200x missing under load!

[drhill]

Hi Everyone! Finally joined this great forum because I just got a decent 1985 Honda 200x on the cheap but it does have a problem.

The bike starts up and idles fine (with some stumbling at idle after I've been running it a while) and it even runs pretty well except when I put any kind of load on the engine then it feels like it starts missing badly...and if I open the throttle all the way it's like the engine just dies...

if I run the bike with the choke on the middle setting it actually runs alot better and will acheive a higher rpm without missing/sputtering, but it's still not right. It also doesn't idle as well with the choke on when it's warm.

I pulled the plug and it looks pretty good...not black or fouled.

What do you guys think? It was sitting for almost 2 years according to the previous owner (he had drained the gas out of it). It feels like it's running lean if the choke helps the situation?

I'm just starting to learn about these bikes so any diagnostic/troubleshooting help would be appreciated!!

[litebulblsc]

Either the carb needs cleaned or the exhaust replaced

[drhill]

Cool - I'll pull the carb fuel line and petcock and clean them out...

Can you explain why the exhaust would cause it to run lean? Maybe if there was a hole in the pipe or bad seal at the head? I'm confused on that...:confused:

[MudBug]

it could be plugged up

[atc500x]

Check to be sure you have good spark,the best way is a in-line spark tester.I ever had this problem and it was my coil!

[rdlsz24]

If it runs better with the choke on you are lean. Pull the carb off and clean it and see what jets it has installed.

Rob

[litebulblsc]

I had the same problem and it went away when I ran it without the muffler. The muffler was clogged and making it run like poopy. You will love the performance once you get the problem fixed.

[85Tecate]

Its your carb. Probably needs cleaned.

[MonroeMike]

Welcome to the site.

Read this before you clean the carb, it may help.

http://www.3wheelerworldforums.com/showthread.php?t=23819

Manual

http://72.52.143.80/~trikes/atc200x_83-85_servicemanual.pdf

[drhill]

Thanks for the replies! I checked the tank vent tube just as an off chance and it works fine. I'm diving into the carb today and will post reslults when it's clean!

[Dammit!]

I'd check for an intake leak while you're at it. The intake (the piece that goes from the carb to the engine) is known to get brittle and crack.

[drhill]

Yep - I actually already got a new(er) intake boot because the last one was cracked...

I cleaned the carb and fuel tank last night ...not the cleanest...The main jet was 108 and the slow speed jet was 40? Is that correct for a stock bike?

Gave it a quick ride this AM...much better! Now just need to re-set the idle, it's a bit low now...

Thanks for all the help!!

[MonroeMike]

Stock

Main Jet #108
Pilot #40
Clip - 4th from top
Idle mixture screw - 2 1/4 turns out

[drhill]

Thanks...all the setting were stock...

Now a new problem - after riding the bike for 10-15 minutes and trying to set the idle - it wants to die...pulled the plug - fouled!

Verified spark is good.

Put a new plug in to try to start it again...not happening. plug is covered in gas when I pull it out after about 20 kicks...

pull the carb apart AGAIN to clean it...(getting good at this now) and reinstall...30 min of kicking - no go...start playing with the idle mix and pilot screw...finally get it to start with pilot all the way in and idle out at least 3-4 turns (i'll check it exactly if that matters)...idles kinda high now - can't seem to get it to idle with the pilot screw out at all without turning the idle screw up for a really high idle!

take it for a ride - runs great! after 10-15 min wants to stall when I come to a stop...pull plug...black again! No luck restarting.

So it's running rich somehow? with stock jets and fully cleaned carb...any ideas? There is a plastic float in it and I don't see any wat to ajdust it...I REALLY don't want to pay someone to fix this for me!

Thanks!!

[oscarmayer]

get a carb rebuild kit. your old carb parts are probelby worn.

you can get one off ebay for about $20 shipped to your door. make sure you get one with a pre-formed bowl o-ring or it's a pitta putting it together.

[drhill]

Just got my carb kit - should replace all the key parts and gaskets. I have one question:

The kit includes a needle jet (that's what the shop manual calls it) and the one in my carb seems to be pressed into the main body of the carb. It is safe to grab it with needle nose plyers and just pull it out? This is the part that the long thin jet needle slides into before going into the main jet holder...

Thanks!

[drhill]

Hi Everyone - to complete this post, the bike ran great after the carb kit, but still coundn't get it to idle...even rode it about 12-14 miles in the desert last weekend, ran great, started great - couldn't get the idle to set - either really high or stalls.

Changed the oil yesterday.

Now with some tweaking it idles great! I didn't see that coming.

Thanks again to everyone who helped a noob troublshoot my problems!

Now I thinking about getting a 350x (or 250r?) to keep up with the big bore quads and bikes that I ride with! 200x can keep up when things get tighter but in the open desert I'm nearly pinned and my buddies just crack the throttle a little more and they're gone!

I still get comments on how dangerous three wheelers are...:crazy:

I just love getting out to the desert with two $300 bikes when everyone else spends $5-$15k to do the same thing! :TrikesOwn

[MonroeMike]

Glad to hear you got it running right.

[oscarmayer]

yea glad ya got it running! 350 woudl be an awesome choice! be warned be prepaired to spend about $1800+ on one in good condition, but find the right now and it'd be worth it. it'll run perfect and looks great! so it's be a good investment for you! my next trike is going to be a 350x that is in great shape.

[drhill]

yea glad ya got it running! 350 woudl be an awesome choice! be warned be prepaired to spend about $1800+ on one in good condition, but find the right now and it'd be worth it. it'll run perfect and looks great! so it's be a good investment for you! my next trike is going to be a 350x that is in great shape.


Awesome! I wish I could post the link to craigslist but it is already gone. There was a pristine 85 350x original owner in San Diego selling for $700. Just a gummed up carb so it wouldn't start. It was posted at 11am yesterday....by the time I emailed him at 1pm it was gone!!!

[cschneider1988]

I know this is an old thread, but for guys like me I know there's more people out there that have resorted to these threads over and again. I found mud dobber nests in the frame where the stock air intake box draws air. It would run fine at an idle but sputter and want to die when accelerating. If it sat that could be a problem

[350for350]

That's why I like to blow through the upper frame tube with compressed air when starting on a new project. I have blown those nests out before.

[ATC200X4716]

I bought a 250R way back in time that was sold as having an engine problem and wouldn't rev but it would idle ok, took it home and with it idling figured it much gave been a plugged silencer. I removed the silencer and I kept burping the throttle and it struggled still, and I saw little fibers coming out of the ~1inch pipe from the tuned pipe. About 30 more big rev attempts and a huge fur ball blow out and I had a nice angry sounding 250R that ran like a top. It looked like the fabric from a sofa cushion blew out the pipe. Glad I didn't take the engine apart. Moral - mice get into everything check it all.

[psujeepguy]

Is it an OEM carb? Not a cheap Chinese one?