How to Clean the Carburetor in a Honda Ruckus

Is your Honda Ruckus running slow or sputtering? You probably have a dirty carb and old gas which is hampering the performance. This video will walk through how to remove the carburetor and clean it, as well as drain the gas tank and replace the battery.
Fuel Siphon Pumps: bit.ly/2muw3uF
Carb Needle Cleaner: bit.ly/2mbicXy
Ruckus Battery: amzn.to/2nnCWLP
Gas Line Clamps: amzn.to/2muFDxz

[@joemitchell8779]

I've had several Rukuses (sp). Cleaning carb is frequent requirement. To simplify, cut the floorboard apart where the two "major" sections join--where the spark plug inspection port and the gas tank flap are. From then on, you only need to remove the rear part--no battery compartment to deal with either. Also, no need to remove seat or seat frame. Golf ball tees make good stoppers for plugging the fuel line and the coolant lines. Drain carb after removal from engine. No need to do anything with fuel tank (unless it has other issues). Replacing carb bowl screws with hex-head bolts works great for subsequent cleanings. And, you can build a tool to adjust the idle screw adjustment by flattening one side of a piece of flexible fuel line tubing--the tubing is round, flatten one side until it fits over the adjustment screw. Turn gently.

[@gy6nick883]

Good video. Some tips: You do not need to drain the gas to remove your carburetor. Just don’t turn the key while the carb is off otherwise it will pump fuel. Also, Easier way to drain the gas: pull the line off the bottom of the fuel tank with the gas cap open. Takes time to drain but will definitely all drain out.

[@andrewleedesign]

Awesome video! My Ruckus has been sitting awhile and definitely needs this treatment! Thanks for sharing this process!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@AnT_EyE]

My Ruckus has been sitting for over a year, got a new battery, new spark plug, new air filter. It starts if I spray Starter fluid up the intake port but wont stay idling. Is there another way to clean the carb without taking the bike apart. This process looks way above my skill level.

[@outoftheboxwoodworks7560]

Thanks dudes, because of this video and all the commenters I was able to do this to our ruckus, I just took it for a test drive and all is good. It was so clogged it wouldn't even want to fire let alone idle, the jets were mostly all clogged. My wide is gonna be so happy, it was my first time doing something like this, its a 2018 ruckus with 515 miles total, we mostly run it hard off road on rutted trails, steep terrain in the san bernardino national forest between 3-7k altitude...

[@DirtBikes_MathGarden]

Great video, gonna try to take the carb apart this week. I’ve been having problems with my Ruck and I’ve been so reluctant to take off the carb just because it’s the most complex thing. I changed my air filter, new spark plug, new fuel filter, now I know my problem must be the carb. I suspect a clogged jet. Never done a carb before, I’m only 19 haha. Should be a good learning experience. I’ll report back on how it went!

[@paulhogan2389]

Thanks Ross.. May you live a 1000 years Addy

[@Anthonyrm86]

You guys fast forward removing the throttle cable and that was the part I needed to see 😫

[@kirayoshikage5450]

Anthony Martinez put the playback speed of the video at like.25 ( press the three dots)

[@DirtBikes_MathGarden]

Yeah that was a bummer. One of the trickiest parts in my opinion is that throttle cable. Wish the video would have slowed down and showed it a bit better, but still a great video

[@blakericchetti8353]

Thank you so much for posting this video!! Literally brought my ruckus back to life. My bike was bogging down when Id accelerate. 🙏🏼

[@rosscarpenter2086]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@panamacz98]

What happens if you get carb cleaner in the carb when running

[@rosscarpenter2086]

Blake Thomas don't try to run the bike with the carb open, but if you spray cleaner into the air inlet it just burns it like starter fluid.

[@samanthahayes4492]

@@rosscarpenter2086 we just got a 2003 honda ruckus fot all the different videos I've watched it says fule pump.. so can you tell me if you think I should replace fule pump or clean fule lines? Or clean carb then go from there. The it a bunner

[@rosscarpenter2086]

@@samanthahayes4492 I think you can check if the pump is working by pulling the gas tubes off the carb and turning the key to see if gas comes out one of them. If not, probably a fuel pump.

