New to Dallas

[queen bee]

Hello all!

I moved to East Dallas from Phoenix recently and am hoping to get acquainted with ya'll!   My first concern, however, is to find out why my bike won't start.  Admittedly, I haven't had the opportunity to ride her much since I've been here and probably went too long without starting her up, but I need some advice, please...

Can any of you give me your ideas?  My bike is a '97 standard with 43,000 miles.  I've never had a problem getting it started before even though there have been times when it sat idle for several weeks.  This time, it fires up for a couple of seconds and acts as if it's starting, but dies out and won't kick in even after many attemps (I know there must be better terminology than this discription, but I'm a novice).  Now the battery is dead, of course, and I need to recharge but fear I'll have the same problem.  There is about 1/2 tank gas and yes...I've used the choke. 

I'm completely clueless as to the mechanics and since I'm new here I don't know who to call to help me get her on the road again.  In Phoenix I had my best friend, mechanic and riding buddy "Westernbiker" who took care of her for me, but need help here.

I've seen a couple of Valks in my area near White Rock Lake, especially a black and silver.  I've seen you several times.
  Anyway...wha'd'ya think?

Thanks!!!!
Connie  (aka Queen Bee)

[Doc809]

Welcome to the insanity of the DFW VRCC.  There are a lot of good folks here, most of whom are great mechanics with their Valk. I'm sure someone will have suggestions and the rest of us will have opinions.  Better stick with the suggestions.  Hope to see you at the meetings and rides.

[Red Diamond]

Welcome, you have moved into an area where there is a great group of Valkyrie riders, not to mention a rather knowledgeable group of mechanics also. The recharge is a good start, it needs a certain amount of voltage to start this bike. If that doesn't work, make sure it is getting fuel, petcock may be bad and losing vacuum. If the petcock is an issue, a cover set maybe in order. Someone else will more than likely chime in with more info. Good luck and ride safely.

[Six Guns]

Might need to schedule a down and dirty wrench party to welcome queen bee to the metro mess. Anyone want to schedule one for the coming weekend or the first weekend in Nov.? Queen Bee, since your valk is not running, can we do the wrench party at your place? Just trying to help.     

[RainMaker]

Could be the carbs are gummed up - doesn't take long.  When using the choke, is it pushed all the way down?  Sometimes, it takes a little effort to get it to fully choked.

But the first thing is the battery.  Get that fully charged and let's see what happens.

Wrench parties happen a lot around here. 

Welcome!

RainMaker

[f-Stop]

Welcome to Texas Queen Bee!  You are in a good place to get good advice on your Valkyrie.  Some of the Dallas VRCC members know more about the Valkyrie than most any Honda dealer or mechanic. 

Charlie

 

[Westsider]

East Dallas,, Yep pretty sure theres some valkyrie owners n maintainers over there in those parts..

Welcome to the metromess

[Wanderer]

Hey Connie~ If you are in the White Rock Lake area we are practically neighbors! Do you have a Battery Tender or some way to charge the battery? That would save you at least one six pack!

Sounds like you had your bike shipped? Could be any number of not too hard to diagnose thangs to look into. Let me know when you want to get together and look her over.

My email addy is in my profile. Welcome to the metromess! ~Jeff

[BuzzKill]

Welcome.  Just a couple things to check out.  Make sure the petcock is On.  They might have switched it to off if it was shipped.  A weak battery would crank it over but not start it.  See if you can jump start it with a car or a battery charger on Start mode.  If it starts, its the battery.  If not, sounds like a fuel problem.  There is likely going to be a wrench party in the next month or so but wont do much good if its completely unridable unless the party is at your place.

Other than those two things, it could get a bit more complicated and need more specialized trouble shooting.  Thats just my 2 cents.  Keep the change.   

[Disco]

Welcome, queen bee!

[Valkpilot]

 
A weak battery would crank it over but not start it.  See if you can jump start it with a car or a battery charger on Start mode.  If it starts, its the battery. 

Just to clarify, jump from a non-running car.

[YODA MASTER]

We look forward to meeting you. Lots of Valk mechanical experts in our group. I can volunteer Disco, Valk Pilot, Rainmaker, to name a few. I'm good at 'volunteering' other folks. Ain't worth a dang as a wrench! We'll schedule a special wrench party to take a look.

Phoenix? What part? I'm a retired Phoenix Police Defective, er, I mean Detective.

[Stormrider65]

Welcome to the area.  These guys know just about everything about the Valk.  And the group here in the DFW area are the best.  IMHO, that is.   Was the bike shipped or did you bring it out?   I was stationed in Phoenix at Luke AFB for 2 years.  Great riding and good weather for it.   Yeah, I know, its a dry heat.  Heard that for years. 

Walt

[queen bee]

Thanks so much for your comments and advice, guys.  So nice to know I will have a support group!
I'll get the battery charged up today and will try her out again tonight. 

I trailored the bike out here, not shipped.  When I arrived, it fired right up with no problem.  Even tho'  I haven't ridden  much since I got here (no more than 120 miles) at least I know she worked when I arrived.  I've pushed the choke down as far as it will go, too.  Adjusted the petcock back and forth, etc.

Wish me luck!  I'll let you know how it goes....maybe that wrench party here will be a good idea!

[queen bee]

We look forward to meeting you. Lots of Valk mechanical experts in our group. I can volunteer Disco, Valk Pilot, Rainmaker, to name a few. I'm good at 'volunteering' other folks. Ain't worth a dang as a wrench! We'll schedule a special wrench party to take a look.

Phoenix? What part? I'm a retired Phoenix Police Defective, er, I mean Detective.

North Scottsdale, actually, right on the edge.  East of Tatum, North of Greenway.  You?

[2odd]

Valkpilot, or anyone else, not disputing, just inquiring.  I've been jumping cars, boats, motorcycles for many years from a running car's battery.  Vehicles not touching, grounding the running car's side to an unpainted metal part (a friend burned out a diode in the alternator back in the 70's grounding to the neg on the running car's battery).  Have I been flirting with a disaster?

[queen bee]

Well, I've charged the battery, but don't think that's the problem...the bike wants to start.  It catches, runs for a few seconds making a "blub blub blub blub" sound, then dies.  Just feels like it's not getting fuel. I've got the choke pushed as far as it will go, and have tried to gun it with the throttle, slow and fast.  Any other ideas, guys?

[RainMaker]

Please accept my apologies in advance if this seems stupid, but does it have gas in the tank?  Sometimes, it's just that simple.

If yes, then I'd go with petcock issues since it's not running badly - it's not getting fuel at all.

[Houdini]

does it have gas in the tank?

She covered that already RM

There is about 1/2 tank gas

[BeeSharp]

Welcome to Dallas!

I'd take a good look at the vacuum line from the #6 cylinder to the petcock. If that's OK then as others have mentioned I'd look at a petcock rebuild or replacement.

I've been messing with mine and about ready to replace it with a Pingel and 12v fuel shut off valve.

Jim