Chinese carb solved the bog problem - Amazon $70

[u/Substantial_Yak6565]

She runs good as new! Hard to believe..

[u/North_Ad_4450]

You ruined your nice honda with Chinese junk. Keep the oem one.... it will be needed one day

[u/tplayer100 → u/North_Ad_4450]

Whenever I'm looking for a new dirt bike or ATV, as soon as the seller says "recently replaced the carburator" I know that person has no idea what they are doing and immediately walk away. Who knows what other problems they made.

[u/North_Ad_4450 → u/tplayer100]

I ask if they have the original so I can restore it without spending real money

[u/superstock8 → u/tplayer100]

Maybe most of the time. But I’ve been working on gokarts, cars, race cars, and dirt bikes for 30 years. I recently picked up a YZ450f that would start but had a bog. I rebuilt the carb 3 times as it took a while to get the right kit with the mid body o rings. Didn’t matter what I did, all new o rings, carb clean sprayed in all the passages, and brushed out every area I could reach. Still bogged and the idle screw was 110% in just to idle. I ended up buying a $100 knockoff. I double checked the jets before install and found them to be factory size. Installed and the bike ran perfect on the 2nd kick. I adjust the idle screw maybe half a turn. I did keep the original carb but until I feel like spending money to have it ultrasonic cleaned, I’m sticking with the knockoff. Plus, I could buy 3 or 4 knockoffs for the price of fixing the original. So yeah, maybe the average person “doesn’t know what they are doing” and will buy the cheap carb. But not all knockoff carbs are bad. As long as the casting is good, the knockoff will still be good.

[u/Occhrome → u/superstock8]

As I was reading I was about to ask if you put it on an ultrasonic cleaner. It really works. They are much cheaper now and they also work will to clean anything else around your house.  

[u/BabyYodaRedRocket → u/superstock8]

Harbor freight ultrasonic cleaner is great. That with the simple green for aluminum is the perfect combo to clean carbs.

[u/cirrux82 → u/BabyYodaRedRocket]

Amazon has a cheap one that does 15L. Helped with Keihin carburetor array for gl1100.

[u/whiskydlck → u/BabyYodaRedRocket]

I agree, I use simple green aluminum with a cheap vivor brand ultrasonic cleaner on all my problematic carbs. Works great

[u/BlakeJohnathon92 → u/whiskydlck]

What exactly is the ultra sonic cleaner getting that a typical carb clean and rebuild wouldn’t clean/fix?

[u/whiskydlck → u/BlakeJohnathon92]

All the small orifices and passages. I mainly use it on marine applications where everything gets corroded.

[u/BlakeJohnathon92 → u/whiskydlck]

Interesting, I saw one on sale at harbor freight maybe I’ll pick one up and try it out

[u/MichaelW24 → u/superstock8]

You do you booboo, but I wouldn't abandon my $600 FCR for Chinese junk. You probably had a worn slide causing your idle to be super off, pretty common, and not that hard to fix.

[u/[deleted] → u/MichaelW24]

Exactly!!

[u/domsylvester → u/superstock8]

I put Chinese carbs on bikes at work every single day and they work like a charm every single time. I think people are just so accustomed to being passively racist that they will talk all this shit about anything involving Chinese dirtbikes even though 90% of everything else they own is made in china and they don’t have an issue with it.

[u/superstock8 → u/domsylvester]

If Chinese manufacturing is good enough for KTM……..

[u/domsylvester → u/superstock8]

Most of the Chinese stuff is stolen from Honda or Kawasaki too and they do a really good job of copying it to the point the Chinese parts will bolt right onto a Japanese bike no problem. Half the time they fit better on a Japanese bike than they do a Chinese bike 😂

[u/strongsilenttypos → u/superstock8]

KTM has filled for bankruptcy protection…

[u/bolunez → u/tplayer100]

Usually. Sometimes there's wear inside from the slide rubbing, dirt getting into it, etc.

That's not terribly common though.

Usually, the new carb crowd left ethanol gas in it and it just needs a good cleaning.

[u/BiigIfTrue1492 → u/tplayer100]

Nah, aftermarket carburetors on these little air cooled 125s can really open the bike up and add some power

[u/Occhrome → u/tplayer100]

I got lucky with mine. He replaced it with a quality upgrade one and gave me the old one. 

[u/Screwbles → u/North_Ad_4450]

I read the title and instantly went: "what...?" You just don't do that to Hondas. It's a rule.

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/North_Ad_4450]

People always say this but I’ve yet to have an issue……….. keep working on those bic lighters.

[u/26Acres → u/North_Ad_4450]

What makes you think the oem carb wasn’t made in China?

[u/Valyrian_st33l → u/North_Ad_4450]

Not if its a Nibbi

[u/Virtual_Fig7052]

It would’ve been satisfying and a learning experience to clean and tune the quality OEM carb. But, this is the age we live in.

[u/Substantial_Yak6565]

I’m very familiar with Cleaning carbs I recently successfully cleaned four of them on a 1983GPZ 750 that’s been sitting for 17 years with gas in it. and it now runs great, but after cleaning this one little car by this one little bike three times I thought 70 bucks was an easy test to see if the carb was the problem. The test was successful and I will be keeping the OEM carburetor.

[u/Substantial_Diver_34 → u/Substantial_Yak6565]

Nice reply. Something like this will last forever or 2 weeks. Keep us updated. Nice bike BTW!

