Couldn't start, had a hydrolock, cleared the cylinder, no difference

[Hellcat]

This bike sat for a loooooong time while I was too busy to work on it, and too stubborn to pay someone else to do it. Finally paid a mechanic who does housecalls to come clean the carbs and get it started. Petcock was a mess, did a rebuild. He got it started two weeks ago and it had a short test drive. After he left I started it twice to move it (same day). Didn't ride it for a couple weeks because it needs a couple small things to pass inspection.

So, after that intro, I went to start it a couple days ago just to run it for a while. I could get it to light for a second but then it would die. Kept trying the same thing expecting a different result. Got the same result.

Today I pulled the plugs and ran the starter and gas came flying out of one of the cylinders (again, petcock was JUST rebuilt two weeks ago). Reinstalled the plugs and nothing has changed. It will fire and burble for a second then die.

Suggestions? I called the mechanic but haven't heard back yet. He's a fairly busy guy as you can imagine, making housecalls.

I've been banging away at the carbs in case there's a stuck float but have seen no difference.

[Patrick]

Did you try to start it just before pulling the sparklers?? If so, how did it act ?? The one thing thats usually missed when the carburetors are cleaned is the fuel line.. 'Crap' [technical term] can easily be introduced to the carbs from the fuel line.. Each carb has a drain screw,, try opening them one at a time and flush a LOT of fuel thru them.. If there is a lack of fuel flow you may have a petcock issue and If you have an original style petcock you'll have to supply some vacuum..

[Hellcat]

Sounded the same both before and after the plugs removed/reinstalled. Like this:

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/411/cnbtftuudrngxsqsnzryzo.mp4

[whitestroke]

Sounds like it's not getting any fuel.
Do as Patrick said.  Put vacuum on the petcock and drain each carb bowl one at a time.

Be careful of hydrolock.  Flush and tap bowl of cylinder that shot out fuel, extra long and good.

[Patrick]

Bultaco !!  Thats a name I haven't heard in along time.. I liked them and the only accident I've had was on a Mercuro back in '65..

[R J]

You say it blubbers and dies.   Have ya given it any choke, or enricher I believe is what Honda call them.

Pull the choke FULL on, down to the hard part and then push it another 1/2" toward the handlebar.

Leave ur fingers off of dat throttle while trying to start it.   After it starts, slowly back the enricher off.   It should then e safe to play with the throttle a very little bit.   Happy Trails.   Till ya get that petcock replaced, shut the fuel off.

When ya go to stat it, just tap the starter button to see if is is hydro locked.  If not, turn on the gas, pull the choke full on and push the starter.

[TJ]

You say it blubbers and dies.   Have ya given it any choke, or enricher I believe is what Honda call them.

Pull the choke FULL on, down to the hard part and then push it another 1/2" toward the handlebar.

Leave ur fingers off of dat throttle while trying to start it.   After it starts, slowly back the enricher off.   It should then e safe to play with the throttle a very little bit.   Happy Trails.   Till ya get that petcock replaced, shut the fuel off.

When ya go to stat it, just tap the starter button to see if is is hydro locked.  If not, turn on the gas, pull the choke full on and push the starter.

 

[Hellcat]

Yeah, I learned this with my first post here years ago. I have another Valk that's my daily rider, so I know how they're SUPPOSED to start. :-)

You say it blubbers and dies.   Have ya given it any choke, or enricher I believe is what Honda call them.

Pull the choke FULL on, down to the hard part and then push it another 1/2" toward the handlebar.

Leave ur fingers off of dat throttle while trying to start it.   After it starts, slowly back the enricher off.   It should then e safe to play with the throttle a very little bit.   Happy Trails.   Till ya get that petcock replaced, shut the fuel off.

When ya go to stat it, just tap the starter button to see if is is hydro locked.  If not, turn on the gas, pull the choke full on and push the starter.

[R J]

Yeah, I learned this with my first post here years ago. I have another Valk that's my daily rider, so I know how they're SUPPOSED to start. :-)

You say it blubbers and dies.   Have ya given it any choke, or enricher I believe is what Honda call them.

Pull the choke FULL on, down to the hard part and then push it another 1/2" toward the handlebar.

Leave ur fingers off of dat throttle while trying to start it.   After it starts, slowly back the enricher off.   It should then e safe to play with the throttle a very little bit.   Happy Trails.   Till ya get that petcock replaced, shut the fuel off.

When ya go to stat it, just tap the starter button to see if is is hydro locked.  If not, turn on the gas, pull the choke full on and push the starter.

