Page 1 of 1
'88 Elite SB50P Runs Great but won't Idle
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:08 pm
by ansneds
Picked up an '88 Elite SB50P a couple days ago. It starts up just fine with the electric start or kick start but it doesn't seem to idle very well. It will ride just fine, but if I let off the gas to idle it just shuts down. I've turned up the idle screw on the carb and it doesn't seem to help. Anyone have any ideas?
Re: '88 Elite SB50P Runs Great but won't Idle
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:16 pm
by motormike
With any new purchase of unknown history, you really should start by cleaning the airfilter, airbox inlets, float bowl, main and idle jets, {spark plug, fuel filter}replace}...and THEN set the idle-air mixture screw to factory setting and see what you have THEN.
Re: '88 Elite SB50P Runs Great but won't Idle
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:43 pm
by Wheelman-111
Greetings:
In addition to MM's advice, can you measure compression? If low, check the usual suspects for air leaks. Cases should be clean at the joint. Check both crank end seals, manifold and carb junctions. Unwillingness to idle might be a reed valve not sealing well. Check the reed block as a last resort, because it's a PITA to disassemble and then you need a gasket...
Re: '88 Elite SB50P Runs Great but won't Idle
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:02 pm
by bradmeehan
There's a tiny hole you have to clean in the bowl-half of the carb. It's pressed into a small recess. Not sure the name of that circuit, but it gets overlooked in the cleaning process. Make sure that is clean and you can see your wire poking through the other side before saying it's clean.
Re: '88 Elite SB50P Runs Great but won't Idle
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:37 pm
by ansneds
Ended up cleaning the gas tank because there was junk sitting in the bottom of it. Then I bought a new petcock because the filter was bad on it. After that I cleaned out all the jets and that recessed area. Put it some clean gas and it fired up. Had to make some adjustments to the carb to slow down the idle.