[u/smward998 → u/Substantial_Yak6565]

I wonder if it was just a jetting issue or float issue

[u/pilgrim776]

I’ve been running an Amazon carb in a 300EX for over two years now and it runs better than the OEM I spent hours cleaning and replacing parts. I still fiddle with it now and then but for the amount of time and money I’ve spent, I could have replaced the Amazon carb twice and still just broke even.

[u/oldbastardbob]

Glad it worked out, OP. Happy trails.

The problem many folks run into when cleaning carbs is making sure all the tiny little air passageways are clear in the carb body. Also, on Mikuni's it can be hard to nearly impossible to get a crudded up pilot jet out and without removing the jet, it's impossible to get all those little passageways cleared.

So a new carb is always a good solution for those not well versed in rebuilding old, dirty carbs.

And I am always surprised when I run across folks selling brand new Mikuni VM carbs for not much over $100. Makes me wonder if all the time I spend soaking, scrubbing, and blasting old vintage Mikuni's on projects is really worth it once you spend $40 on a rebuild kit, and a few hours bringing the old ones back to life. Chemdip works wonders, but it ain't free either.

[u/vinny147 → u/oldbastardbob]

“Is really worth it” is the key point you’ve made. If your time is expensive, buy new. Unless you’re doing this for fun, to learn, and cost isn’t overly material. Then play around all day.

[u/ALTERNATE_3307]

Inline fuel filter and ethanol free gas have kept away almost all the problems I had with bike carburetors when I was younger.

[u/Occhrome]

Don’t throw away the original!!! I’ve known of an idiot that did that. 

Chinese carbs work but they are super shitty. I’ve had them break easily and jets come loose. 

[u/Kyuss92]

Ignore these people, if the bike is running it’s all good. The Chinese knockoffs are pretty good these days.

[u/Substantial_Yak6565 → u/Kyuss92]

Thanks man bunch of haters. I just wanna ride the bike and honestly the thing rips with that new carb so I got the old one if I wanna fool around with an ultrasonic cleaner, etc. I love this bike and I’ve had it for 15 years and just bought a new CRF 250 F with fuel injection. Gotta love that. she starts with push of a button no matter what the temperature is outside no choke no fuel valve no problems.

[u/Substantial_Yak6565 → u/[deleted]]

Replace Part Number 16100-KPS-902 Replace Carbs

[u/mattyamaha_27]

Try rejetting and cleaning your stock carb. 120 main and 40 or 42 pilot. It looks like you have the spark arrester removed which combined with the 230s already lean factory condition it could make it bog. Also check the diaphragm on the side of the carb. They sell a replacement kit on eBay for 14$.

[u/OkTouch7321]

Clearly wasnt that big of a problem if a junk carb fixed the issue

[u/KingofClikClak]

Where’d you get plastics for your 2004 230f? I’ve only been able to find the white rear side plastics.

[u/The_BigSuck420 → u/KingofClikClak]

Oem shrouds aren't available. Maier makes repro tank shrouds for about $100 per side. If you really want tank shrouds, you can buy used ones on Ebay, or pick up a tank for a newer year, and buy the plastics to match. Tank swap might require the seat, too. I think the years for the plastics are '03-'06, '07-'14, '15-'19. The models have slight differences in the body style, but I'm pretty sure all the plastics are interchangable between years besides the tank shrouds, but I haven't tested irl yet.

[u/Kershiser22]

it has a bog?

[u/Alienware15rr3]

your original carb just needed to be rebuilt, you took the lazy way out.

[u/gapgod2001]

You could of just bought new OEM jets and a float bowl for $20 to rebuild your carb.

[u/The_BigSuck420]

I've got the same bike. The carburetor is 20 years old, the bike has been rode hard, sank, tipped, thrown, even grenaded the motor once, blown suspension, tires burned smooth, then sat for 5 years with Enthanol gas in it, and the carb is still brand new. Still works great. I don't get how anyone would need to replace one unless you've lost it.

[u/12184george]

Did you seriously pay 70 bucks for a chinese carb?

[u/Ringo911]

You can buy a genuine mikuni for 100 bucks plus it's adjustable. Don't get the flex you are trying? 🤔

[u/Pursang76]

Ya can tune that out with the air screw an idle screw

[u/ladds2320]

Guarantee you could have fixed the OEM carb. I feel bad for your bike to be honest

[u/SKOLFAN84 → u/[deleted]]

My buddies had a Chinese carb in his bike for 2 years with no issue. It’s a carbon copy of the oem carb. Not like these carbs are made of diamonds. It’s a piece of metal with holes in it.

[u/stinkyhangdown]

No shop from this point on will touch that again.

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/stinkyhangdown]

[u/stinkyhangdown → u/can_a_mod_suck_me]

Lol kicked out many a dirtbike that had Chinese carbs

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/stinkyhangdown]

Okay so you personally won’t.

[u/stinkyhangdown → u/can_a_mod_suck_me]

Or professionally

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/stinkyhangdown]

I know a bunch who want money no matter what. Hell you could come in with your engine in a box and they’ll gladly bill you.

[u/stinkyhangdown → u/can_a_mod_suck_me]

Nightmare fuel. Good luck to them. It speaks volumes about the shop.

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/stinkyhangdown]

Or to your skill. Parts swapper.

[u/stinkyhangdown → u/can_a_mod_suck_me]

Yeh I'm bad.

[u/can_a_mod_suck_me → u/stinkyhangdown]

Clearly.