Connecting the Choke

[pearsonbe]

I checked my manual last night and couldn't find a good picture of the cable connected to the carb. Mine was disconnected when I got it. I haven't looked at it since last Summer when I got the bike, but know that the control travel is pretty short so the end of the cable doesn't extend much from the case. Should the choke be connected before or after the carb is installed? It's a '91 600, if that matters.

[DonTZ125]

Hook up the cable to the carbs before you install the rack, then connect to the lever.

[Madisonr34]

Connect choke first before u put the carbs on. you have crimp the cable on as well as screw in the holding plate for the cable. If you have an extra set of hands, it will be easier as well.

[pearsonbe]

Thanks - especially for the tip about removing the lever.

[pearsonbe]

Installed the choke yesterday and it made a big difference starting the bike - don't need starter fluid now. Before I installed the cable, I lubricated it. However, the choke seems very tempermental. The idle is either too high or too low to me. As the bike warms up, I have to make adjustments and blip the throttle or the motor will eventually die. And the exhaust sputters every now and then while idling. Does this sound right?

[DonTZ125]

You need to set the idle when the engine is warmed up and doesn't need the choke any more. Setting it while cold and on partial choke just confuses things.

You may need to pull and clean your idle jets, or replace them - they're cheap AND really hard to properly clean.

[pearsonbe]

I meant I made adjustments to the choke position. Supposed to be nice Friday/Saturday and I will set the idle then.

Sigh - I just replaced the emulsion tubes and cleaned the carbs. I will buy new idle jets. Should I get these from Factory Pro too or someplace like Bandit?

[YAM93]

Maybe just my paranoid ass here, and having done all that a few years ago, unless you enjoy pulling it all apart again maybe just wait to see if the Idle Adjustment does it for you. Replacing the jets on an assumption also opens you up to making multiple errors or something else breaking while you're doing it. One step at a time, and lots of patience, can save you a lot of headache... unless you're a super mechanic and never make errors.

[pearsonbe]

Lol. Patience? "Ain't nobody got time for that." Seriously, I have too many projects to keep fiddling with the bike. At this point, I'd like to replace ALL of them with a standard rebuild kit. I'm not tuning for more power. For now, I just want to get it back to spec.