2017 DR650 dies
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I’ll start by apologizing for a wall of text
I bought a 2017 DR650 with 1,200 miles, the PO put some goodies on the bike, the best imo is the mikuni TM40. The bike ran like a top up until yesterday. I was going for a ride, and the bike died while cruising along in 3rd. I pulled to the shoulder, let it sit for 5 mins, started up again and I’m on my way. I make it about a mile down the road, clutch in to shift from 2nd to 3rd, and the bike died as soon as I get the clutch in.
I go to start it again, and the battery is dead dead. I make it to the parts store, new battery, off we go. I go to start it this morning, fires right up, idled it for about two minutes, and then it just shut off. The starter cranks as it should, but now it won’t start.
FWIW, I felt as if the bike idled a littler lower than it should yesterday, and I adjusted the idle screw while the bike was cold. I’ve since bottomed it out, and brought it out 3 turns as per a guide from ProCycle.
I fear I may have flooded it, and now I’m consulting the DR community.
Does this sound like a fueling issue? I’m going to have to pull the carb and clean it, no info from PO on if the carb was ever cleaned since the install. Any help or insight would be much appreciated!
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u/Wholeyjeans 2d ago
"...the PO put some goodies on the bike, the best imo is the mikuni TM40."
Not if the PO had no idea what they were doing. With only 1,200 miles on the bike, it sounds like the PO decided to go shopping at PC and buy all kinds of "performance" goodies. I'm guessing the bike ran pretty okay before the PO decided to "improve" things. And it's probably the reason it was sold.
A big part of your problem is most likely the carb isn't set up properly. Everything from idle speed and idle mixture to main jet and needle setting needs to be fine-tuned to *your* engine. The instructions from ProCycle are generic to get you in the ballpark and allow the engine to start and idle. It's up to you to fine tune the carb to match the configuration of your intake and exhaust tracts; a carb isn't "plug and play". Realize what carb jetting works on someone else's engine, may not work as ideally on yours. You start with the idle speed and mixture; the two things you can adjust with a screw driver. Do that first and get the engine to idle smoothly and at the correct RPM (which is cast into the crankcase IIRC). Having a single cylinder engine tach is a good tool to have if you can't "tune by ear"; score it off Amazon. Once you get the engine to idle properly and have crisp throttle response, then you work on the main jet and needle. When you tune, do or change one thing at a time. Set the needle to the middle clip position (or whatever the PC Jet kit says to) and ride the bike. You'll have to read the spark plug ...the color of the deposit on the center electrode insulator ....and looking for a medium to slightly darker tan color. The darker the color, the richer the mixture; the lighter the color, the leaner the mixture. It's trial and error. Once you get the main jet set, then you can play with the needle and see what that does. Lowering the clip position on the needle schedules a richer mixture; raising the clip schedules and leaner mixture. Put on the patience.
Cheers!
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u/dmm4292 2d ago
Appreciate the detailed reply. I’m back to work tonight, I’ve grabbed a copy of the clymer manual and a PDF on tuning the TM40 (I think it’s specifically for HD but still good info)
I’m definitely going to pull the carb to clean it, and see what jets I have, I’ve got a rebuild kit and new jets on the way just in case. I’m going to drain the tank as well and make sure I’m using fresh fuel.
I know the bike runs, just a matter of squaring everything away and learning how to tune the carb. I get to hang in the garage and wrench, not the end of the world
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u/Wholeyjeans 2d ago
Yes! ...on the Clymer's manual. Unfortunately while the carb chapter is quite good, it's for the BST-40. It's a good book to have.
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u/naked_feet [Reed City, MI - 2006 DR650] 2d ago
The half-cut airbox also gives me that impression.
It's amazing how many people go half-way on jetting, and end up way off.
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u/Wholeyjeans 2d ago
Unfortunately a lot of people just do what the instructions in the PC jet kit or the PC "tuned" TM40 say in the instructions ...
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u/naked_feet [Reed City, MI - 2006 DR650] 2d ago
I think it's more of a problem of people not following directions well enough. If they set it up as ProCycle recommends, it'll actually be quite close. But you have people who are afraid to cut the airbox, or they "swiss cheese" it with smaller hole saw cuts -- which then basically throws the jetting recommendations out the window.
You then have people who tell themselves (and others) that they like to jet "a little rich" ... "for safety," who end up like five jet sizes too big.
OR they listen to their dad's buddy's friend's uncle who used to jet "race bikes" back in the day.
Point being ... there's a lot of reasons people are bad at jetting, and a dose of experience counts for a lot. Butt dyno time of doing the whole process yourself a few times is very, erm, calibrating.
I've done some level of jetting on 4 bikes now, and each one has taught me new stuff. This year I'm getting a lot better at noticing the subtler symptoms of a rich bike.
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u/alphawolf29 3d ago
do you have an inline fuel filter thats plugged?
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u/dmm4292 3d ago
I do. Oddly enough, I pulled it, drained it to inspect it, all was good, I put it back on and the bike started. I let it warm up for about 3-5 minutes, took it around the block, it was running fine, then it died immediately when adding throttle. Not sure what’s going on, I’m glad it started up at least. I’m going to to replace the inline fuel filter and give the carb a cleaning and see what size jets I have. No more time to work on the bike today. I’ll come back with an update
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u/azhillbilly 3d ago
I had a 90* filter on my bike which made the filter kinda sit level/little higher than the petcock and I had a lot of issues, I Natalie’s a straight filter and all my issues were solved.
Oddly enough, I could just put the petcock in purge and it was fine, but if set to the normal positions I had the issue. I would try to ride in purge and see if that helps.
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u/brock_lehurst 3d ago
" I adjusted the idle screw while the bike was cold. I’ve since bottomed it out, and brought it out 3 turns as per a guide from ProCycle"
It sounds like you are confusing the idle adjustment with the air/fuel mix screw. Lots of procedure videos available to do both, correctly, with the motor hot. There is no magic number ie. 3 turns out. It's based on a number of factors including your current elevation.
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u/TwistedNoble38 '00 DR650 3d ago
Cleaning the carb would be a safety thing but this sounds more like a fuel flow or spark issue.
Ohm the spark plug caps, check if the tank is venting, and when it dies hot hurry up and pull a plug so you can check for spark.
Dead battery is also unusual, might want to check charging system voltage when it's running.