#1 and #3 not running at idle. New to me 2002 Valkyrie

[Pappy!]

Posted last night and thanks for the answers. Added techroline this morning to the tank. Started and found that two cyls arent firing at idle.
Is there a special tool to adjust the pilot jet to see if I can get fuel flowing through there? Am thinking that if I can get a little fuel flowing through there that the techroline may do its job.
Is the adjustment easily visible? Am mechanically adept but havent been able to locate the adjustment screw.  Thanks!
Havent touched the sync screws by the way.

[rayvin57]

Posted last night and thanks for the answers. Added techroline this morning to the tank. Started and found that two cyls arent firing at idle.
Is there a special tool to adjust the pilot jet to see if I can get fuel flowing through there? Am thinking that if I can get a little fuel flowing through there that the techroline may do its job.
Is the adjustment easily visible? Am mechanically adept but havent been able to locate the adjustment screw.  Thanks!
Havent touched the sync screws by the way.

Hey Pappy--Vin here in Fort Myers. First of all, congrats on your new ride. Nice to have more Valk company in the sunshine state.  Do a search for pilot adjustment--lots here seem to go with 2 1/4 turns out with stock jets. Here's a link to one of the adjustment tool threads... http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,28663.0.html .  I had bought one many years ago to adjust them on my Magna, couldn't find it, so I wound up cutting slots in the heads so I can now use a screwdriver. 
Anyway, if the pilots are gummed up a bit on #1 and #3, the slow jets are probably not so clean either, so you might have to pull and clean the carbs if using the techron/seafoam/fill in the blank cleaners don't do it for you.
On the positive side, when you're ready for syncing those carbs--if you're up for a ride to my neck of the woods I've got a carbtune pro and will help you sync 'em.  I'm new to the fat girl but not to carb work, having had a Magna, VMax, various Wings, Royal Star, etc. in the past.
Hang in there, you'll get the beast purring smoothly.
Vin in Fort Myers

[Joe Hummer]

If your bike had sat for a couple of years without draining the carbs, your jets are probably clogged.  Mine was that way.  I had taken the carbs off the bike, popped the bowl covers, and sprayed carb cleaner everywhere i could.  But I still had issues with it idling...even after several months of riding.  So, I finally broke down and had a independent shop clean the carbs for me.  He took them apart and soaked the overnight in a sonic cleaner.  Not sure what else he done to them but DAMN did that make a HUGE difference. 

I wouldn't do a Carb Sync until the bike is running right. 

Joe

[salty1]

Congrats on your new Valk! One of mine was stored over 12 years and carbs were a mess. If your up to it, you can pull the carb bank and clean all those jets. No doubt the slow speed jets are "cruded" up. Lots of threads here on "how to".

[rayvin57]

If your bike had sat for a couple of years without draining the carbs, your jets are probably clogged.  Mine was that way.  I had taken the carbs off the bike, popped the bowl covers, and sprayed carb cleaner everywhere i could.  But I still had issues with it idling...even after several months of riding.  So, I finally broke down and had a independent shop clean the carbs for me.  He took them apart and soaked the overnight in a sonic cleaner.  Not sure what else he done to them but DAMN did that make a HUGE difference.  

I wouldn't do a Carb Sync until the bike is running right.  

Joe

Right, Joe. The carb sync should be the last step after the carbs are cleaned, any vac issues are resolved and the pilots are adjusted, etc.  

[Joe Hummer]

If your bike had sat for a couple of years without draining the carbs, your jets are probably clogged.  Mine was that way.  I had taken the carbs off the bike, popped the bowl covers, and sprayed carb cleaner everywhere i could.  But I still had issues with it idling...even after several months of riding.  So, I finally broke down and had a independent shop clean the carbs for me.  He took them apart and soaked the overnight in a sonic cleaner.  Not sure what else he done to them but DAMN did that make a HUGE difference. 

I wouldn't do a Carb Sync until the bike is running right. 

Joe

Right, Joe. The carb sync should be the last step after the carbs are clean, any vac issues are resloved and the pilots are adjusted, etc. 

And the valve lash is checked. 

[Ricky-D]

Posted last night and thanks for the answers. Added techroline this morning to the tank. Started and found that two cyls arent firing at idle.
Is there a special tool to adjust the pilot jet to see if I can get fuel flowing through there? Am thinking that if I can get a little fuel flowing through there that the techroline may do its job.
Is the adjustment easily visible? Am mechanically adept but havent been able to locate the adjustment screw.  Thanks!
Havent touched the sync screws by the way.

To answer your question, the tool is special, it is a 'D' shaped socket. Get it from "Motion Pro".

I would suggest to run the bike for a while to see if they clear on their own.

If you use a mirror, you can look at the underside of the carburetor close to the intake riser end. The 'D' screw is recessed in a barrel that will be easily recognized. They are some times difficult to first turn so care is urged.

If you remove the intake riser and look inside the carburetor at the bottom of the venturi area you will find an orifice closely related to the position of the pilot jet screw underneath. This is the only orifice controlled by the screw.

A air nozzle bent at a 90 degree angle can be employed to blow into the orifice attempting to dislodge any contamination in the gallery and (through) all the way back to the idle jet. This may work to clean out the contamination.

***

[Pappy!]

Have a tool on order. Thanks guys! That should make a difference.
Have looked over all the vacuum lines and they all seem to be intact and in great cndition. If I just start the bike and rev it the idle slows immediately. If I go run it on the highway, let off the throttle and pull in the clutch it takes a lonnnnnggggg time for the idle to slow and stabilize.

[Ricky-D]

Well, that could be from a dragging clutch.

Not necessarily a carburetor related problem.

***

[salty1]

Are throttle cables hanging up a little? If throttle is "sticky" it will need to be taken apart, cleaned and relubed. Do you have a throttle lock system that might be interfering with the quick an smooth return of the throttle?

[rayvin57]

+1 on salty's suggestion of the throttle cables or possibly the linkage needing to be cleaned and lubed.

[Pappy!]

I removed the throttle lock system today. Hell, it didn't work the whole 1150 mile run back home this weekend with it. I ended up rigging a pair of huge tie-wraps on the throttle that worked perfect against the brake lever but I didn't think of it until my throttle hand was sore as hell on the second day. Go figure! Hey, when you have that many miles to ride in a limited time you can be semi inovative when needed.  
Anyway.....I just got back from a ride downtown and it seemed to return normally now. We shall see! Not sure I ran hard enough or long enough to make it happen but we shall see! Carb cleaner hasnt done anything positive yet but its there soaking away at any rate.
Oh....and many many thanks for the congrats on the new bike! I have wanted one of these for the longest time and finally have it! Love it!

[salty1]

If the Techron doesn't work, step up to a full can of Chemtool B 12 in a tank of gas. Then take a 150+ mile ride to run it out. Then see what you think. Don't let it sit for any length of time as it will degrade rubber, but it's about the strongest cleaner available IMO.