Looking for a mechanic - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

europhreak · 05-27-2005, 10:09 AM

Anyone with knowledge on fixing bikes?. My bike hesitates a lot and jerks when accelerating from the first and a little from the second gear. I was told I need a tune up. Anyone knows any cheap bike mechanics around Norridge, IL ?. or anyone here mechanically inclined who lives in the area?

Thunder · 05-27-2005, 12:00 PM

what kind of bike? Fornarelli Racing is the best in the area. He is in Elgin Illinois and is located near route 20 and route 31. He is the best and has the best prices. 847 697 7300 ask for Alex he is the owner.

themeatmanlandry · 05-27-2005, 12:21 PM

You can do some of the stuff yourself to save money. Change the spark plugs and air filter first (do you have the manual?). Those things alone may solve some of your problems.

Depending on how long the bike's been without service, it may need a valve job/carb synch . . . a new clutch (God I hope not), or other things.

You're not wrenchless are you? You own a bike, you should learn to work on it to save money. They gig us every chance they get down at the dealership.

europhreak · 05-27-2005, 01:08 PM

i'll change plugs and other stuff this week. hopefully it'll help. if not does anyone know how much a regular tune up would be?

**Clint** · 05-27-2005, 02:07 PM

We still don't know what you ride or it's condition, so we can't even guess what a "regular tuneup" would entail. Help us out so we can help you out.

europhreak · 05-27-2005, 04:22 PM

it's 1999 suzuki gsx-r 600. When i went to pick it up from the guy it looked very dusty, like it's been sitting in his garage for a while. when i test drove it i kinda felt it jerking but i was hoping it would go away. i already put some carb cleaner in the tank w/ fresh fuel and let it run for a while but the problem still persists. Basically what happends is that when accelerating from the first gear it jerks like it's about to stall so you need to give it more gass so it doesn't. once i get to the second gear it's much better but still can feel it jerking a little. third and up works just fine. it changes gears fine. i have no idea what it is. spark plugs?, needs carburator cleaning?.
help.

**Clint** · 05-27-2005, 06:33 PM

How many miles have you ridden it?

JRW_Assassin · 05-27-2005, 07:51 PM

have you changed the fuel (ie run a couple of clean tanks) and changed the oil since you got it? water/dirt in the fuel could make it run very rough.

europhreak · 05-28-2005, 01:49 PM

i just rode it home from the guys house-maybe 10 miles or so on the old gas that was in the tank. after filling it up with new gas maybe 2 miles. i'll let it run idle for couple hours, maybe that will help.

europhreak · 05-28-2005, 06:31 PM

some people tell me it's the carburator. it needs cleaning. could that be it?. can i clean it myself?, how do i do it?

axel_2078 · 05-28-2005, 06:36 PM

There are some simple things you can do to TRY to clean out the carbs. Get some concentrated carburetor/fuel injection cleaner (or just carb cleaner) and follow the directions on the bottle. You can get it at the automotive section at Walmart. Don't get the weaker kind that you have to use at each fill up. Get the concentrated kind. After you use up your next tank of gas, if you're still having problems, you can try something called "sea foam." I'm not sure where to get it, but I've heard people on here mention it before. I would try the easy stuff first before you take it to a mechanic.

**Clint** · 05-28-2005, 06:44 PM

Umm, no. Don't let it idle for a few hours.

1. Motorcycle cooling systems are designed to be IN MOTION. You will find yourself with a very hot bike and more serious problems.

2. Engines tend to run rich at idle. You'll foul your plugs and accomplish little else.

Put in a dose of Seafoam and ride it normally for a few hundred miles. If that doesn't help, report back in. We'll help you take apart your carbs and clean them, then we'll synch them. She'll be like buttah.

JRW_Assassin · 05-28-2005, 09:42 PM

agreed. and i would get the sea foam. its gold! I would prolly also drop the fuel out of the tank, and empty the carb/s (there should be a tap on the lower side of them somewhere). If there is water in the float, it causes no end of problems.

europhreak · 05-29-2005, 01:28 PM

is there a hose?, where do i get the foam? what is it called exacly?

europhreak · 05-29-2005, 01:29 PM

sorry for all the questions, this is my first bike.

JRW_Assassin · 05-29-2005, 05:33 PM

wouldnt have a clue where to get it in countries other than australia (though i do know that it is made in the USA). as to a hose, there should be... prolly one of the easiest ways is to unplug the hose off your fuel tap. as to the carbies, there should be screws with a hole down the centre, placed low on the carbies.

europhreak · 05-29-2005, 06:27 PM

i bought sea foam at murrays, i'll try using it tommorow. see if it helps any.

