Bike running rough, then worse, then not running at all

[milton2go]

Hello, I hope I will be able to drink from this deep well of knowledge and wisdom.

A few months ago my 98 Valk started running a little rough. Power seemed to be normal, or close to normal, but the roughness kept increasing very gradually over the weeks. I was between moving to a different part of the state so I left the bike at a friend's garage and came back to pick her up some 4 months later.

Now the bike was a lot worse. I could keep her running only with the choke full on and she was running clearly worse and with less power. I limped to my new place and parked for a few weeks while I sort my life out over here.

Now she will only start after dozens of tries with choke full on and any throttle input will make her stall. Reduce the choke and the engine dies. Try to accelerate and the engine dies. Look at the engine the wrong way and it dies.

I now replaced all the spark plugs, just to make sure they are not part of the problem, and I am ready to get her fixed. But I would like to have some suggestion of where to start, from people here that may have gone through the same experience, or helped others with same problem.

Thank you!

Milton

[da prez]

Drain gas into a clean light colored container. Let it sit while the carbs are drained.  Look in the tank for rust. Pull the petcock out and check the screen. Do not take short cuts.  Sounds like a fuel problem. Fresh fuel and a dose of Berrymans B12.

           da prez

[Chrisj CMA]

Most likely you will have to remove the carbs and do a thorough cleaning of all passageways and the jets. I had good luck with the berrymans as already suggested once. Good luck.

[Swinborg]

Sounds like gas has gone off.  I had a similar problem in my lawn mower!!! Turns out the ethanol in gas now is only good for 6 months at best then it turns to sludge from bacterial infection. 

Perhaps you might be able to drain the tank, or at least look at the fuel to see if it is cloudy, or worse. Replace fuel, but bank of a carb clean….

Max

[John Schmidt]

Your symptoms indicate the slow jets are clogged, a result of sitting with ethanol in the tank and in the carbs. You can try some of the suggested additives but most often it involves pulling the carbs and going through them as was suggested. Don't bother trying to clean the jets, just replace them...you'll have better luck. Keep in mind, the carbs can be pulled without pulling the air dam at the front. When you get ready to do it, ask here for suggestions.

[Pluggy]

Can you get ahold of one of these mini gas tanks?  This will provide clean fresh gas straight to the carbs and it won't go through the filter, petcock, or fuel hose that is on a bike.  If this is attached to the carb bank and the bike seems to run good, no need to remove any carbs.... look at the petcock, filter, gas in the tank, etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385497185569?hash=item59c16c3d21:g:Q-kAAOSw0QJkG~59&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAABAOYnlKpB4Ym1K7Py2ZXGJ0aMxlnA7jwD%2BMdzanpyDh6iqg9iPP7kHdFFyWSZXxzMMRhWUjW%2FZcFgtAmdPqvB81BHYnWYMenRIqik%2BggKWxkpncmg%2BSmLOJo5%2FqzddvIfELwV4oLlKnXsTCTcHEZmxPpWw1Y1hwxC%2FKgKIXvj32QpIAUyKADUWTBGR5jiw4tdgj6FSSTXm0atoeRL0ppmNOTtp4XQZaS7y67Ve9aF0oYKGJBNIb%2FhIXtQvXF%2BUlRH0UkkB%2FPAIfiUE7cmsivXrEzvDHxzZttEc267kmxpPHNzOcL2zN%2FZj4hJOL%2FBVz5HtM8n6V5lXwB4dVHepcf5bzo%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8z8o_X3YQ

[Jess from VA]

Turns out the ethanol in gas now is only good for 6 months at best then it turns to sludge from bacterial infection. 

More like it begins to degrade in only weeks, worse in heat.  Death on carburetors.

My nearest non ethonal station is 50 miles (each way).  I have not run a drop of corn polluted gas through either of my two Valks for about 3 years (no trips though).  I fill 25-30 gallons in cans, with Marine Stabil (or 360) in each, to run all my carburated machinery and top up my bikes, or I hit the good gas station before riding home. 

I'm running pure gas in my FI Dodge truck too.  It doesn't need it, but it runs better, gets better mileage, and it has a big tank and the truck sits a lot.

Non corn polluted gas costs more.  What doesn't?  My bikes and truck are worth it