Running very rough, won't tick over

[ribbit]

Hi all, been a long while since I've been on here as I haven't been able to use the bike much (I won't bore you with the gory details).

My XJ900s was fine last time I took it for MOT in July, ran like a dream, but this morning when I went to start it to go out, first I didn't hear any clicking sound from fuel pump when I turned ignition on (I'm sure it used to?), but it started on choke sounding pretty rough (not that unusual from cold I suppose).

Once it had settled down a bit I pushed the choke in half way as I normally do and tried to rev it, but it just spluttered and died. I thought it might just need warming up more, so started on choke again and left for 10 mins, went back and still spluttering like mad when you try to rev it and won't idle at all - just cuts out.

Any ideas / suggestions please?

[crickleymal]

How long is it since you last ran it?

[spike240]

My XJ900s was fine last time I took it for MOT in July

[bobh]

Sounds like blocked pilot jet(s).

Ordinary 95 petrol (particularly from supermarkets) can leave a gel-like deposit after it evaporates, and the tiny holes in the pilot jets are easily blocked with this.

When I've experienced this, it's been necessary to actually take the jets out ans blow through them with carb cleaner solvent.

To avoid the problem recurring, fill up with good-quality 97 before leaving the bike unused for more than a couple of weeks. Or just drain the float bowls, either with the drain plugs or by running the engine with the fuel tap off.

In fact, once you've solved the problem, it would be a good idea to give it a couple of fills of this stuff to clean out any residual deposits. I'm told IPA (isopropyl alcohol) added to petrol does the same job, and also minimises carb icing, but never actually tried it myself.

[crickleymal]

Oct 1, 2018 12:02:32 GMT spike240 said:

My XJ900s was fine last time I took it for MOT in July

Well it was BobH's reply that I was kind of hinting at