Help needed to bring my stored Valk back to life

[Gary]

Hello all, been away for a while. Due to health issues, sadly I've had to store my bikes and having some issues with my 97 std.
I drained the tank, added some fresh gas with a bit of seafoam, new plugs, new battery. I can't seem to get it to run/idle without the enrichment full on. Slowly ease off or complete let-up on the lever, it dies. Been out of it for a while so I'm not quite in sync mentally and seem a bit stumped. Prior to storage carbs were done by Big BF. I use to reside at an elevation of about 7,200. Now it's stored in Vegas. Never really had noticable altitude issues. Could use some guidance. Thanks, Gary.

[Gary]

Appreciate the feedback. Wishing you an incident free throne-room remodel. 

[Madmike]

I have a 97 that has been laid up a few times over the years because of various circumstances.  Last year I had the carbs off and cleaned them and it was running good but I did not trust them.  This year I took the carbs off again and took them all apart.  I got a 6 liter ultrasonic cleaner and ran them through there and used an all balls kit along with some of Red Eyes stuff and rebuilt them all and reinstall them.  I have confidence in them again but was laid up for the summer and am just getting it all back together now.  I plan on applying for a collectors plate in January which gives me cheap annual insurance if I just ride it for pleasure use.

[Hook#3287]

I would at least give a can of Berrymen's a chance before ripping the carbs out.

[Foozle]

I would at least give a can of Berrymen's a chance before ripping the carbs out.

+ 1    (or Techron)!

[Bagger John - #3785]

I would at least give a can of Berrymen's a chance before ripping the carbs out.

+ 1    (or Techron)!

+2

I periodically run a half can of the stuff in a full (I/S) tank with each of my Valks just to keep things cleaned out.

That little bit of PM does seem to help.

[Mooskee]

Prior to storage carbs were done by Big BF. I use to reside at an elevation of about 7,200. Now it's stored in Vegas. Never really had noticable altitude issues. Could use some guidance. Thanks, Gary.

Do you know if Big BF adjusted your pilot screws for the 7200'  altitude?
If so they would be turned in 1/2 turn from the initial setting.

At any rate, while in storage, your pilot screws can develop a gel plug around the needle. Running the fuel treatment will usually break it up and fix the issue. If that doesn't work, do this:

1. Open your pilot screws a quarter turn (or half turn).

2. Start the bike and test drive.  Use acceleration followed by "engine braking" to get fresh fuel to start to flow past this gel plug.  It only takes a few minutes. As soon as the bike is capable of idling, you're done with this step.

3. Screw the pilot screws back in quarter turn (or half turn).

Reference for the above is from Red Eye's information site. https://sites.google.com/site/valkparts/Home (No affiliation other than I buy parts from him)

[Gary]

Big Bill definitely tuned it in based on the 7,200.
I ran over to the storage unit, added more Seafoam (didn't have any Berrymans Chemtool) I let it run a bit with enrichment full on. The fan was kicking on several times so I let it rest and repeated. Did this a few times. It finally ran/stumbled a bit with enrich-lever off without dying. I'll have to go back and try that a few more times, see how it goes. Unfortunately I'm not physically in a position to work on the engine braking technique, maybe during my son's next trip out here  That, and look more into adjusting the pilot screws. Isn't there a special tipped tool needed to adjust those? I thought I remembered somebody modifying an old retractable radio antenna to work. I better read up. Now which box did that Valk manual get stored in...
Thanks all for your feedback, very much appreciated.

[Mooskee]

You will probably get it fixed doing what you are doing.
If you are going to be riding at a much lower elevation than 7000 feet, you will likely be running lean if it was adjusted for 7000 ft. In that case, you will want to turn each pilot screw out 1/2 turn.

There is a very expensive Honda tool.

Red Eye sells a stubby adjuster tool that isn't very expensive.

I bought a Pit Boss carb adjusting kit from Amazon. It has a 19inch handle and a variety of tips, including the D shaped tool for Honda pilot screws. I have to adjust them on hot engines and don't like getting burned.

The Pit boss works very well, and has nice machined gears in an enclosed head.

[Gary]

Thanks, I'll check it out. 

[Led]

How long was it stored?   Were you able to drain the carb set prior to storage? 

If you just basically parked it, and it sat for a couple of years, you just MAY have a LOT of work before you.....???

"Storage" means different things, to many People.......

[SCain]

Gary,
Good to see you posting, Chuck and I were up in your old stomping grounds last Sunday, just riding through. Hope you get is sorted out. Take Care
Steve

[Gary]

How long was it stored?   Were you able to drain the carb set prior to storage? 

If you just basically parked it, and it sat for a couple of years, you just MAY have a LOT of work before you.....???

"Storage" means different things, to many People.......

Still stored, in an off-site public storage unit, no power. I was unable to drain carbs due to an onslaught of health issues that followed. Sat for approx a year or less, with fuel stabilizer. That's what storage translates to in this scenario. Thanks for checking!

[Led]

How long was it stored?   Were you able to drain the carb set prior to storage?  

If you just basically parked it, and it sat for a couple of years, you just MAY have a LOT of work before you.....???

"Storage" means different things, to many People.......

Still stored, in an off-site public storage unit, no power. I was unable to drain carbs due to an onslaught of health issues that followed. Sat for approx a year or less, with fuel stabilizer. That's what storage translates to in this scenario. Thanks for checking!

I would not think the carbs should be messed up only sitting that long...?   Just strange, that the bike won't run now!  Not sure if you run ethanol fuel or not.  But that stuff is NASTY!!  Does not take long for it to gel up in the float bowls.  

I seen a test on the so called fuel stabilizers.  The guy ran small engines for about two years, testing SEVERAL brands of fuel stabilizer.  NONE of them really worked?  Look up "Taryl Fixes All" on You-tube.  He has the entire test on His site.   Quite fascinating!!

Here is the conclusion of the test.  He took all the float bowls off the "treated" carbs.  ALL of them, had a bunch of goo and crap in them!  Except for the non-ethanol VP fuel....at $9.00 a gallon.    YMMV........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWL7p0Pnb8Y

I try to run nonethanol.  I pump in the "recreational" fuel. Sure it is 70 cents more a gallon,  But if it helps keep me from doing a carb set rebuild?   WORTH IT!!

[Tazman11]

I only use non ethanol in any small engine or vehicle that I don’t operate often. ALWAYS. We can get 87, 91, or 93 octane in Idaho. Costs more but my stuff always work. I also store about 8 5 gallon tanks that I add stable to. I swap them out every six months. Good practice and I have not replaced a jet or carburetor since I started this. Mandatory ethanol in our fuel is a huge gift to the corn growers and a screw job to everyone else. cursed politicians wanted to increase it to 20%. Time to fire up the gallows.