Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
New Owner
95formula847:
Hey whats up guys this is my first post. Im now the proud owner of a 1991 KX500 that i got for $800. Its in pretty good shape for how old it is. Ive been riding my whole life but never anything this big. In the past i have had a KX125 and RM250. I currently have a ZX12R street bike.
Anyways i have a few questions about the bike. First off its pretty hard to start. And not because its physically difficult. It just doesnt want to start and idle.i have to rev it to keep it running. The bike sat for a few months so im sure it needs the carb gone through and i might as well have the jetting checked. Sound about right? Also when i get it runnin its pretty sluggish and rough in first gear and doesnt really go anywhere. If i crack the throttle and go through the gears it will eventually pick up around 4th gear but still doesnt feel near as powerful as it should. Given i ride a ZX12 on a regular basis but it still doesnt feel right. Im attributing all this with it sitting for months and needing the carb gone through? If theres a starting method you guys use that works for when i get it running right id like to know it.
Next problem it has is the front sprocket is slinging small amounts of grease. Is there a seal in there or is it somethin else? Its not slingin alot just a small amount but still... its a leak.
Third problem it has is that the rear shock is extremely soft. I weigh 200 lbs and i can just sit on it and it sinks a good bit and if i bounce ever so slightly it drops a whole bunch more. Looks like a low rider lol. Are the rear shocks rebuildable? If so is this most likely the problem... just needs a rebuild?
Last but not least the head pipe leaks where it meets the engine. When i start the bike up it puffs smoke out and has alittle oil residue. The previous owner says its been cracked in other places a few times and fixed. Its the stock pipe and has two springs holding it on. Any ideas on this? Will putting a gnarly pipe on fix the problem most likely or can the mating surface on the engine be the problem?
Oh and the front brake disc wiggles on the circular metal pieces between it and the center pice of the disc. Is this normal?
The bike is gonna be used for trail riding so id like to gear it accordingly. Ive also read a gnarly pipe is good for low end but what about a silencer to pair it with? It has a really beat up pro circuit one on it now. Im going to change the plug, drain the gas and put turbo blue race gas in it after the shop goes through the carb. Any suggestions on what plug to run? What ratio do you guys mix your fuel/oil?
Im sorry i asked alot of questions but i figured one big thread would be better than numerous small threads. Thanks alot.
kxpegger:
--- Quote from: 95formula847 on June 23, 2009, 03:20:38 PM ---Hey whats up guys this is my first post. Im now the proud owner of a 1991 KX500 that i got for $800. Its in pretty good shape for how old it is. Ive been riding my whole life but never anything this big. In the past i have had a KX125 and RM250. I currently have a ZX12R street bike.
Anyways i have a few questions about the bike. First off its pretty hard to start. And not because its physically difficult. It just doesnt want to start and idle.i have to rev it to keep it running. The bike sat for a few months so im sure it needs the carb gone through and i might as well have the jetting checked. Sound about right? Also when i get it runnin its pretty sluggish and rough in first gear and doesnt really go anywhere. If i crack the throttle and go through the gears it will eventually pick up around 4th gear but still doesnt feel near as powerful as it should. Given i ride a ZX12 on a regular basis but it still doesnt feel right. Im attributing all this with it sitting for months and needing the carb gone through? If theres a starting method you guys use that works for when i get it running right id like to know it.
Next problem it has is the front sprocket is slinging small amounts of grease. Is there a seal in there or is it somethin else? Its not slingin alot just a small amount but still... its a leak.
Third problem it has is that the rear shock is extremely soft. I weigh 200 lbs and i can just sit on it and it sinks a good bit and if i bounce ever so slightly it drops a whole bunch more. Looks like a low rider lol. Are the rear shocks rebuildable? If so is this most likely the problem... just needs a rebuild?
Last but not least the head pipe leaks where it meets the engine. When i start the bike up it puffs smoke out and has alittle oil residue. The previous owner says its been cracked in other places a few times and fixed. Its the stock pipe and has two springs holding it on. Any ideas on this? Will putting a gnarly pipe on fix the problem most likely or can the mating surface on the engine be the problem?
Oh and the front brake disc wiggles on the circular metal pieces between it and the center pice of the disc. Is this normal?
The bike is gonna be used for trail riding so id like to gear it accordingly. Ive also read a gnarly pipe is good for low end but what about a silencer to pair it with? It has a really beat up pro circuit one on it now. Im going to change the plug, drain the gas and put turbo blue race gas in it after the shop goes through the carb. Any suggestions on what plug to run? What ratio do you guys mix your fuel/oil?
Im sorry i asked alot of questions but i figured one big thread would be better than numerous small threads. Thanks alot.
--- End quote ---
Don't know where your at but I'm using a N82M needle, 55 pilot and a 168 main. About 1 1/2 turns out on the air screw. If your idle is set to low this will also make it hard to start especially when the engine is warm.
Sounds like a bad seal and/or spacer.
Check the nitrogen precharge. Also your year bike can also use air according to the manual but nitrogen is preferred.
Mine leaks too after about 6 to 8 rides! Change crush washer, new "O" rings and use some high temp RTV to get a few extra rides out of it.
If your front brake rotor is full floating some play is normal. If you can make it click by hand front and rear and side to side it may be worn. It's a judgement call but if you don't like what your feeling when applying the brake change the rotor.
Depends on the type of oil but I think most run about 40:1.
jdcowboy:
Welcome....for starters I run Amsoil 100:1 in all my stuff. I usually mix it at 50 to 1 and have had no problems. If you bike has been sitting a while I would start by draining the fuel tank and carburater. There is a bolt in the bottum of the float bowl to empty the carb. Start with that. Should not need any special starting proceedures. 3 or 4 kicks and you should be running.
Good luck...
Tex
oic0:
When I first got mine the guy had the idle set very low and the idle mix set very lean. Setting the carb so it will idle and adjusting the idle mix made mine much easier to start. After doing that the next time I went outside and tried to start it, it scared the crap out of me when it sprung to life on the second kick! I was used to sweating and being half worn out before getting it to start.
Also, is the plug fouled?
95formula847:
The plug could very well be fouled. I havent pulled it yet. Im gonna take it today to a local shop to get the carb cleaned, jetting checked and have them do a once over. Ill decide what to fix now but i wanna start with getting it running. Then get the shock rebuilt cause the sag is rediculous.
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