Carb confusion on the honda 185! help.

[bludshifta]

Hi Guys,

I bought a 1980 185 a month or two back.. I finally got it out to the hunting lease so i could actually ride it a little. After rebuilding the starter, it starts first time. Great. But, it struggles to idle quite frequently and when i give it some throttle it doesn't rev at all smoothly in the top end. It stopped on 3 occasions whilst out on the lease of its own accord. I was on 1st or second, and it just seemed to get bogged down like there wasn't enough fuel or something and then stopped even though i was giving it throttle. I left it a minute or so on each occasion and it fired right back up again and I continued on. This all occurred over a total of 20 mins riding.

So i've taken the carb off and i'm somewhat confused. The guy I bought it off said he had replaced the carb with a new one 2 years back. This one is a Keihin one and the broken metal on the main jet hole suggests its considerably older to me. Thoughts?

Some odd things that might help identify the problem.

1. The idle speed screw has no effect on the idle, whether its all the way in or out, the idle is the same.
2. Occasionally when i fire it up for the first time it will idle really high for a minute or so and its almost auto choking as i can see the choke bounce back and forth rapidly. When it eventually warms up the idle goes back to normal and the choke returns to its natural position.. (Is this auto choking standard?)

Firstly, is this carb old, new, oem? I've no idea.

Secondly, given its apparent condition, should I replace completely or buy a service kit. If replacing, suggestions on what with? This is a hunting lease vehicle so i'm not looking for insane performance, just a dependable rider.

Thanks in advance!

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o555/bludshifta/IMG_13241_zps9646ca7b.jpg (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/bludshifta/media/IMG_13241_zps9646ca7b.jpg.html)

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o555/bludshifta/IMG_13251_zpsf0efb0d3.jpg (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/bludshifta/media/IMG_13251_zpsf0efb0d3.jpg.html)

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o555/bludshifta/IMG_13261_zpsfa88543f.jpg (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/bludshifta/media/IMG_13261_zpsfa88543f.jpg.html)

[yaegerb]

uh...that carb is trashed...the PO either left it in chem dip too long or dropped it on the floor. Does it even hold a main?

You are in luck though....well maybe...

I just had flyingw rebuild an OEM 1985 24MM 200x carb for me and it won't hold fuel in the bowl long enough for my 218 stroker motor, so I need to sell it. This carb will work on your bike from all that I have read. The rebuild was so nice, it looks like an NOS carb. I can also send pictures if you are interested. If you are interested in purchasing send me a PM.

[bludshifta]

uh...that carb is trashed...the PO either left it in chem dip too long or dropped it on the floor. Does it even hold a main?

You are in luck though....well maybe...

I just had flyingw rebuild an OEM 1985 24MM 200x carb for me and it won't hold fuel in the bowl long enough for my 218 stroker motor, so I need to sell it. This carb will work on your bike from all that I have read. The rebuild was so nice, it looks like an NOS carb. I can also send pictures if you are interested. If you are interested in purchasing send me a PM.

Sounds expensive! Feel free to PM with pics and a price. Quite honestly i'm just looking to get this thing running a bit better. I could of got by with it the way it was but i figurei'd take the carb off and see whats up.

Does anyone have any preference between the the various aftermarket 'japanese' made carbs?

[dougspcs]

Any Chinese aftermarket carb would have to be better than that mess!!

Take your pick on Ebay and get it running..

Like Yaegerb said..that thing is trash.

Just curious what the inside of the bowl looks like?

[rdlsz24]

Here's my review from 3+ years ago of a China carb for the 200x, the seller still has an eBay store and has carbs for all ATC models

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/112926-REVIEW-New-eBay-quot-Keihin-quot-200x-carb

Rob

[bludshifta]

Here's my review from 3+ years ago of a China carb for the 200x, the seller still has an eBay store and has carbs for all ATC models

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/112926-REVIEW-New-eBay-quot-Keihin-quot-200x-carb

Rob

So i guess its still running strong then? I checked his store and he appears to have a carb specific to the 1980 185. $25 delivered seems pretty reasonable to me so i'm going togo ahead and order it.

Thanks for all the info guys. Hopefully thats the source of the issue.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-ATC-185-ATC185-Carburetor-1980-Choke-Lever-Style-3-Wheel-Trike-Carb-/200766664117?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ebea02db5

[kb0nly]

Get that chincarb... They run great! I got one on my 200ES and i have put them on just about everything so far. One hint, when you get it take the bowl off and make sure its clean. I had a few of them that had what looked like casting sand in the bottom of the bowl. Good to check them over quick before install anyway, make sure the jets are tight and the correct size, etc.

[bludshifta]

Get that chincarb... They run great! I got one on my 200ES and i have put them on just about everything so far. One hint, when you get it take the bowl off and make sure its clean. I had a few of them that had what looked like casting sand in the bottom of the bowl. Good to check them over quick before install anyway, make sure the jets are tight and the correct size, etc.

Its already in the mail! Thanks for the advice, i'll definitely check before it goes in. During this little escapade i also noticed that the air filter has no element, just the metal element holder.

The deeper you dig with these things the more you spend!

Thanks

[rdlsz24]

So i guess its still running strong then?

It was when I traded it for a dirt bike last summer! Definitely get an air filter on that thing, I don't know that it will run quite right without it.

Rob

[bludshifta]

Ok guys.

So I bought the new carb and put it on and i'm in a similar place.

It idles pretty darn well. But when i give it much throttle it boggs down in the mid to top end and has no real power. After riding it for between 2-4 minutes at any time it will cut out and not start again for about 2 minutes. After a short period it then starts again and the cycle continues.

I'm sure the answer is pretty simple given that with choke at the halfway position it revs very freely and feels snappy. But with the choke down i.e, the position pictured below it runs as described above. So I've got a really stupid question here, In the picture below, is the choke on or off? My assumption is that it is on? I base that on the fact the metal plate is covering the carb hole preventing airflow. But given the way it idles highly with it completely open (i.e the plate not covering the hole), i'm confused.

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o555/bludshifta/IMG_1354_zpsc6895a86.jpg (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/bludshifta/media/IMG_1354_zpsc6895a86.jpg.html)
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o555/bludshifta/IMG_1355_zps30780f6a.jpg (http://s1147.photobucket.com/user/bludshifta/media/IMG_1355_zps30780f6a.jpg.html)


So we've got a new spark plug with strong spark. New carb that appears clean.

I've tried adjusting the pilot screw. I've had it at 2 turns out, 5 turns out and all the way in, either way it makes no real difference.

I've also tried running it with the gas cap off to make sure its not broken and causing a vacuum.

Your help is much appreciated.

[bludshifta]

Ignore the above question - I've been running it with the choke on like an idiot. With that said the car was not tuned at all. Finally got it to a good place.

Thanks

[MNhondaguy]

It happens! My bro has an 82 and 83 200 base. When the little plate that holds the ball retainer to hold choke lever where placed wears out, the choke naturally goes on from bumps. We have found that a "livestrong" bracelet works great to keep choke off and lasts the longest haha.