HELP: Cleaned carbs, now wont run right!

[Spinktodo]

Hey guys... OK long story short, I've been having a stumbling problem since I got the bike a week ago. It's a 1996 zx6e... so I planned on replacing the spark plugs tonight and cleaning the carbs. I follow a write up someone sent me on cleaning the carbs and everything seemed to go ok as far as getting the carbs off... i didnt do a crazy extensive cleaning but i did a decent one. Anyhow, i get everything back together and do the spark plugs and go to start the bike... It starts right up but it's idling at around 4000 rpm and super rough and loud like a dirt bike...

So i think back to a few things that I did that were questionable...

1.) When I went to tighten the rings that hold the carbs on, at one point i thought i was tightening the ring, but i was really tightening another screw RIGHT next to it that is on the carb... It's a small screw with a spring around it. Problem is I don't know how far i turned it and what it is! Here are the best pics of it i could get... the screw driver points to where it is:





2.) I didn't gap the plugs because I didn't have a gap tool where I was at... I know, lazy but every time I've ever checked gap they're always right on so I took the lazy way out... Sure, that could cause a rough running problem, but that wouldn't account for the high idle right?

3.) Are these 2 holes on top and one hose coming out of the airbox supposed to be empty? I didn't notice them until i was reassembling everything and I didn't seem to have any leftover hoses to plug into them....




Please help me out guys, anything will do. As it stands right now, the bike starts right up but just shoots right up to like 4000 rpm at idle and sounds like ****... The idle adjustment screw isn't doing it and the choke doesn't appear to be either... I'm about 90% sure the screw i messed with is what's causing it but I don't know what it is or how I can fix it!

[diablo13346]

uhm i have a 95 zxe theres tubes that go in there i believe in the airbox cuz thats where about the fuel might be and overflow to the tank i think im not sure but im pretty sure somethign goes there

[QKENUF4U]

well ya did it this time. youll need to find a carb synch tool and synch the carbs again. you messed with the screw that adjusts the butterflys. you can do a quick and dirty job of this by starting the bike and turning that screw one way or the other untill the idle comes back down to normal then do it correctly to get it spot on (w/ carb synch tool)
good luck

[WeBeToyz]

well ya did it this time. youll need to find a carb synch tool and synch the carbs again. you messed with the screw that adjusts the butterflys.

Yep - exactly right. You need to get a set of carb sticks and re-synch the carbs or have it done by a shop.

Shame on you on the plugs. It's your life between your legs - don't take shortcuts.

[zedx11]

the holes in the air box, I think one should have a plug and the other is for crank case ventilation

[Bike_Poseur]

Like the others have said, you have un-synched the carbs by turning that screw. You can buy tools yourself, but I would recommend just taking it to a shop and save yourself the hassle. It shouldn't cost too much labor to have them do it.

Also, wtf on the spark plugs? The gap is pretty damned important. Can I offer you some advice? The next time you are putting in new plugs, and you don't have a gapper, gap it with a flathead screwdriver, and then use a ruler to check the gap. See? You have to think like McGuyver or something...only you would be more like MacGuyver's mildly retarded cousin with an inferior hairdo.

And when cleaning the carbs, you really should do a "crazy extensive" cleaning rather than a "decent" one. I mean, you took the carbs out (which is a pain for most bikes), so you might as well do it right yeah? Especially considering that the difference between crazy extensive and decent is probably 30 minutes in the garage, and some extra squirts of carb cleaner...and if I am a good judge of character (I am), I would guess that your version of "decent" is my version of "very crappy and unenthusiastic misting with a WD40 can."

...did you pull out any screws on the decently cleaned carbs? If you did, I am guessing you pulled out the pilot or "mixture" screws. Depending on how far in or out those screws are turned, which helps determine the fuel/air mixture, the bike can run very rough...you should be able to find a good starting point for where the screws should be set...you would try that starting point, and then adjust until it idles nicely.