[@melostmo]

I still have my '03 Ruckus ( 2 of them ) It's a real finnicky Carb. on them .. & fuel system I have some ATVS also & what I did on one was take off the factory problem VAC operated Carb & replaced it with a simple ' old style ' manual Choke carb. .. removed & or blocked ALL that extra new-age control crap .. now it's just gas into the carb .. and go go GO .. never been happier --- I'm thinking if I oughta do that with my Ruckus ,, I'm gonna search for some old style mini- bike carbs ,, and maybe do the thing

[@paulhogan2389]

Did you reset the ECU.. Thanks.. Paul

[@crazykarlos5569]

battery tender link so i can look for one ? i have this same bike i am working on trying to fig why wont start and here i am thanks

[@jacobcocos]

there is a drain bolt on the carb, make sure you drain it out before you take off the bowl. just to prevent a big mess of gas

[@TheCorny7777]

I just loved you guys trying to figure out as you go and how and what to take off to do your job, it totally reminded me of when I was trying to figure stuff out as well, great vid, im subscrib and hit the little bell, thanks for taking your time to do this vid

[@Scarbuckks]

In the next tutorial you do, PLEASE don't fast forward through stuff...

[@ricky33183]

Do you need a special crescent wrench for one of the carb screws (air/gas mix) ?

[@rosscarpenter2086]

I don’t believe so, the only one I have used the specialty set on was a Vespa.

[@SDsailor7]

On the pilot jet the hole on top, does that hole go all the way thru to the other side? Anyone know? On mine that center hole is blocked and i can't get it cleaned with the jet cleaning wires. Thank you

[@dalestanley6618]

What do you do if the main hole on the slow jet is clogged?

[@filtpenna]

Hey, nice vid. My Ruckus doesn't have a carb, it has a fuel injection. It runs fine until it gets warm and then it just stalls on idle (at any traffic light or other stop) Can you post a vid on how to clean out the ignition?

[@justinthewater]

no ruckus comes fuel injected stock

[@tomgebeck3333]

How did you get the screw loosened for the connection piece to the manifold??? It is crazy tight.

[@nat_sat_9547]

using a pro quality screw driver always helps and the trick is to push into the fastener as hard or harder than you turn it, many screwdrivers have diamond particles coated on the tip to really bite the fastener and avoid rolling, homedepot sells some reasonably priced husky screwdivers with this feature which imo are as good as your high dollar off the truck peices------ also maybe use a nice 12v or 18v impact driver with a similar bit------ one last note on this carb the bracket for the throttle cable has a reverse threat screw it is a phillips 2 with a dimple to indicate that it is reverse

[@becraveiro1]

Are you supposed to see thru the idle needle? Is can feel air passing thru but i cant see the other side.

[@rosscarpenter2086]

If you spray carb cleaner through a straw on one end snd block the tip you should see uniform spray pattern out all eight side holes. I think you should also be able to see light through the long way also

[@buckmaster5552]

Ross, you said it was a good idea to keep track where the screws from float bowl came from but you did not do that. Why?

[@rosscarpenter2086]

Larry Trodden I can remember which one's go where now.... But that was not the case when I was starting out

[@tonyd3266]

ive found the E-top string of an electric guitar is small enough to poke through the smallest jet's old gunk and its smooth to not tear up the jet. save your old guitar strings for the backyard carb un-junk. Also some automotive gas additive helps keep all systems go. The gallon-pail of carb cleaner is a miracle cure -- if you take out all the jets first

[@tonyd3266]

thats funny that Joe M already put that. he's been in that desperation mode too I see... lol

[@brendodendo]

Ross, Just bought a 2014 NPS50 w/ 2700 . miles. It was out of gas, so I added a full tank of 88.5 ethanol free. Runs decent for west slope high elevation (6100ft). I think a carb clean might help. New battery, lower seat, pod cold intake, new plugs are ordered. What else would you do. Insurance and 3yr low power CO already.

