Project Bike

[Big Ed]

Hello all,

I'm picking a black 97 Standard today and going to trailer it home. It has no key, hasn't been started in about 3 years. I figure carbs are bad. Going to take off tank, change engine oil and filter, coolant, clutch and brake fluids. Will also have to buy a battery of course. Any advice on the carbs or other items. I havent even seen it yet. Supposedly lots of chrome. Garage kept. Will post pics later.

Thanks...

[hubcapsc]

Hello all,

I'm picking a black 97 Standard today and going to trailer it home. It has no key, hasn't been started in about 3 years. I figure carbs are bad. Going to take off tank, change engine oil and filter, coolant, clutch and brake fluids. Will also have to buy a battery of course. Any advice on the carbs or other items. I havent even seen it yet. Supposedly lots of chrome. Garage kept. Will post pics later.

Thanks...

I haven't taken apart a set of Valkyrie carburetors, but there's lots of searchable info
on this site. A site vendor sells an "easy good" carburetor sync tool. Another top-notch
mechanic/poster has gone to ultrasonic (instead of solvent) cleaning...

It is real easy (compared to rebuilding the carburetors) to remove the calipers and
clean-refurbish them, I've seen some awful goo inside them that wouldn't be addressed
by just bleeding in some new fluid.

-Mike "start out with good brakes..."

[Houdini]

Congrats Ed, I've had a blast restoring my rescue bike.  For the carbs I suggesting draining the tank if there's anything in there, refill about half way and dump in a couple of cans on Berryman's and run her around the block a few times.  This procedure saved me from rebuilding my IS carbs and she's been running great for almost a year now.

I agree with hubcap but I'll take it further and suggest you change every fluid on the bike before you run her around the block.

[Big Ed]

[f-Stop]

Looks like she's in pretty good shape.  You should probably consider replacing the vacuum hoses, fuel lines and cover set.  Easy to do once you've got the tank off.  Also, maybe replace the fuel strainer on the petcock.

Congratulations!

 

[Big Ed]

Looks like she's in pretty good shape.  You should probably consider replacing the vacuum hoses, fuel lines and cover set.  Easy to do once you've got the tank off.  Also, maybe replace the fuel strainer on the petcock.

Congratulations!

 

Thank you. I think we need a wrenching party at my house once some nicer weather comes around. 

[Big Ed]

and it needs a car tar...!!!

[Big Ed]

Correction: Hasn't been started in 18 months.

[Disco]

Congratulations, Ed! 

A site vendor sells an "easy good" carburetor sync tool. Another top-notch
mechanic/poster has gone to ultrasonic (instead of solvent) cleaning...

Although not in the football, both of those are in the club and available for local use.   

[BnB Tom]

When you get around to it...  I might be able to help you with the "no key" problem.  

I know that's not high on your priorities but when you have the time you'll need to pull the ignition and get the inards to me.  If you have problems doing that part, let me know when your wrench party is and I'll come pull it for you. 

[Big Ed]

When you get around to it...  I might be able to help you with the "no key" problem.  

I know that's not high on your priorities but when you have the time you'll need to pull the ignition and get the inards to me.  If you have problems doing that part, let me know when your wrench party is and I'll come pull it for you. 

Thank you my friends...!!!

[Red Diamond]

Tom you can get a key made without taking it apart. Get the code to a locksmith.

[Big Ed]

Tom you can get a key made without taking it apart. Get the code to a locksmith.

How do I find the code?

[chauffeur]

take the chrome cover off of the ignition housing. 

[Red Diamond]

take the chrome cover off of the ignition housing. 

As was stated by Dave, remove the chrome cover and the screws holding the ignition switch. Turn the switch over to see the code which you can give to a good locksmith and have another key made. Good luck.

[Big Ed]

Awesome. Will do. Thanks...!!!

[BnB Tom]

Tom you can get a key made without taking it apart. Get the code to a locksmith.

  Really 

[Red Diamond]

Tom you can get a key made without taking it apart. Get the code to a locksmith.

  Really 

Really.

[BnB Tom]

  Anyway Ed.

If you have any problems getting a key made, let me know. 

[Big Ed]

I'm working on it. Will keep everyone posted. Thanks. 

[Big Ed]

So haven't done any on the bike yet except remove the dead battery. This morning I went to change the oil and filter. To my amazement the oil came out super thin and more than twice as much as there should have been in there.

Not sure if it smells like gas mixed in with the oil but it might be. So question. Did the bike hydrolock and seller conviniently forgot to tell me? The story was it was sitting storage unused for 18 months then the key got lost.

Could a bowl have stayed open just do to sitting idle for so long and gas got into the oil?  Can something be cracked somewhere?

I'm not sure what to check or do next besides remove the gas tank and look around.

Help please. Thanks...

[hubcapsc]

It is kind of a drag to remove (and reinstall) the starter, but
you could look in there and know one way or the other about
hydrolock damage...

I guess it would be pretty easy for stuff to drain past the
petcock and some carb floats into some top-ends on a sat-up
bike... I don't know if it would flow past there into the bottom
end, though...

-Mike

[Houdini]

Could a bowl have stayed open just do to sitting idle for so long and gas got into the oil?

Ed, fuel sitting in the combustion chambers will eventually leak past the rings and into the case.  If it was mine I'd replace the oil, remove the spark plugs, and hit the starter button.  You'll know right away if their is too much fuel in the cylinders, it'll spray a lot of fuel out, and/or hydrolocked, 'cause it won't turn over.

FWIW, don't turn her over without removing the spark plugs first or you risk hydrolock.

[Big Ed]

Could a bowl have stayed open just do to sitting idle for so long and gas got into the oil?

Ed, fuel sitting in the combustion chambers will eventually leak past the rings and into the case.  If it was mine I'd replace the oil, remove the spark plugs, and hit the starter button.  You'll know right away if their is too much fuel in the cylinders, it'll spray a lot of fuel out, and/or hydrolocked, 'cause it won't turn over.

FWIW, don't turn her over without removing the spark plugs first or you risk hydrolock.

Will do. Thanks...!!!

[Big Ed]

So theorectically the entire gas tank could have drain down to bottom on the engine thru 1 carb and cylinder?

[RainMaker]

So theorectically the entire gas tank could have drain down to bottom on the engine thru 1 carb and cylinder?

In theory, yes.  And if true, the chance that the empty tank is rusty inside goes up exponentially. 

[Big Ed]

So theorectically the entire gas tank could have drain down to bottom on the engine thru 1 carb and cylinder?

In theory, yes.  And if true, the chance that the empty tank is rusty inside goes up exponentially. 

Feeling a little bit worried... 

[Big Ed]

Rainmaker was correct. Rust inside the tank. Just bought the Kreem Reliner Kit for $47 to begin the rust removal and re-lining process.

I was hoping to get away without having to rebuild the carbs. I guess I'm not going to be that lucky.

Thoughts...???

[RainMaker]

Rainmaker was correct. Rust inside the tank. Just bought the Kreem Reliner Kit for $47 to begin the rust removal and re-lining process.

I was hoping to get away without having to rebuild the carbs. I guess I'm not going to be that lucky.

Thoughts...???

I've got some carbs to rebuild on the Tourer that sits and takes up space in my garage.  We could make mistakes together!