Need help diagnosing a problem.
Okay, let me start by saying I’m not a seasoned bike mechanic and only have basic knowledge.
I have a 1983 Kawasaki GPZ 550 (Canadian model, I think). It has pods instead of the stock airbox and a vacuum-operated petcock (a vacuum line connected to carburetor #2’s vacuum nipple, as per the manual).
I’ve been trying to get it running right, but I can’t seem to figure it out. Basically, I can start the bike when the choke is pulled all the way out and the fuel petcock is set to either ON or RES. However, as soon as I try to throttle, it either makes a huge sucking sound and stalls, or the revs shoot up super high and hang. If I try to push the choke in (turn it off), the bike dies immediately.
My dad suggested pulling off the gas tank, emptying the carbs, and pouring a 50/50 mixture of gas and seafoam into the main fuel line and letting it sit for 48 hours. I’ve since reassembled everything, and the problem persists.
Any ideas about what the issue might be or any steps I should take to figure it out? I’d really appreciate any help, as I’m genuinely stuck.