Traded My Banshee for a Zilla

[luv2ride]

I havent spent much time here I must admit. When I owned my banshee I didnt really have that many problems which I couldnt correct myself so I never had to research...

Now the zilla, this is a machine. Here's my dilemma - picked up yesterday, heard it run, didnt go much further, very clean for an 88. Starts relatively easy, runs rich and doesnt really smooth out at any rpm, doesnt idle, stock mikuni carb, stock airbox. This machine is unmolested (at least it appears so) sat in a garage for many years. Took off carb, very clean considering its age, pulled intake, reeds were so far open you could drive a bus thru em.

Prior to removing I did a compression check, with the reeds open I hit 90 but thats tops. Searched the manual, couldnt find a reference but I remember a healthy motor being higher than that.

Do I replace the reeds and try it again see if it runs any better? I have a Keihin carb sitting here but I can't figure out for the life of me what size it is. The only reference I can find to a model number = pj 8dgaaaf which is stamped on the side of the carb. I remember reading about the numbers a while back but can't search the forums yet. I'm to new I guess.

Any help would be great...

[nitrousbaby]

Im sorry to hear about your loss. lol j/k the zilla is a good quad. but man a shee is alos one hell of a quad as well

[Wacko Jacko]

traitor!
hang him

[rjatv]

I hope not, but I think you will be sorry, Banshee is good reliable power plant, Zilla is not, you have had it one day and allready posting help....lol

[bgmac]

I have sent you a PM

[burgiebird]

There goes the banshee guys talking shit. Why? Be happy for him and help him out. Jeez. If I were to guess The carb is a 38mm.

[ReeperLT500]

luv2ride- the stock carb is undersized for such a massive cylinder. Replace the reeds and check for any leaks in the carb boot. Clean the filter, and replace the spark plug. Then try it. Stock main jet is 350 so depending if you have any other mods you may need to dial in the jets. Screw the a/f screw all the way in then back it out 1 1/2 turns. Leave it there. Good luck. Zillas are fun as hell to ride. Never have to downshift. Change the fluids and get the carb dialed in and it will last. -Mark

[rjatv]

Originally Posted by burgiebird

There goes the banshee guys talking shit. Why? Be happy for him and help him out. Jeez. If I were to guess The carb is a 38mm.

I am not downing it at all, didnt mean for it to sound like that. Congrats on the new bike...BUT!!!...I speak with alot of experiance here, not just some dumb banshee owner. I have had 2 zillas before and both I did a frame up restoration, and I have pics to prove it...I am not bullshitting. But I will say this from experiance, Zilla's are great bikes dont get me wrong, but they are alot more trouble then Banshee's. Very fun to ride bikes, the power output is great on the bottem and midrange, you can lug them in basically any gear you want, but the motor has alot of issues, again not downing zill'a by any means, but I know what they are about, and thats wrenching. Like he said, he never had problems with his banshee, so hopefully his zilla will do the same for him, but i highly doubt that. Again, grats on the new bike and I hope it runs great for you, and if you ever need any advice or know how give me a hollar, I know that motor inside and out.

[zach45]

yea man... rj_atv knows his shit and i have seen his work on the 2 bikes...
beautiful better then new...
congrads on the new bike... zilla in my eyes is a good second bike to have..

[DirtDemon]

The condition of the reeds won't affect the compression test. Compression is built after the piston moves up past the port openings, and since the exaust is last to close, the reeds being open is irrelevant. Compression should be around 150psi, sounds like you to have your topend done or maybe a new headgasket. Use a micrometer or something similar to measure the inside bore of the carb, if it is at least 38mm it will work fine on the zilla. Though a bigger carb is better especially if you plan to do any mods.