Choke adjustment

[MP]

My choke on my 01 IS is not fully opening the chokes.  I know, enrichers!  LOL

Is the adjustment on the handlebar, or down on the slides?

Thanks.

MP

[John Schmidt]

Down on the slides. Remove the linkage cover on the left side first and you'll see where the end of the choke cable has a nut setup for adjusting. It may be set too far out so that by the time you've fully engaged it at the lever, it's barely moving the slide. After that adjustment, check to see if the right side is now engaging completely....you may have to adjust that as well. Also, before making any adjustments, check to make certain the actuators on each carb are in the right spot. If the linkage or carbs have ever been messed with, it's easy to not have the enricher plungers properly engaged. They need to be hooked into the slot at the top of each one, if not....then that carb won't get the action desired.

Last but not least, many riders fail to fully engage the choke from the beginning and wonder why they're not getting any choke action. You need to move it past the point where it moves easily, up to that point you're not engaging anything. When the lever starts getting difficult to move, that's when the choke action is actually starting to take place. Check that first, along with your method of choking. That may be the only problem.

I got tired of messing with the goofy OEM system and devised my own. Works perfect and no question as to whether it's engaged or if the cable will break. The first pic is the choke mod under construction. The second pic is the completed installation.

[MP]

Thanks, John..  Yeah, I know all too well about FULLY engaging the lever!  LOL

That is not the problem.  It is adjustment.  It has always started hard, and I just discovered that I can pull the RH side back by hand, and it starts MUCH easier!  

So, I need to adjust it so that it pulls farther.  Thanks for the reply.

Do the pods need to come off to access it on the IS?

MP

[Ricky-D]

There is a cable adjustment that affects the right side.

You have to look hard and maybe take the tank off to reveal the adjuster.

It's easy to see the cable, it goes around the back of the carburetor assy.

***

[Hoser]

I have a new cable for the right hand side, MP, Let me know if you need it, I'll put it in the mail.  Hoser 

[MP]

Thanks.  I think all is well, other than needing adjustment on the cable to pull the slides farther. 

MP

[John Schmidt]

Thanks, John..  Yeah, I know all too well about FULLY engaging the lever!  LOL

That is not the problem.  It is adjustment.  It has always started hard, and I just discovered that I can pull the RH side back by hand, and it starts MUCH easier!  

So, I need to adjust it so that it pulls farther.  Thanks for the reply.

Do the pods need to come off to access it on the IS?

MP

No, the pods don't have to come off but it's a little tight getting to the front screw to remove the linkage cover. You might need to just loosen the pods a bit without actually removing them. The nut to adjust the right side is sorta to the rear so getting at that to make a change shouldn't be a problem. If you have to move the slide back by hand for it to be effective, it's possible the enricher plungers aren't properly engaged. I'd check before doing any thing. If eveything is connected correctly, then adjust the left side first to remove as much slack as reasonable. Then go to the right side if needed. Often it's just the left side with too much slack in it, not allowing the right side cable to be engaged by the time all the slack is removed by the choke lever. Keep us informed as to how it goes.

[donaldcc]

  I used mine today for the first time today in I don't know how long.  I wanted to have the bike in neutral for a few minutes with RPM about 2000 before I took off.  usually I just tap starter, starts right up, back out of garage and use throttle to increase RPM.   It took a while for the bike to start today, quite a few revolutions.

  here in desert I never use it and bike starts almost as soon as I touch starter.  Usually I am geared up with helmet, jacket, etc. as soon as I start up.  but today I thought I would start bike before getting ready and I was surprised at the longer time and more revolutions of engine to start.  once started with choke/enricher it ran fine with higher RPM before I started out on ride.

 

[John Schmidt]

Not a good idea to let it sit and run with an enriched mixture. It will discolor even OEM pipes...just one problem for starters. If I want to let mine idle for any period of time, I'll start it and in a few seconds it settles down. The use a thick rubber band wrapped around the grip and hooked over the mirror stem or some other place that's stationary.

[donaldcc]

  yes, thanks john.  I really think there is no reason for me to use the enricher as I never have any problems starting (enriched fuel supply actually seems to impede starting here) and I am usually taking right off as soon as the engine is running.

[John Schmidt]

  yes, thanks john.  I really think there is no reason for me to use the enricher as I never have any problems starting (enriched fuel supply actually seems to impede starting here) and I am usually taking right off as soon as the engine is running.

Donald, it's pretty much the same here in Fla., hardly ever use it. Once in a great while during winter if the temp gets into the 40's and below. But, usually by the time I back out of the garage and onto the sidewalk out front, it's smoothed out and I'm gone.

[MP]

Thanks.  Am going to do the LH side first, and see if that does the trick.  Thanks.

The bike is currently in the toyhauler, waiting to head to FL right after New Years!  Pretty tight with the sidecar on, so probably will wait until FL to work on it.

MP

[John Schmidt]

Where are you headed in Florida?