Help me out!

[ColJessip]

My and a freind of mine bought an old 2 stroke dirtbike for $100. They guy said it started 2 years ago but he hasnt tried to start it yet. So we get it home, drain the old fuel and mix up some new gas/oil, took the filter off the carb and cleaned it. Then went to start it. After a few tries it started up with the choke on fully, then when we went to unchoke it. It immediatly stalled. So we tried to slowly let the choke off, after about 3/4 of the way off, it stalled. It runs perfectly at 1/2 choke stalling wise. Its just lifeless when you try to ride it like that. Oh yea, whenever it stalls after I un-choke it, some smoke puffs out of the carb if that matters.

[theholycow]

It's got a carburetor. Might as well forget it, it's got a similar ratio of fun:pain as a woman.

Is that Toothgnip in your avatar pic?

[mtheis]

You need to take apart the carb and clean it out... especially if it had old fuel sitting in it. I've rebuilt a few of these back in the day. Carb cleaner is your friend (might need a rebuild kit too).

If the thing only runs with the choke on, then the engine isn't receiving much of any fuel (runs lean as f**k).

[padauk_dust]

took the filter off the carb and cleaned it

Does this mean you cleaned the carb or the filter? Definitely after two years the carb will need a thorough cleaning.

It's got a carburetor. Might as well forget it, it's got a similar ratio of fun:pain as a woman.

And don't listen to this guy.

[ColJessip]

took the filter off the carb and cleaned it

Does this mean you cleaned the carb or the filter? Definitely after two years the carb will need a thorough cleaning.

My bad, didn't notice the ambiguity. I cleaned the filter... However with the choke open, the carb doesn't look that dirty So I figured I didn't have to clean it.

[mtheis]

However with the choke open, the carb doesn't look that dirty So I figured I didn't have to clean it.

Did you even read my post?

[ColJessip]

Naw dawg my teim machin wuz brokee

[comingbackdown]

You need to take apart the carb and clean it out... especially if it had old fuel sitting in it. I've rebuilt a few of these back in the day. Carb cleaner is your friend (might need a rebuild kit too).

If the thing only runs with the choke on, then the engine isn't receiving much of any fuel (runs lean as f**k).

QFT!

Y'know what happens to gasoline with ethanol in it (which is very common) when it sits for a long time?
It kind of congeals. Even ethanol-free gasoline gets incredibly nasty after a while.

If you haven't totally drained all the old gas out of the tank yet, do it.
Try cleaning the carb. If it comes down to it, disassemble it (if necessary) enough to make sure any liquid you dunk it in will hit all the parts, and drop it in a tub of kerosene (or gas, for that matter) for three or four days.
(Note: I have no idea how kerosene might effect the innards of said carburetor. I don't know what all the components are made of. If it's your standard diaphragm carb, I have no clue how kerosene would effect rubber.)

That said, if it's your standard diaphragm carb like you have on say, a pushmower for instance...
Those rubber diaphragms are complete and utter shit and wear out waaaaaaaaaay too often. I can only imagine the effect that old gas would have on one.

If nothing else works you may need a rebuild kit.

Even if cleaning it does help, it may need adjusted. Normally, that's not so bad.
However, if you take Murphy's Law into account... (It once took me over an hour to adjust a Briggs and Stratton engine on a pushmower.)

Good luck, my friend!

[mtheis]

However, if you take Murphy's Law into account... (It once took me over an hour to adjust a Briggs and Stratton engine on a pushmower.)

Those motors are a pain in the ass anyway.

[kamesama980]

if it sat for 2 years with gas in it you WILL need to take out every part of the carb, replace the soft parts (o-rings, diaphram if equipped, gaskets) and manually clean out every orifice and passage, possibly get new jets altogether (they're cheap enough) I got a bike a few years ago in the same situation: not started in 1.5 yrs and last time it ran, it barely ran. needed all the jets and a couple hours of work.

BTW easy off oven cleaner will cut through the crap in the carb in seconds. Wash it off with water in under 5 minutes or it'll start to oxidize the aluminum too. and wear gloves or you'll get chemical burns from it.