**Clint** · 05-30-2005, 11:02 PM

It takes time. You'll probably have to burn through a whole tank of treated gas to get results.

europhreak · 05-31-2005, 10:21 AM

how do i clean the carbs using that "sea foam" on my 1999?. which side fairing do i need to remove to get to it?

europhreak · 05-31-2005, 04:02 PM

bump

05-27-2005, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	Looking for a mechanic Anyone with knowledge on fixing bikes?. My bike hesitates a lot and jerks when accelerating from the first and a little from the second gear. I was told I need a tune up. Anyone knows any cheap bike mechanics around Norridge, IL ?. or anyone here mechanically inclined who lives in the area?

05-27-2005, 12:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,423	You can do some of the stuff yourself to save money. Change the spark plugs and air filter first (do you have the manual?). Those things alone may solve some of your problems. Depending on how long the bike's been without service, it may need a valve job/carb synch . . . a new clutch (God I hope not), or other things. You're not wrenchless are you? You own a bike, you should learn to work on it to save money. They gig us every chance they get down at the dealership. __________________ Go to hell

05-27-2005, 01:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	i'll try i'll change plugs and other stuff this week. hopefully it'll help. if not does anyone know how much a regular tune up would be?

05-27-2005, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	oh-sorry it's 1999 suzuki gsx-r 600. When i went to pick it up from the guy it looked very dusty, like it's been sitting in his garage for a while. when i test drove it i kinda felt it jerking but i was hoping it would go away. i already put some carb cleaner in the tank w/ fresh fuel and let it run for a while but the problem still persists. Basically what happends is that when accelerating from the first gear it jerks like it's about to stall so you need to give it more gass so it doesn't. once i get to the second gear it's much better but still can feel it jerking a little. third and up works just fine. it changes gears fine. i have no idea what it is. spark plugs?, needs carburator cleaning?. help.

05-28-2005, 01:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	not many miles at all i just rode it home from the guys house-maybe 10 miles or so on the old gas that was in the tank. after filling it up with new gas maybe 2 miles. i'll let it run idle for couple hours, maybe that will help.

05-27-2005, 12:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Thunder Newbie Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2004 GSXR750 Location: Bartlett, Illinois Posts: 15	what kind of bike? Fornarelli Racing is the best in the area. He is in Elgin Illinois and is located near route 20 and route 31. He is the best and has the best prices. 847 697 7300 ask for Alex he is the owner.

05-27-2005, 07:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
JRW_Assassin Seat Tester Joined: May 2005 Bike: Yamaha FZX250 Zeal Location: Townsville, QLD, Aus Posts: 57	have you changed the fuel (ie run a couple of clean tanks) and changed the oil since you got it? water/dirt in the fuel could make it run very rough.

05-28-2005, 06:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	carburator? some people tell me it's the carburator. it needs cleaning. could that be it?. can i clean it myself?, how do i do it?

05-28-2005, 06:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
axel_2078 Sit speling cheker Joined: May 2004 Bike: 2003 Marauder 800 Location: Fairview Heights, IL Posts: 1,668	There are some simple things you can do to TRY to clean out the carbs. Get some concentrated carburetor/fuel injection cleaner (or just carb cleaner) and follow the directions on the bottle. You can get it at the automotive section at Walmart. Don't get the weaker kind that you have to use at each fill up. Get the concentrated kind. After you use up your next tank of gas, if you're still having problems, you can try something called "sea foam." I'm not sure where to get it, but I've heard people on here mention it before. I would try the easy stuff first before you take it to a mechanic. __________________ "Rome didn't win wars by holding meetings. They did it by crushing those who opposed them." - unknown Everyone has a dark side. Mine's just a little closer to the surface.

05-28-2005, 09:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
JRW_Assassin Seat Tester Joined: May 2005 Bike: Yamaha FZX250 Zeal Location: Townsville, QLD, Aus Posts: 57	agreed. and i would get the sea foam. its gold! I would prolly also drop the fuel out of the tank, and empty the carb/s (there should be a tap on the lower side of them somewhere). If there is water in the float, it causes no end of problems.

05-29-2005, 01:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	how to empty the tank? is there a hose?, where do i get the foam? what is it called exacly?

05-29-2005, 01:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	sorry for all the questions, this is my first bike.

05-29-2005, 05:33 PM	#16 (permalink)
JRW_Assassin Seat Tester Joined: May 2005 Bike: Yamaha FZX250 Zeal Location: Townsville, QLD, Aus Posts: 57	wouldnt have a clue where to get it in countries other than australia (though i do know that it is made in the USA). as to a hose, there should be... prolly one of the easiest ways is to unplug the hose off your fuel tap. as to the carbies, there should be screws with a hole down the centre, placed low on the carbies.

05-29-2005, 06:27 PM	#17 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	found it i bought sea foam at murrays, i'll try using it tommorow. see if it helps any.

05-31-2005, 10:21 AM	#19 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	how to clean the carburetor how do i clean the carbs using that "sea foam" on my 1999?. which side fairing do i need to remove to get to it?

05-31-2005, 04:02 PM	#20 (permalink)
europhreak Newbie Joined: May 2005 Posts: 16	bump bump

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