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i was curious if their is a way to tell if the carbs are jetted on a bike. when i bought my bike it had cobra inserts(still does) which i love but i hear that jetting helps the cold starts and sometimes my 97 marauder gets p.o.'d if i dont start her every day. ive actually looked in one of the carbs the other day when i had a seperate issue but didnt know what the heck i was looking for anyhow. i just wanna be sure the owner before me did the right thing and this is my first bike so dont get on me for not asking him. any feedback appreciated.

Find out what size jets come stock

Check the numbers of the jets in the carb.

Simple

(The numbers are typically stmped into the bottom of the jet. Sometimes hard to see)

If it runs good when warm and used daily then I suspect the jets are correct. The failure to start after sitting for a few days looks to me like an entirely different issue. I have an older yamaha that I have to flip the petcock to prime if it sits for a few days. This refills the float bowls and voila, it's ready to go. Also i learned that on occassion I did not pull the fuel enrichener out as far as I should have (has two positions). Could it be that yours is the same?

old-n-slow wrote:If it runs good when warm and used daily then I suspect the jets are correct. The failure to start after sitting for a few days looks to me like an entirely different issue. I have an older yamaha that I have to flip the petcock to prime if it sits for a few days. This refills the float bowls and voila, it's ready to go. Also i learned that on occassion I did not pull the fuel enrichener out as far as I should have (has two positions). Could it be that yours is the same?

i used to leave the petcock on the off position every night but i felt it seems to start easier if i leave it on. as far as a "fuel enricher" goes, i only use my choke and dont even think i have one of those but i could be totally wrong.

nyrblue35 wrote: i used to leave the petcock on the off position every night but i felt it seems to start easier if i leave it on. as far as a "fuel enricher" goes, i only use my choke and dont even think i have one of those but i could be totally wrong.

A choke and a fuel enrichener are the same thing

Fuel Enrichener is the proper term for what is on a modern bike. The word "choke" is a term that's been around forever though and old habits die hard. Besides, How could they fit the words "Fuel Enrichener" on that little lever !?

PS old-n-slow , My xj650 does the same thing. Where the heck does the fuel go

TechBMW wrote:
PS old-n-slow , My xj650 does the same thing. Where the heck does the fuel go

Can't answer that one. However once you learn the idiosyncrasies of these older bikes the problems aren't usually all that great. Just got my old Yamie approved for collector plates status here in BC. Whoopteedoo. That means i can insure that old critter for about $150 for a year (including plate). Love it. The other bike is $100 a month.

I experienced somehing similar on my 99 marauder. When you mean a few days is it only couple, a week or weeks?

Make sure you pull the choke out completely- theres a plastic piece that will tighten the grip on the choke shaft to hold it. This prevents the choke frome sliding back in a ways and not performing as it should.

Do not twist the throttle until the bike is actually running 5-10 sec. It negates the choke when you do. So leave the throttle alone when cold starting.

Check your battery. Mine went thought them- about one a year. I noticed it would have starting problems when cold as the battery reached the end of its usefull life.

Neverless, marauders are cold natured at best. Remember it's water cooled so it takes a while to fully warm up. On cold days it may never warm up completely especially if you make short trips. I would let mine idle in the morning 5min before riding on cold days even when garaged kept. Warm days at least a minute.

It shouldn't be your jets if they are stock.

eugeart wrote:I experienced somehing similar on my 99 marauder. When you mean a few days is it only couple, a week or weeks?

Make sure you pull the choke out completely- theres a plastic piece that will tighten the grip on the choke shaft to hold it. This prevents the choke frome sliding back in a ways and not performing as it should.

Do not twist the throttle until the bike is actually running 5-10 sec. It negates the choke when you do. So leave the throttle alone when cold starting.

Check your battery. Mine went thought them- about one a year. I noticed it would have starting problems when cold as the battery reached the end of its usefull life.

Neverless, marauders are cold natured at best. Remember it's water cooled so it takes a while to fully warm up. On cold days it may never warm up completely especially if you make short trips. I would let mine idle in the morning 5min before riding on cold days even when garaged kept. Warm days at least a minute.

It shouldn't be your jets if they are stock.

yeah i keep a battery tender near the bike and make sure the battery(new when i got the bike too) is fully charged. nah i never let it sit more than a day w/out starting but i admit to giving it some throttle while trying to start sometimes. just seeme like it keeps cranking and cranking then voila, it just starts. strange.