Valk won't start, again

[RetreadFireguy]

Sorry to breach this subject again but she won't start. I have replaced the needle float valves, flushed and cleaned the carbs. checked the petcock and am using an older but fully charged battery. The float bowls are full of gas and when I pull a plug after I have attempted to start the Valk they are not "wet". With full choke the bike starts momentarily but will not run. In the process I have over adjusted the idle screw and need to start again with it. Where do I go from here. I appreciate your experienced feedback. The bike is a 1998 Valkyrie standand with only 18.000 miles on it.

[Firefighter]

Has it been sitting? Is the gas fresh? What is flush the carbs.? Let us know a little history.

[Bighead]

Also where are you there may be someone close by that can lend a hand

Has it been sitting? Is the gas fresh? What is flush the carbs.? Let us know a little history.

And to answer this question YES it has been sitting it is an 18 year old bike with 18 k miles. The way they taught math when I was growing up that is less than 100 miles a month

[RetreadFireguy]

Gas tank has been cleaned, new gas. Carbs have been dissembled and cleaned with carb cleaner . I bought the bike in Michigan and brought it home to Canada at that time it had only 10.000 miles on it, 8 yrs. ago.  Not much riding but 5 months of storage a year cuts into the saddle time. Plus I just sold my GL1800 a few years ago.

[Chrisj CMA]

Gas tank has been cleaned, new gas. Carbs have been dissembled and cleaned with carb cleaner . I bought the bike in Michigan and brought it home to Canada at that time it had only 10.000 miles on it, 8 yrs. ago.  Not much riding but 5 months of storage a year cuts into the saddle time. Plus I just sold my GL1800 a few years ago.

Did you replace the jets, particularly the slows or at least manually clear them with a wire tool?  If not it's a good chance the carb cleaner left the slows still clogged.

[Valker]

Hate to ask a silly question, but are you SURE you are choking it? Does the bar on the carbs move when you move the choke lever?

[Hook#3287]

Hate to ask a silly question, but are you SURE you are choking it? Does the bar on the carbs move when you move the choke lever?

On a valk that's not a silly question.

My Honda mech mentor would always say "won't start? Gas or spark, gas or spark"

Rule out the spark.

Gas in the bowls, sounds like slow jets.  But one or two sould be passing gas.

Do you get any ignition at all?

Try a different, or jump the battery.

[Cliff]

Almost sounds like the problem of the battery having just enough power to spin the starter but not enough to spin starter AND provide charge the coils resulting in no spark while the start button is depressed, when it is released and momentum continues spinning the crank you get a bit of sputter but not enough to keep running.

 If the momentary sputter only occurs just after releasing the start button that would indicate the aforementioned problem.

[RetreadFireguy]

So the choke is on, the battery on the bike connected to a fully charged car battery and the bike still only runs momentarily . Now I have fuel dripping out of the exhaust. The plugs are still dry. I have moved the idle screw enough that I do not know the original setting, this bike has always been a stubborn cuss to start. No throttle and choke only to start.  I sprayed carb cleaner in all the holes and jets, everything is clear. I did not run a gauge wire through the low speed jets.  A little frustrating afternoon. Cool here high of 9 (48 degrees on the other side of the fence.)  Where do I go from here?

[Firefighter]

If gas running out exhaust your flooding, either from cranking too much with choke, or carb problems.

Check to see if oil is over full , contaminated with fuel.

The book says Pilot screw inital setting : 97 1500 C or CT 1 and 3/4  California 2 turns out

1500CF and after 97 C and CT 2 1/4   Califorina  2 3/8

Is the gas fresh?

Do you have good spark?

Have you checked to see if your air intake is stopped up?

Did you follow manual with carb. assembly?

[gordonv]

I bought the bike in Michigan and brought it home to Canada at that time it had only 10.000 miles on it, 8 yrs. ago.

You mentioned the above, but didn't answer the question. Please add your city and province to your profile.

If you're in the lower mainland, we can meet up on the weekend, and try to get this thing started.

I've been reading this site since I bought my first IS back in 09'. Been driving a GW for the last 3 years, and just recently sold that and bought an IS.

[Ramie]

You sure it's fuel leaking out of the exhaust and not just moisture?  I would try opening the drains on the carbs to see if fuel is actually getting to the carbs.  How long does it run when it starts? Also try flipping to reserve on the tank and see if that makes any difference.  I just got done wasting a day working on my Standard only to find out I didn't have enough fuel in the tank to run in the run position.

[RetreadFireguy]

Gas is fresh, Going out to purchase a new battery, old one not doing performing (cranking)  as well as some of the posts I have read.  When it does fire it is only for a few seconds. Spark. fuel, air.  Right???

[Firefighter]

Your correct, compression has to be there, but I am assuming the bike was running ok before it sat up.
Would adjust the carbs back to two turns. The air intake and exhaust have to be open (clear). Hope you have good sucess!

[gordonv]

I think I would start with an extra fully charged battery beside the bike (your daily driver, NOT RUNNING). Jump it to the bike. Crank for about 30 seconds.

If it starts, try the throttle to get the RPM above 2K.
No fire, then move the fuel enricher (choke) till you encounter resistance, then force it about another 1-2 cm.

Crank the bike again for about 30 seconds.

If it starts, see if it will continue running. With the choke on, it should go above 1.5K

If you smell fuel, stop. Turn off the choke, and crank again. If it starts, use the throttle. You may have to play with it (a lot of throttle, or just a touch) to keep it running. If it doesn't, you now know you have fuel getting to the carbs. My bike would flood easily, and the above is how I got it to start, but it was hard to keep it that way. It's all a matter of playing with it. Once it was warm, no throttle, but it liked the choke.

Still no fire and no smell of fuel, then start with that. I know you say it will run a little, but it is either not enough fuel on a cold engine, or not enough fuel getting to the carbs, but you say you have fuel in the bowls.

It can also be a poor battery. That's why I say to add a good battery to the mix. You can crank the bike strong, but then there is not enough power to energize the coils for the spark.

Come back with some more info on the above. I'm also suspecting vacuum or air leak.

[john]

                          " Please add your city and province to your profile. "
                                     EVERY BODY                   you may have help around the corner                         

[RetreadFireguy]

So its been a couple of days and I removed the carbs and had them cleaned by a local bike shop.  He indicated that 3 of the carbs low speed jets were almost plugged and two of the high speed jets on the other bank of carbs were extremely corroded.  He cleaned and returned the carbs to factory settings.  Reinstalled yesterday. A the sweet sound of six cylinders working in harmony again. Starts better then it ever did.  Thanks for the support and suggestions.  Getting warm enough out to ride without long underwear on.   A little seafoam and stabilizer over the winter and were good to go.

[Chrisj CMA]

So its been a couple of days and I removed the carbs and had them cleaned by a local bike shop.  He indicated that 3 of the carbs low speed jets were almost plugged and two of the high speed jets on the other bank of carbs were extremely corroded.  He cleaned and returned the carbs to factory settings.  Reinstalled yesterday. A the sweet sound of six cylinders working in harmony again. Starts better then it ever did.  Thanks for the support and suggestions.  Getting warm enough out to ride without long underwear on.   A little seafoam and stabilizer over the winter and were good to go.

Glad you got her straight