DR won't idle in cold

[meteor]

Wondering if any mechanical gurus out there have heard of this before... I commute on a steel tank DR250. Usually runs well. Can be a bugger to start from cold but if I lean it to the left for 5 secs an pick it up it's ok. But with this really cold snap (0 degees in the morning) bike starts, runs on choke and then without choke in the carport but soon as I hit the cold damp air it won't idle. At lights or even changing down it stall's, even if running on the choke. but in the afternoon ride home, runs sweet as again? Any answers or fixes you're aware of? Have you heard of it before?

[twotyred]

possibly a clogged pilot jet?

I'd start by dismantling the carb and cleaning/checking it

[junkmanjoe]

at first guess,
just wind up idle screw a turn.
mine used to do the same.

[Paladin]

I'm no mechanical guru, but my DR was a total git to start the other morning after the heavy frost in Welly and was also doing the cutting out thing you explained. I had recently turned the idle down and just concluded i had taken it down too far for cold weather. Dunno if thats correct, just my amateur summising! I was also VERY low on fuel, dunno if thats any effect in cold weather with any moisture condensing inside the tank????

[twotyred]

at first guess,
just wind up idle screw a turn.
mine used to do the same.

yes indeed,start here first

[junkmanjoe]

down south my idle screw was way to high.

DR Jatz had to do road side repairs to calm her down a bit.

but yea maybe one and a half turns will do it.

JMJ

[meteor]

Thanks for the replies, looks like the consensus is the idle screw, will give that a go first. Had visions of it being petrol freezing in carb etc because of cold air/wind chill etc. The carby jets are fine that was stripped and rebuilt only 100 K ago. Cheers all

[junkmanjoe]

put a markerpen mark on the idle screw so you know when ya done 1 full turn, and count the turns ya do, so then you dont lose ya summer setting...just a idea....

[Taz]

I think these guys a referring to the Air mixture screw as opposed to the idle adjustment.

[cooneyr]

I think these guys a referring to the Air mixture screw as opposed to the idle adjustment.

I suspect not cause this is buried under a brass cap in the DR carbs. Start with the idle screw which is a plastic knob on the LHS (if I recall correctly).

Cheers R

[Taz]

So what's with all the 1 1/2 turns BS? Just adjust until bike idles at the desired speed when warm. If it won't then check all other settings are within spec.

[junkmanjoe]

yea was meaning the idle screw.

mines a big screw sticks out bottom of the carb.
i guess is smiler to his bike.

was just offering a simple solution other than pulling his carb apart.
i wouldnt think he has a in line fuel filter that could be blocked.

[cooneyr]

The idle screw is #33 in the pic below. #30 the pilot screw is the factory idle air mixture screw. Unless you have an aftermarket T handle type screw the air mixture screww will be under a brass cap at the front (cylinder side) of the carb. The KLR pic (2nd pic) below shows (yellow arrow) where the brass cap needs to be drilled out from if you want to adjust the idle air mixture screw. Note the KLR carb is different to the DR carb but the idle air mixture screw is in the same place and just as hard to get at.





Cheers R

[JATZ]

It wasn't the idle screw I adjusted on JMJ's carb, it was the screw type thingy that the throttle cable runs through to get to the carb.Need a 12mm (?) spanner to undo the lock nut then wind it in a bit, from memory I don't think JMJ's idle screw was even touching the cam on the throttle.
I usually carry a small screwdriver bit and a small extension/drill atachment in my pocket for adjusting the mixture screw, just in case I find myself up a mountain and the bikes running a bit rough.

[junkmanjoe]

yea that bit........ silly me..