1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Discussion specific to the various air-cooled KDX models sold in the USA
One0ffthewrist
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1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Hello everyone stumbled onto your site while doing some searching and wow great site wish I knew about sooner!!! Anyway guess this will serve as my introduction and problem thred.....so as the title says having trouble tuning my 87 lil bit of back story bought the bike in Feb(first kawa ive ever owned so I'm also a newbie there as well) and rode it quite a bit mostly just road cruising and slowish through wooded areas and the bike ran great up till about a month ago my friend and I were racing so I was running it hard and it smeared a piston tore it down and found a tear in the carb boot which I'm pretty sure was the cause sent the cyl out to be re nikasiled and just got it all back together and heres where I'm having trouble bike will start right up 2-3 kicks when cold 1 kick when warm.... No trouble idling has great low to mid but above 3/4 throttle will lose power stutter have done several main jet swaps after doing plug chops everytime plug is a Flat black color and dry(which is rich I hope....lol my heads spinning from messing with this so much) cant seem to correct it. The bike does not have the original carb PO swapped it to a keihin pwk 35 but I think he jetted super rich becasue of the carb boot tear... Info is as follows: 87 kdx 200 stock bore and pipes, pilot jet is a 55 main jet is a 155(lowerd from a 168) needle is set in the middle and air/fuel is 1-1/2 turns out and 32:1 mix any help or wisdom would be appreciated thank you all in advance and sorry for being long winded
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

Hi. Welcome to kdxrider.net.

Did you get a new boot? Did you get an '88 boot?

Stock jetting on the 1988 with PWK35 is 48 pilot, 145 main, with a R1368E needle, #6 slide.

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawas ... carburetor
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Thank you for the response! yes I bought a new boot wasnt exactly for an 88 they gave a year range 86-88

And wow ok so ive got some parts to order then jeez its all kinds of messed up lol
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

The '88 boot is about the same.
The 1986 and 1987 had a Mikuni. 1988 had a specially made Keihin PWK35.

Start at the pilot, and work your way up.
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Will do I just ordered the correct jets having trouble finding the needle hoping the one already in the carb will work with the new jetting....ill post updates as the parts come in and I start tuning the bike again thank you so much for your help!!
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

Hey. You're welcome. You can buy a Keihin brand needle, not a Kawasaki needle. The Kawasaki needle is made by Keihin, just put in a Kawasaki bag with a Kawasaki sticker. It is like buying a Ford truck with Goodyear tires. Ford doesn't make tires.

There is a three letter code that the stock needle coincides with. Here it is:

https://www.jetsrus.com/individual_part ... 62_su.html

Keihin CCJ is the same as R1368E Kawasaki OEM.

You can also buy Keihin brand main jets and pilots instead of paying higher to buy the same from Kawasaki dealer. It is like buying a ABC123 Kawasaki $5 spark plug that is just an NGK BR8ES that usually costs $3.

Be aware that some aftermarket companies and counterfeiters make jets. Buy a REAL Keihin jet(s), needles and other parts.

You are welcome.

Good luck on the work! :supz:
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Perfect while I did buy the jets from Kawasaki...oops the guy at the dealer couldn't find the needle...(weather he diner want to look or not idk) but just bought the one you listed again thank you! !
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

https://www.partzilla.com/product/kawas ... 8ac01a9735

The needle is NLA (No Longer Available) from Kawasaki. He can't sell you what Kawasaki won't sell him. :grin:

You are benefitting from years of KDX people collectively sharing info on it. :bravo:
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Well just wanted to post an update the jets and needle arrived yesterday and I installed them per your post and bike runs amazing exactly as it should!!! Thanks again so much!!
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

And heres a couple pics of my bike
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

LOOSEN THE CHAIN!!

The chain is way too tight. You are going to damage the output shaft, bearing, crankcase, etc.

I am glad the bike is running well after the carb changes.
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

I did right after I took those pics I was putting new sliders on had it tight to try and slide them under which didn't work it's set right good now
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

I am quite sensitive to tight chains of late.

The bike really looks great! I got a new one from the dealer many years ago.
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by kdxsully »

How the HECK is that gas tank looking so good?
I like turtles
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

It does look good!

What is going on with the shifter?
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by kdxsully »

Big feet/boots?
I like turtles
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Sorry was up north riding over the weekend bike ran good as far as the gas tank idk think it's original the bike seemed to be well cared for as for the shifter yeah I moved it up for my boots it was kinda a pain to toe shift on the trails
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by KDXGarage »

The tank does look original. Not many still look that good.
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by One0ffthewrist »

Yeah I wish I knew the history of the bike but I don't other then what the PO told but going off of the condition of the plastics and the typical wear points I think the bike wasnt rode much when I bought it pretty sure it still had the original tires as it had a matching set of dunlops on it the rear was pretty worn in the middle but again these are all just guesses
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Re: 1987 kdx 200 tuning issues

Post by kdxsully »

Keep it looking good! You’ve got a keeper it sounds like
I like turtles
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