My 1988 CBR 1000 had the number 4 cylinder overheat2 summers ago and melted the lower spoiler. Bike sat until I found a new lower (almost a year). Took it to a mechanic who checked compression to make sure there was no damage to cylinder and then he cleaned and synched the carbs. I rode the bike a couple times (very short trips) and then it sat for about 3 weeks. Now when I start it the bike will run fine on choke but even if I barely touch the throttle it dies. Also dies to take it off choke. If I very slowly turn down choke and work throttle at the same time and I can sometimes keep it running (well, kind of revving). Can the carbs have already gummed themselves up again? The bike had Sea Foam in the gas when I got it back so they should have remained clean. I have had to replace the fuel relay twice in the past. I think the charging system works it too hard. Could the fuel pump now also have taken a "hit"? Any other ideas? Hope I am not repeating a FAQ. I tried looking but did not seem to see this. Thank you all so much for any input...

 

Sounds like the bike's running far too rich......? Can't be a blocked air filter because the bike wouldn't start.....Could your mixture settings be that far out, or maybe needle and seats are not controlling fuel flow and allowing the bike to flood ? Hmmmmmm...??

 

Thanks so much for the reply. I think you may be onto something. Last Fall I removed the air filter, started the bike and then shot carb cleaner into the intake to see if anything would free-up or clean-up. After a minute or so I did notice a puddle of gas under the bike and shut it right off. Do you think the mechanic that "cleaned" the carbs did not do it properly? Or maybe needles, seats, floats or something needed replacing and were not? Just seems weird that it could run fine for such a short amount of time. Thanks again.

 

Carb cleaner contains some fairly nasty stuff, which will dislodge varnish and other gunk, some of which maybe has gone into your needles and seats, and will sometimes damage rubber if left for too long.I'd just strip and clean the carbs again......hopefully that'll solve the problem. Let us know what you find, helps us when advising others.

 

This happen to minelong time ago and it was the floating bowls sticking due to varnish.
Cleaning carburators did it.