[@rosscarpenter2086]

If the carb clean doesn't work, you may try adjusting the air mix screw... But only if it is pretty bad

[@jamminjesus]

Don’t turn the carb upside down with fuel in the bowl. It drenches the vacuum piston diaphragm with fuel and that hardens the rubber and ruins it. Also always keep that diaphragm safe from any carb cleaner spray... that will ruin it too...

[@sinktip2010]

The video was worth it just for the dog in the t-shirt at the end.

[@ardysmith9987]

What year model was that ruckus,I have a 2012 with 4000 plus miles on it needs a carb cleaning

[@rosscarpenter2086]

they are all the same

[@dingleberry657]

Cool!Great video,now I know how to change the needles as well 38/85 air intake mod+exhaust..

[@WBOUTDOORS]

Any advice on adjusting the idle speed? it seems to be too high and wanting to lunge forward.

[@rosscarpenter2086]

You just loosen the idle screw. It is on the bottom of the seat under a plug on the Honda metro, but not sure exactly where on the ruckus. It basically just adds slack to the throttle cable.

[@rosscarpenter2086]

Yes, but it is very hard or impossible to find LED bulbs that will match the height and projection angle of the stock bulbs for both cars and motorcycles\scooters, so you may end up blinding everybody.

[@MyHairyChin]

Using them mini file to clean jets is bad as you make the passages larger in diameter which can throw out your tune...

[@felixouellette6843]

Do you really need to drain the gas to work on the carb?

[@rosscarpenter2086]

Felix Ouellette no

[@susie510]

I'm pretty sure you fast forward past things I need to know. What's your hurry? Let viewers fast forward if they want. Slowing down replay doesn't even help. Great info, if I could just see it all.

[@edub715]

Wow, nice quality video, thank you for posting.

[@woodard1964]

Yeah, drop the vacuum diaphragm on the gas soaked rag really helps LOL....

[@ardysmith9987]

Thanks Ross for that information,an thanks for the video.

[@unclebs4732]

HOLD THE CAMERA STILL!! THIS IS NOT MTV!!!

[@NunyaDamnBidnessBud]

Great video...and a cool dog!

[@donaldtate3372]

Audience can't you just dig the dog...he or she is so adorable, and made the video possible...Yikes lol

[@EbolaSquirrel]

indeed

[@scotthegge8591]

Here's a tip. Use valve lapping compound on the screwdriver tip to avoid damage to the screws,better grip.Anti-seize on threads when reassembling. Take the airbox off, just keep track of the tubes, they pretty much fall into place. No carb cleaner on the rubber parts! While you're at it replace the fuel pump.

[@broccolihart1]

Haa haa...when you said " i dont think we'll need to pull the seat off" i was like "oh yes, you do" lol.

[@EbolaSquirrel]

I never do

[@whattheheck3553]

Never took mine off either!

[@paulgomez3815]

Beautiful doggo, amazing vid. ty.

[@skytiger6671]

Why is nobody resetting the computer' is it suppose to be a secret?

[@nordland2235]

Just went thru that.

[@HorsepowerHouse]

Always always always use non-ethanol fuel and you will likely not have to do this crap.

[@mrfenderguy1]

I don't care for how you fast forwarded thru some sections. I'm thinking you had trouble and didn't want anyone to see it. Like reattaching the throttle cable. Haha. Otherwise enjoyed it. Thanks

[@SmokeeeTreees]

Great vid, thanks man

[@paulbunyun-xi9by]

All that work draining the bad gas and you don’t change THE FUEL FILTER?? cool.

[@joemitchell8779]

Oh -- and the thin "E" string of a guitar will (should) go through the low speed jet to clean it out . . . .

[@larryhalverson1757]

)

[@GFPRACING]

no sound