Hey good buddy.     No 2 of these Valkyrie's start alike.     A buddy of mine has one and he lives here in the same town.         His will start NO choke, mine ya got to choke the peace out of it if it has set for a period of time.

It kind of sounds like you don't like our answers.    Sorry, but most of us know enough about these bikes to give good advice.

So I'd suggest if you no like ou answers, then go over to the Yamaha board and ask them.    Peace Grasshopper.

As Forrest Gump would say:

“That's all I have to say about that.”

[Hellcat]

If you read it like I was commenting on my bike situation rather than taking a personal shot at you, you'll see there was nothing but friendly in my response, good buddy.

All advice is appreciated. How could it not be, with evidence of my incompetence sitting right in my driveway?

Hey good buddy.     No 2 of these Valkyrie's start alike.     A buddy of mine has one and he lives here in the same town.         His will start NO choke, mine ya got to choke the peace out of it if it has set for a period of time.

It kind of sounds like you don't like our answers.    Sorry, but most of us know enough about these bikes to give good advice.

So I'd suggest if you no like ou answers, then go over to the Yamaha board and ask them.    Peace Grasshopper.

As Forrest Gump would say:

“That's all I have to say about that.”

[Patrick]

I really didn't any answers to my questions either.. I'll re-phrase.. When starting did the engine continue to turn over/spin or did it come to a halt with a 'CLANK' ?? If it continued to spin then it wasn't fuel-locked,, probably just badly flooded.. Thats what it sounds like to me from your description..
Without any more info it sounds like you have a petcock or other fuel delivery problem.. We won't know any more until we get find out what happens when you check the petcock and flow thru the carburetors..

[Hellcat]

Sorry for not replying, I'm actually not home with the bike this weekend, unfortunately. I'll be off work on Thursday and Friday.

When I began trying to start it, it was acting just like the video I posted. And then it did go "THUNK". Like a dummy I thought "it can't be hydro locked - the petcock is brand new". So I kept pushing the start button, it kept thunking and there would sound like a "sighing" release of air up near the front left of the engine.

I stopped trying for a few minutes and then being stubborn like I am sometimes, I tried it "one more time" and it started to spin again, and once again just acted like in the video above.

That was Thursday. Friday I pulled the plugs and discovered the fuel in one cylinder. I was sure that would solve the problem but it acted just the same. So I posted here asking for advice but haven't really been able to act on it.

There is fuel going to the bowls - I drained them a couple times without applying vacuum. Will do that next week. Petcock is turning on fuel flow on and off.

Thanks!

I really didn't any answers to my questions either.. I'll re-phrase.. When starting did the engine continue to turn over/spin or did it come to a halt with a 'CLANK' ?? If it continued to spin then it wasn't fuel-locked,, probably just badly flooded.. Thats what it sounds like to me from your description..
Without any more info it sounds like you have a petcock or other fuel delivery problem.. We won't know any more until we get find out what happens when you check the petcock and flow thru the carburetors..

[Patrick]

You kept hitting the starter button and didn't damage the starter drive??!! Talk about lucky..
I'm concerned about the 'sigh' .. I'd recommend a compression test on those cylinders.. I can't remember seeing any damage on a gas engine from a fuel-lock,, but,, have had to replace more than a few 'warped' rods on ether bound diesels..
I know a lot of folks will disagree,, but,, at the first sign of petcock trouble I throw the Honda valve in the trash and stuff in a Pingle..

[Hellcat]

I'm the forgetful type thus worrying about forgetting the Pingel "on", so I actually ordered a Dan Marc when I ordered the rebuild kit. But when it all came we were short on time and also the tubing for the Dan Marc, and we said "well it'll have a brand new petcock, so we'll do the Dan Marc when we have more time."

You kept hitting the starter button and didn't damage the starter drive??!! Talk about lucky..
I'm concerned about the 'sigh' .. I'd recommend a compression test on those cylinders.. I can't remember seeing any damage on a gas engine from a fuel-lock,, but,, have had to replace more than a few 'warped' rods on ether bound diesels..
I know a lot of folks will disagree,, but,, at the first sign of petcock trouble I throw the Honda valve in the trash and stuff in a Pingle..

[Patrick]

I just use ' pre-flight/ post-flight ' mental checklists on everything.. The Valk is easy.. When the right hand goes toward the key the left hand heads for the petcock..

[Hellcat]

Good advice. I have walked away from my keys two or three times over the years, though!

I just use ' pre-flight/ post-flight ' mental checklists on everything.. The Valk is easy.. When the right hand goes toward the key the left hand heads for the petcock..