Major Tuneup With A Screwdriver! Just tighten these screws.

[Titan]

Credit to member "bs48237". Thanks Brad for solving a big problem!

This is all about tightening 6 screws and making the bike run like new again.

I'm posting this on the General board because a lot of folks don't read the Tech board.

Back in October 2010, Brad posted a message on the Tech board that led to me being way happier with my '98 Standard. Here's the link to that thread if you want to go back to it. It also had a lot to do with having a problem with smelling gas odors.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,21515.0.html

But on to my point of renewing this information. Every now and then I see messages from folks who just can't get their engine to start easily, or have to keep the choke on a while to get it to run properly. I expect a good number of those might be fixed by tightening six screws.

I had gotten completely frustrated with my bike because it was hard to start, ran like crap at low speeds, had to rev it a bit and play with the clutch to get it to pull away from stops, etc. Ran like a scalded ape when you really got into it and had no discernible problem at high(er) speeds. This issue came on slowly over the years and I had gotten to the point of wanting to just get rid of it. I even went so far as to have the Honda dealer go through the carbs and it still didn't straighten it out.

Then I ran across bs48237's information. I checked and found the 6 carb screws very loose. I mean like 10 turns! I was really shocked! No wonder it wouldn't run! I tightened 'em up, went for a ride, and the darn thing ran like it was supposed to run. Starts right up and idles smooth, has all the power it should have at low revs, and I couldn't be happier!

I know this is all longer than necessary but you would be better off reading this than a lot of the other stuff that gets kicked around here!

So, get your screwdriver out and tighten these screws. If you've done it before, check 'em again. I found mine loose two more times after the first time I tightened them. Hope you find them loose! You'll be happy with the result!

By the way... 3 on each side.

[Chrisj CMA]

Credit to member "bs48237". Thanks Brad for solving a big problem!

This is all about tightening 6 screws and making the bike run like new again.

I'm posting this on the General board because a lot of folks don't read the Tech board.

Back in October 2010, Brad posted a message on the Tech board that led to me being way happier with my '98 Standard. Here's the link to that thread if you want to go back to it. It also had a lot to do with having a problem with smelling gas odors.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,21515.0.html

But on to my point of renewing this information. Every now and then I see messages from folks who just can't get their engine to start easily, or have to keep the choke on a while to get it to run properly. I expect a good number of those might be fixed by tightening six screws.

I had gotten completely frustrated with my bike because it was hard to start, ran like crap at low speeds, had to rev it a bit and play with the clutch to get it to pull away from stops, etc. Ran like a scalded ape when you really got into it and had no discernible problem at high(er) speeds. This issue came on slowly over the years and I had gotten to the point of wanting to just get rid of it. I even went so far as to have the Honda dealer go through the carbs and it still didn't straighten it out.

Then I ran across bs48237's information. I checked and found the 6 carb screws very loose. I mean like 10 turns! I was really shocked! No wonder it wouldn't run! I tightened 'em up, went for a ride, and the darn thing ran like it was supposed to run. Starts right up and idles smooth, has all the power it should have at low revs, and I couldn't be happier!

I know this is all longer than necessary but you would be better off reading this than a lot of the other stuff that gets kicked around here!

So, get your screwdriver out and tighten these screws. If you've done it before, check 'em again. I found mine loose two more times after the first time I tightened them. Hope you find them loose! You'll be happy with the result!

By the way... 3 on each side.

And if you take the chrome covers off the choke linckage area you can tighten the other 6 screws that get loose too.  There is even a third set of 6 screws that you pretty much have to take the tank off to get to, however, they dont seem to get so loos as the other 12 do

[Titan]

Thanks Chris! I took your advice and tightened those other 6 screws today. Don't know why I never tightened those before.

[Tundra]

+1 what he said...If you think it runs better now and you only got the 6 carb boot screws you can see, take of the chrome choke slide cover and tighten the upper clamps also. I guarantee if the exposed ones were that loose, no one ever tightened the uppers. It will take care of popping/backfiring and running poorly

[sugerbear]

i think it's amazing that everything that can go wrong(with very few exceptions) has been covered on this site.

spending some time perusing the archives can tell you so much about our valks.

i've been a member for a few years now. read the tech board almost every day.

i've learned more than i'll ever use.

thanks everyone who contributes. 

[Slick]

WOW- I thought she ran great before, but now she's like a raped ape. I took the pods off to get to the chrome rails found the screws and not a tight one in the house- all better now

THANKS-

[BradValk48237]

Thanks Titan!

yes, make sure to get ALL the screws... think there are 18 total....


 Helped the gas smell and a bit of performance...

Nothing like a loose screw to ruin yer ride!!!!!!!

B

[Titan]

Yep! My wife's been telling me I had a loose screw for years!

I tightened the 6 that are easy to get to back when I read your post about that. I didn't think about the ones under the choke cover so I did those yesterday. I don't see me ever going after the ones up under the airbox so they'll just have to stay loose until somebody else gets in there.

Thanks again for your tips on the issue. My bike had the gas smell too but I never gave much thought to that part. And I didn't believe the screws would be loose until I went out to the garage just to see what you were talking about. My thoughts were... Loose screws? On a Honda? There's no loose screws on a Honda! No vibration = no loose screws! Well, duh!

I check them regularly now. Gonna get around to putting some loctite on 'em someday.

[BigAlOfMD]

The nuts holding the exaust onto the bottom of the motor should be checked also.
But be very very very carfull not to over tighten or you'll twist them off.
Also, don't do it while it's hot and burn your self!!!!!!!!!

[Slvrvalk1]

Thanks for the tip.  I have never tightened those screws on two different Valks that I have owned.  Mine were way loose!

Dave

[old2soon]

Hey chrisj CMA. Thanks for the heads up on the bolts/screws under the chrome cover. 45654 miles showing on mine and they were loooooose. Not no more though. See if this eliminates some of the popping and farting. Probably-most likely a desmog in my future. Gonna wait til the winter maintanence thingy though. Missed out on to much ridin as it is. Again thanks. RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

Hey chrisj CMA. Thanks for the heads up on the bolts/screws under the chrome cover. 45654 miles showing on mine and they were loooooose. Not no more though. See if this eliminates some of the popping and farting. Probably-most likely a desmog in my future. Gonna wait til the winter maintanence thingy though. Missed out on to much ridin as it is. Again thanks. RIDE SAFE.

Sure...I even went and redid mine AGAIN and 3 out of the 12 were a tad loose

[Stanley Steamer]

Hey chrisj CMA. Thanks for the heads up on the bolts/screws under the chrome cover. 45654 miles showing on mine and they were loooooose. Not no more though. See if this eliminates some of the popping and farting. Probably-most likely a desmog in my future. Gonna wait til the winter maintanence thingy though. Missed out on to much ridin as it is. Again thanks. RIDE SAFE.

Sure...I even went and redid mine AGAIN and 3 out of the 12 were a tad loose

Come on now, I bet all your screws were loose??!!......

[MP]

I believe they are loose, because over time, the rubber underneath compresses, NOT because the screw itself is backing out.

MP

[old2soon]

Put about 170 miles on today just screwin around. I M H O About 98% of that popping and farting are GONE. Butt dyno says way better roll on from 65 to may i see your drivers licsense please. And do you have any idea how fast you was going??  An easy and inexpensive fix. Again-this is a fine board-well worth the price of admission. RIDE SAFE.