled that is recovering from a fire last year. I was running oil in the fuel and the injection tank to make sure it was getting oil. It ran great the 2 times i had it out in the spring. (though smokey as hell)

I started it every few weeks over the summer, and just now drained off all the fuel mix and refilled with fresh premium. It is clearly getting oil, maybe too much. The plugs look a little fouled, but if it idles and charges, though briefly, I wouldn't think they are the issue.

I guess it sounds like it gets too much fuel, not enough air.

Can anyone direct me to good reading on carbs? I generally know what all those parts are, but opening it up and fiddling with the smaller parts sounds scary.

 

[JustinB]

Okay this happend to me it was a simple mistake. 1 Pull your carbs and clean them very well then Check you float mine was just slightly hanging up and allowed to much fuel.

 

[Devilmanak]

It doesn't take much dirt/debris/gunk to cause a needle and seat to leak. Vibrations from a running engine can just make it worse, although usually you notice it when trailering, with a big pool of fuel on the trailer.

 

[dfrank]

So how should i really clean my carbs? I removed them and sprayed them out with carb cleaner, and wiped them with a paper towel. I removed the bottom cover on one and it looked super shiny clean. is it inside this part that the needle drops down into that needs cleaning?

 

[dfrank]

I brought it to a mechanic friend today and It looks like I need a rebuild. or a new motor. Only the top end maybe, but he said the lower should be treated with suspicion.

Where might I look for a used motor? Is that a reasonable plan?

How much is this thing worth as a parts sled? Where would i list it?