New to me blaster idle issues

John Stauder

New Member
Mar 20, 2021
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I bought 2 non running blasters at the same time not long ago. Both have been sitting for quite a while and are late 90s. Mine was supposed to be the problem child that needed some work, turns out it just needed a good carb cleaning and it's been a beast aside from a shift lever seal I need to replace.

Onto the problem one, my wife's. It's bone stock all the way to the original tires. I pulled the carb off and gave it a very detailed cleaning and I can't get the F'n thing to idle! It will run if I keep it reved up and I can ride it as long as I stay on it. I've pulled the carb back off and confirmed the jets are clear, reeds look good, no air leaks post carb, I've pulled the air filter off thinking maybe it was clogged. It will idle with the choke pulled half way out. I've messed with the idle on top of the carb and it makes no difference at all. I've messed with the fuel screw and no matter what I do it still will not idle. It does run very well though, plenty of power on tap as long as I don't let it try to idle.

On top of all that the kick start return spring is broken on hers. That's no big deal once I can get it to run. I got a pretty good deal on the pair so I'm willing to do some work or put a little money into them.
 
Do you still have the TORS brick on top of the carb? The big straight slot screw is how you adjust the idle. Unfortunately they go to sh*t and stop working.

FYI, these don't have a fuel screw, it's an air screw.
When you cleaned the carb did you blow air through ALL passages? Set float level? Remove and clean emulsion tube/main jet holder?
 
Yes it does have the TORS on it still. I lost spark and unplugged the brain under the front plastic, I have a strong spark.
Then apparently mine went to s*it because it's not responding to any movements. I went about 2 turns in either direction. Everything in the carb is as clean as it can be. I used put tore it apart, put it in the parts washer at work, blew it off, used carb/choke cleaner and then blew out all passageways with 80psi of air.
I had the floats all set right and I noticed the other day that it was pinging from running lean. I have a clear gas line and sure enough there was almost no fuel in it. I parked it and have to readjust it.
 
Believe it or not that's brand new, it's one of the first things I did. It has great flow through it when I disconnect it from the carb. I'll just have to readjust the floats a little more.
 
Believe it or not that's brand new, it's one of the first things I did. It has great flow through it when I disconnect it from the carb. I'll just have to readjust the floats a little more.
I bought 2 non running blasters at the same time not long ago. Both have been sitting for quite a while and are late 90s. Mine was supposed to be the problem child that needed some work, turns out it just needed a good carb cleaning and it's been a beast aside from a shift lever seal I need to replace.

Onto the problem one, my wife's. It's bone stock all the way to the original tires. I pulled the carb off and gave it a very detailed cleaning and I can't get the F'n thing to idle! It will run if I keep it reved up and I can ride it as long as I stay on it. I've pulled the carb back off and confirmed the jets are clear, reeds look good, no air leaks post carb, I've pulled the air filter off thinking maybe it was clogged. It will idle with the choke pulled half way out. I've messed with the idle on top of the carb and it makes no difference at all. I've messed with the fuel screw and no matter what I do it still will not idle. It does run very well though, plenty of power on tap as long as I don't let it try to idle.

On top of all that the kick start return spring is broken on hers. That's no big deal once I can get it to run. I got a pretty good deal on the pair so I'm willing to do some work or put a little money into them.
I bought 2 non running blasters at the same time not long ago. Both have been sitting for quite a while and are late 90s. Mine was supposed to be the problem child that needed some work, turns out it just needed a good carb cleaning and it's been a beast aside from a shift lever seal I need to replace.

Onto the problem one, my wife's. It's bone stock all the way to the original tires. I pulled the carb off and gave it a very detailed cleaning and I can't get the F'n thing to idle! It will run if I keep it reved up and I can ride it as long as I stay on it. I've pulled the carb back off and confirmed the jets are clear, reeds look good, no air leaks post carb, I've pulled the air filter off thinking maybe it was clogged. It will idle with the choke pulled half way out. I've messed with the idle on top of the carb and it makes no difference at all. I've messed with the fuel screw and no matter what I do it still will not idle. It does run very well though, plenty of power on tap as long as I don't let it try to idle.

On top of all that the kick start return spring is broken on hers. That's no big deal once I can get it to run. I got a pretty good deal on the pair so I'm willing to do some work or put a little money into them.


If you didn't already check your throttle cable and where it connects to the thumb. Its adjustable there and at the tors bolt. Some times the bolt gunks up inside and won't make contact but will feel bottomed out. Carefull they break easy. You can make the quad idle with just the adjustment on the bars but it won't feel rite. Now if u turn that adjustment out (counterclockwise) and it still refuses to idle then you have more detective work. Br8es plug gapped correctly. Air filter over oiled. Cracked warped reeds. Hole or crack in intake. Boot Incorrectly float settings. Cloged gas cap vent. Low compression.. my 02 will idle for about 20 seconds and then kick down and slowly choke out. I've tired everything to extend that idle time but it's just how two-stroke motors are. They were definitely not built to idle. If it idles with the choke half way out that means when u decrease your air flow it improves your underliein issue. I'm leaning towards jetting or the fuel air mix screw. Thats the flat head brass screw on the choke side of the carb that is countersunk flush with the carb. That should be turned in clockwise while. counting every quarter rotation to see where your at. Then turned back out to original position. Watch your smoke from the exhaust! If it stops smoking and leans out your fried. . I would check the air box for extra added holes if you decrease air with the choke and it idles your leaking somewhere pull the plug and see if its light colored. And check that you put all the jets and the needle valve is in the rite position its all important and will cause your issues. If all else fails compression test and pull the head.
 
If you didn't already check your throttle cable and where it connects to the thumb. Its adjustable there and at the tors bolt. Some times the bolt gunks up inside and won't make contact but will feel bottomed out. Carefull they break easy. You can make the quad idle with just the adjustment on the bars but it won't feel rite. Now if u turn that adjustment out (counterclockwise) and it still refuses to idle then you have more detective work. Br8es plug gapped correctly. Air filter over oiled. Cracked warped reeds. Hole or crack in intake. Boot Incorrectly float settings. Cloged gas cap vent. Low compression.. my 02 will idle for about 20 seconds and then kick down and slowly choke out. I've tired everything to extend that idle time but it's just how two-stroke motors are. They were definitely not built to idle. If it idles with the choke half way out that means when u decrease your air flow it improves your underliein issue. I'm leaning towards jetting or the fuel air mix screw. Thats the flat head brass screw on the choke side of the carb that is countersunk flush with the carb. That should be turned in clockwise while. counting every quarter rotation to see where your at. Then turned back out to original position. Watch your smoke from the exhaust! If it stops smoking and leans out your fried. . I would check the air box for extra added holes if you decrease air with the choke and it idles your leaking somewhere pull the plug and see if its light colored. And check that you put all the jets and the needle valve is in the rite position its all important and will cause your issues. If all else fails compression test and pull the head.
And if you have a t o r s system still hooked up to your blaster that could be the whole problem altogether it could be thinking that your flat-out and throttle override kicks in because that bolt for the idle on the carb isn't touching the metal tab connecton inside the system the main brain under your hood in the front will kill the CDI . I had a issue similar where the tors would only let the quad idle and cut out as soon as the gas was applied but never completely die. disconnect plug under the hood for the tors brain and unplug the t o r s plug back next to the carburetor if you have a electrical tester fire it up and see if u loose spark at idle. If it doesn't start reconnect the plug next to the carb and try.
 
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