I just bought a 2004 KLX 300 really cheap but it sat for a couple of years unused with gas in it. I cleaned the carb really good, put in a new plug, cleaned tyhe air filter and started it up. After adjusting the idle the header pipe glows bright. I dont ever recall this happening on a bike before. Can anyone suggest a fix or what could be wrong some say it might be a cloged jet and others say it mite be the packing in the muffler?

thanks, Chris

 

A cherry red exhaust header usually means you're running way lean or your plug is too hot. DO NOT run it that way or you'll get a lesson in how to rebuild a top end.

Welcome to the forums.

 

yup way lean check your jetting and your plug before going any further

 

I agree with the way...lean, but the pipes on all of my rides tend to show heat somewhat on a hard ride. Make sure that your plug is in the correct range as mentioned. Read your plug and post up a pic after a WFO short burst after you have confirmed a few things.

 

All right I finally had a minute to work on the bike, I yanked the plug and took a pic. I dont think it looks that bad, any opinions?
thanks, chris

 

Does it glow when riding or only if you let it sit and idle for some time? If the latter, that is totally normal for a single wall exhaust. My SR actually glows red if it sits and idles for any length of time, as I learned when I let it sit and warm up for about 5-10 minutes on a 28 degree night. Within less than a block of riding no glowing. That is why single wall chrome pipes often are blued in spite of having perfect jetting. That is also why most street bikes used double wall pipes and many now use chrome exhaust shields over plain exhaust tubing (not brightly chromed).

That is my bet - if it is happening when it is sitting for a long period idling. Car exhausts sometimes do the same thing.

 

This is your plug chop plug pic? I wouldn't mess with the a/f then.

 

Heres what I did next.....I took the carb off and cleaned it even better removing the pilot jet and main jet and pilot idle screw. I set the idle mix screw to 3-1/4 turns out which what it was before I removed it. Im now confident that the carb is as clean as its gonna get. I removed the inner waterproof lining for the air filter so now its just a reg filter. It started up after 2 kicks and idled good with no glowing anymore then I noticed a popping everytime I let go of the throttle (decel?) and the idle ran about 500-1000 rvs after 2-3 minutes. Am I getting closer to riding it?
thanks, Chris