New (to Me) 2000 Kawasaki W650

[The Jerk]

Originally Posted by Barnone

Jerk,
You are getting spark to the none running cylinder,right?

Yeah because it runs on 2 when it's on the choke.

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by The Jerk

Yeah because it runs on 2 when it's on the choke.

But you said it was cold?

[ORexpat]

Torn diaphragm???

[Barnone]

Originally Posted by ORexpat

Torn diaphragm???

Or big vacuum leak?

[The Jerk]

Originally Posted by Barnone

But you said it was cold?

Sorry, to clarify - goes cold when the choke is turned off and engine clearly goes from running on two to running on one

[The Jerk]

Originally Posted by ORexpat

Torn diaphragm???

Checked it out, diaphragm is good.

[Barnone]

Jerk,

Just a suggestion but you might try Ray Nielsen's technique below before removing the carbs.

A shortcut to carburetor cleaning
Without complete disassembly!

I’ve had good luck with a fairly non-invasive trick that might be of interest to others as well. I’ve used it on the W and my Suzuki Bandit 1200 with good results and with several friend’s bikes too.

Start by disconnecting the fuel line from the petcock and draining the carbs at the float bowl screws. You’ll need an allen wrench for the W – don’t know the size, but it’s not very large. Soak up the run-off lest you make a complete mess of the garage floor. The right screw is easy to loosen, the left side will require a reach and maybe a pair of pliers or a vise grips to hold the allen wrench. Don’t take them out completely, just loosen them about one turn and drain all the fuel until nothing further comes out. Tighten the drain screws when you’re done.

Next fill the float bowls with Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner – I bought mine at Checker Auto Parts for about $6 for a12 Oz bottle. An infant ear syringe works well to fill the carbs, just suck it from the Techron bottle or a small container and fill the carbe until no more will enter. I fill to the top of the fuel line that connects to the petcock.

Let this mixture sit – overnight if the carbs are really cruddy, a couple of hours if they simply need cleaning from a winter layover.

Next, drain the float bowls again as before, reconnecting the fuel line to the petcock when done. Put the petcock into the PRIME position to fill the carbs with gas, and go for a ride with better performing carbs.

The Techron Fuel System Cleaner won’t harm any internal carb parts. While other carburetor cleaners might work just as well I haven’t tried any other brands. At least one person on this list has successfully used Yamaha’s carb cleaner mixed half and half with gasoline. The instructions on the container are similar to the above procedure so it probably works similarly.

Here’s to clean carburetors!

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis

[Duelsporter]

I hope you guys don't mind me posting in the is thread.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting around with not much to do so I decided I would
finally do someting about the slight factory orange-peel texture in the paint on
the silver / blue tank of my 2000 W650. I've wet sanded several tanks in the
past, and even a couple of cars. I've never had an issue with going too deep
into the paint -- that is -- until now. I guess the factory paint on these
tanks is pretty thin, and with it being silver, even though I was using
1000-grit automotive sandpaper and a flexible sanding block, before I knew it I
had sanded through the silver on a spot about 10mm in size. Crap! Live and
learn, I guess.

As long as I had to get new paintwork anyway, I took the opportuity to change
the color. I had always liked the black and red paint scheme that was available
in Canada on the '00 or '01 model, so I decided to have it replicated on my
tank. We have a local guy here who only paints motorcycles, and who has a
reputation for doing good work. I had him paint the tank black with a
candy-apple red insert, in the same configuration as the stock tank. I think it
turned out pretty well -- here are a couple of pictures:

[jmlmjmjm]

Duelsporter....one word. Beautiful!

[Barnone]

Duelsporter,
Looks like a factory job to me. Or even a little better.
If you ever ride up to around the Robbinsville,NC area let me know and I'll try to meet up with you.

[Duelsporter]

Originally Posted by Barnone

Duelsporter,
Looks like a factory job to me. Or even a little better.
If you ever ride up to around the Robbinsville,NC area let me know and I'll try to meet up with you.

Thanks. I was just at the Crossroads a week ago! (But not on the W650)

[ORexpat]

Originally Posted by Duelsporter

I hope you guys don't mind me posting in the is thread.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting around with not much to do so I decided I would
finally do someting about the slight factory orange-peel texture in the paint on
the silver / blue tank of my 2000 W650. I've wet sanded several tanks in the
past, and even a couple of cars. I've never had an issue with going too deep
into the paint -- that is -- until now. I guess the factory paint on these
tanks is pretty thin, and with it being silver, even though I was using
1000-grit automotive sandpaper and a flexible sanding block, before I knew it I
had sanded through the silver on a spot about 10mm in size. Crap! Live and
learn, I guess.

As long as I had to get new paintwork anyway, I took the opportuity to change
the color. I had always liked the black and red paint scheme that was available
in Canada on the '00 or '01 model, so I decided to have it replicated on my
tank. We have a local guy here who only paints motorcycles, and who has a
reputation for doing good work. I had him paint the tank black with a
candy-apple red insert, in the same configuration as the stock tank. I think it
turned out pretty well -- here are a couple of pictures:

That is nice--very nice. BTW, which windshield is on the bike?

[Duelsporter]

Originally Posted by ORexpat

That is nice--very nice. BTW, which windshield is on the bike?

It is a Dart flyscreen from England. They list it for the Triumph Bonneville, but it fits the W650 with some simple modification to the mounting brackets (grind off a tab on the bracket). Oh - and some longer headlight bucket bolts were required.

[ORexpat]

Thanks, Duelsporter; just checked out their website and see that they now offer one specifically for the W800. Apparently uses a slightly different bracket that mounts on the top yoke . . . looks very good.

[hangdog]

I have a new-to-me 2001 W650, enjoying it... only had 4000 mi, but needs some basic maintenance.

I was going to replace the spark plugs, and read the various accounts of removing the tank.
None of these instructions mention what happens if the tank has gas in it. Does it spill everywhere?
Is there a method to prevent this?