1978 340 Liquifire choke plunger

liquifire340 · Post by **liquifire340** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:04 pm

Here's the story / problem..
My son is now riding my 1978 340 Liquifire. The choke lever broke on mine/his last weekend. No problem since I have another 78 440 sitting waiting for repair.
Well I pulled the choke leaver out of the 340 , and the one from the 440. They aren't the same!

:blink: The 340's is longer ( the length of the housing ) with a spring. The 440 is shorter withOUT a spring! I just took the housing for the leaver apart hoping it would be a five minute fix and ride... R-I-G-H-T..
Well.. I figure what the heck. We'd just back off the choke adjustments until it fits..right?
Well somehow the plunger from the carb dropped into the engine compartment ( we can't find it !! don't ask .. my thirteen year old son was helping on this part.) So I figure ( again ) use one from the 440's carb.
Aren't the carbs on the 340 and the 440 different ?? So would just the choke plunger AND spring ( he lost that too :

:blink: ) interchange?
It starts ok but just sounds wrong! Like it's not hitting on one cylinder or something. I just sounds and feels wrong.
I have yet to try and adjust the choke cables back since I've been so P.O.ed over the whole thing! In ten years of riding it I NEVER had a engine/ carb problem!!
Now we have snow and he can't ride until it's fixed. ANY help would be great!!!
Thanks guys! Seems like I only stop in when I have a problem, now that I have 3 Doo's to ride..
Pat ( and Matt ) Hasty

liquifire340 · Post by **liquifire340** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:58 pm

Cool!!! Then it must just be that I need to adjust the choke cables. Of course I didn't do that first. Too P.O'ed at my son. I know we are all young and we learn from our mistakes ( hopefully ).
Hopefully adjusting the cables will take care of it

Thanks for the speedy reply!
Pat ( and Matt )

I just saw I'm a listed as a new guy!! I guess that will teach a old fella to stop in every once in a while.

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:05 pm

I hope the springs are installed.

liquifire340 · Post by **liquifire340** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:44 pm

I'm almost 100% positive that he/we did...
But I'll double check the one he lost it from.
I'll let you guys know what I find.
Pat

liquifire340 · Post by **liquifire340** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:14 am

Ok ,another question.
I'm sitting here reading my factory service manual about the choke adjustment.
Since I don't have a JDM-75 Carburetor Choke Gauge laying aroung here.. what do I use ??
Thanks for all your help!
Pat

Danzig · Post by **Danzig** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:55 am

Read choke lever setup posted by me in the Kawasaki Talk

harleysportster · Post by **harleysportster** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:21 pm

Danzig wrote: Read choke lever setup posted by me in the Kawasaki Talk

Paul's choke cable istructions do not apply to the 76-78 cyclone / liquifire. The early cyclone/liquifire do not have a 2 position choke.

The JD choke adjusting tool was a means to set the choke plunger in the 1/2 way position, in the choke plunger bore.
-Start by setting choke level in the OFF (down position)
-Loosen both cables at the carb, then tighten them one at a time to achive about 1/8 slack measured at the carb between the adjuster and cable housing by pushing/pulling on the cable .
-once the slack is achived, lock down the cable adjuster.
To visually see the choke plunger is working, remove the airbox, flip the choke on and shine a bright light in the hole in the end of the carb throat which leads to the choke bore. Look in the hole at the end of the carb throat, you should see the choke plunger in the 1/2 open position. Release the choke and the plunger should cover the hole completely.
Adjust the cable accordingly if the choke plunger is not in the 1/2 open position.