Issue maintaining idle

[gramifications]

I recently purchased a 2006 Ruckus with about 5,000 miles that had been mostly abandoned for the last seven years by the owner at that time after she had a child. It was not running when I purchased it (for $650 I couldn’t say no) and assumed the standard barn find overhaul would get it running again but after performing the following, I’m stumped.
- Drained all old fuel and replace with fresh stabilized fuel
- New battery
- New NKG plug
- 10w30 oil change
- Carb removed and cleaned (twice)
- Un-gummed kick start (not relevant to idle issue)

I was able to get it running well enough one evening to cruise around my neighborhood putting about 6-8 miles on it, but it wasn’t running the smoothest during that ride.

The next morning, it would turn over and idle roughly for a couple seconds (sometimes a little longer, but not by much) and if I touched the throttle would usually die right away, but otherwise stumble till it killed on its own. 

Doing some research here leads me to believe my issue stems from a couple of options. I’m aware the fuel pumps on these can be problematic but but I’m not certain this is the issue. I’ve also read about the need for adjusting the valves but again, this feels more like a carb issue to me.

Any ideas where I should turn to next, or things I’m missing, would be appreciated. Thank you and I look forward to sharing my results and future mods with all of you.

[gramifications]

Update: I was able to tear apart under the fuel tank tonight and check the pump and filter. Both seem to be clear of blockage and the pump spurts enough where I don’t believe it to be malfunctioning. Now, yay, the motor won’t even idle. I tried a few shots of starter fluid hoping to kick start it but it seemed to have no impact. Very frustrating.

[alcibiades]

Your carb got clogged again, there is the main jet, the idle jet which is the longer narrower one and the other thing in the carb along with all the other channels need to be clean. Take a brass bristle brush and pluck out one of the elements with a pair of pliers. Take that thin brass wire and stick it in the hole and spin it while soaking the hole with carb cleaner. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner now would be the time to use it. One of those jets might be plugged with leftovers from the fuel. make sure the tank is clean too. If it isn't, then remove it and dump in white vinegar then heat it up for a bit somehow making sure the tank is air free and filled. After you're done the inside of the tank should look brown. Rinse it out with water really well and hook it back up. Fill up with fresh fuel and a clean carb and it should start up after a little cranking and it should remain running after that. If it has any more idling problems like losing its ability to idle after a blip of the throttle then the carb is filled with crud that you didn't get out and you could either just accept it or soak it for a week in carb cleaner or whatever you can google will eat off that varnish.

[vagent]

Try using a finger to block the air intake in the air intake housing. It's just like "in the old days" when you manually choked the carb. It will start, then run rich because of the excess fuel, then remove your finger for a second or two and it will start to falter, so put you finger back. Shortly it will warm up enough to run. If this works, one would think it points to the automatic choke and/or the idle jet. However, I've made sure they are not clogged or maladjusted and the problem still persists. Go figure.