Another brand new Suzuki with health problems....

[highsider]

Suzukis dont like me - I bought a brandy new SV650 when they came out, and it blew up with 850 miles on it.

Now I have a new DRZ400SM, its three months old, and it will barely run.

I used the bike at Tony's Track Day back in July, and it ran like a champ all day. It had been parked since, so I rode it to work today. When I started it, it wouldn't idle without the choke, so I just figured it must be cold. It never got any better, and was stalling and choking and dying in stop and go traffic this morning.

I just went out and looked around at it at lunch - basically, it will not idle at all, it just dies. It runs like a bag of shit low in the RPMs and has god awful throttle response. Runs great at high RPMS, though it backfires like a fiend when you let off the throttle. Playing the with idle made no difference, and I dont think I ever found the ratio mixture screw.

Good news though, the dealer can look at it - in September. Just about as helpful as when my SV's motor was knocking, so the Suzuki rep rode it for 40 miles, used up all of my gas, and told me it was fine.

I'm trading this shitbox in, I hate Suzukis.

[bump909]

that sucks.. gonna get another supermoto?

[oreo_n2]

well i guess you could call that putting around at the track running like atop?!

did a mouse chew on something and spit the plastic pieces into your float bowl. sounds like the same symptoms i saw in someones quad... and removal of the little bits of plastic made it run like new.

[rjh200]

Ill give you 2k for it

Seriously though have you check for a clogged fuel line or filter. Sounds like you ran it pretty hard then put it away wet. Might just need some flushing out.

[highsider]

Originally posted by oreo_n2
well i guess you could call that putting around at the track running like atop?!

did a mouse chew on something and spit the plastic pieces into your float bowl. sounds like the same symptoms i saw in someones quad... and removal of the little bits of plastic made it run like new.

It ran like a top. A very, very slow top.

I thought of that, so I took the seat and all of the plastic off, and didn't find any evidence of rodents. Also, the bike was in my crappy little "shop", which it shares with two cats that think mice are fun toys.

[richw]

Weed hopper very common

The idle jet is 1/2 the size of a gnats ass.
Your Enjoyment Prevention Agency at work

The slightest spec of dirt will clog it

A Obtain paper element fuel filter from

Ace Hardware Lawnmower section

The fuel filter can be cut into the line before the carb.

Next

Off the tank

Loosen the carb and remove throttle cable

Wathc and or loosten wires on left side TPS


Rotate carb CCW until float bowl exposed without removing from boot or spigot.

Remove float bowl

Take out idle jet one nearest the engine side easy monkey fist just unscrews.

Blow out everything with spray carb cleaner including hose heading toward carb

Done...

Use fuel stablizer

Over the winter I'ld look on the web and replace the idle and main jets with bigger and at least remove snorkel from filter housing.

Learn to do this it won't be the last time. The idle jet is smaller then the filter screen in the tank....yeh really


On the bright side I scored a 1year old drz for only 2200 because of this so I ain't complaining

[JeffL]

Is it electric start? Try charging the battery if so.

[The Snowman]

Simple solution...

buy a Honda

[capt1014]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
Simple solution...

buy a Honda

+1

[Manny]

Did you ask on TT? I know there have been a couple of recent threads on this topic - ie the bike sits a while and then runs like crap and I seem to recall happy endings.

[KB]

My honda starts every time and runs mint guy.


I would go with the carb clean idea first.

KB

[Ken C]

For opinion balance;
My DRz has been running rock-solid for many miles.

Oh, and listen to Rich.

[highsider]

Originally posted by Ken C
For opinion balance;
My DRz has been running rock-solid for many miles.

Oh, and listen to Rich.

I should re-think the title of this thread; my thought was that *I* keep getting bad Suzukis, whereas everyone else seems to have good luck with them.

The DRZ is supposed to be bulletproof, and I have no doubt that this is probably a really minor problem. I'm just very frustrated by the response I'm getting from the dealer on a bike that should be covered under warranty, and I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the SV (which is another bike that everyone else seems to have good luck with).

If I wasn't too afraid to do anything other than minor repairs, I would listen to Rich; I'm dropping this bike off at my mechanic's tonight, he says he thinks he can get to it in time for me to do the track day on Tuesday.

Oh yes, and Ken C and the other Tony's instructors who ride DRZ's - come and get my bike in the pits on Tuesday and take it for a few laps. You will find that it is incredibly slow compared to your dirt bikes.

[SSearchVT]

Sounds like bad gas and/or crapped up carb. If you can get it to Waterbury I can take a look at it - BTW Fat Angel...

[sanfelice]

sounds like RichW knows of what he speaks with regard to this carb. I was going to suggest some Seafoam or Yama Carb Cleaner if you want to go the lazy man's route. Follow bottle instructions.

[SVRACER01]

change the gas.. thats what my race bike ran like after the summer break

[SQUIZZ636]

just buy a yamaha

[Wishbone]

Originally posted by SQUIZZ636
just buy a yamaha

+1

but seriously it could be the gas. ethonal is doin some bad things to alot of vehicals. had one incedent with my fizza. and just read an artical in the T&G this week about how the ethonal seperates alot quiker than regular gas, plus it is reeking havoc on plastic tanks eating away at it and cloging carbs and jets up. when it happened to me i put some ring cleaner in the tank and rode at WOT

[ChR1s]

Originally posted by fasterthanu
+1

but seriously it could be the gas. ethonal is doin some bad things to alot of vehicals. had one incedent with my fizza. and just read an artical in the T&G this week about how the ethonal seperates alot quiker than regular gas, plus it is reeking havoc on plastic tanks eating away at it and cloging carbs and jets up. when it happened to me i put some ring cleaner in the tank and rode at WOT

What he said. The current gas formulation doesn't take well to sitting around in bikes with carbs that vent, especially in pilot jets. Clean the carb & ride, and ride often. Or, drain the fuel and dump it in the cage in between rides.

[highsider]

Interesting development - it now runs fine, except it absolutely refuses to idle.

I did fill the tank with fresh gas.

[RandyO]

suzuki's talk to you, they say "feed me, feed me, I want gazoline"

learn to respect that, keep the bike happy, it will keep you happy

[R7]

Your idle jet still is probably blocked with something.
The new gas with ethonal is very corrosive and can screw up a carb in 2 weeks time if no stabil is added

[highsider]

How hard is it to get to this mysterious "idle jet"?

I know nothing about carburetors.

[oreo_n2]

its easy, read what Rich said to gain access to the float bowl (the bowl on the bottom of the carb), remove it... and there should be two round brass headed screws with hole in the middle. things, with slots on em for a flat head screw driver. carefully remove and clean em.

installation is reverse of removal.

[The Snowman]

Originally posted by highsider
Interesting development - it now runs fine, except it absolutely refuses to idle.

I did fill the tank with fresh gas.

It's a Suzuki thing, you wouldn't understand.