Valkyrie will not start (SOLVED)

[texdoc77]

Ok so as many of you may remember I recently had my bike painted.  Because of this I did a few upgrades and what not.  However, now that my bike is back together I cannot get it to start.  Here is what I have done:

1.  Removed gas tank, front and rear fenders, saddlebags
2.  Removed mufflers
3.  Rebuilt petcock
4.  Desmogged
5.  installed new Mark T 5" stacks with crossover
6.  Put the gas tank, fenders and saddlebags back on

The bike sat for about 7 weeks.  Upon putting gas back in the tank I did have some initial leaking from the petcock, however, that only lasted about 10 minutes and stopped.  Not sure what that was about.  Maybe the weep hole or spilled gas.  I tried to crank and it turned over fine, but would not bust off.  It tried a little, but not much.  I pulled the tank back off and reinspected the petcock.  I put a little vacuum on the vacuum line and gas came pouring out so I feel like the petcock is in working order and again no further leaks.  Put the gas tank back on and have really turned it over a number of times for 15-20 seconds at a time to no avail.  

Here is my thought process:

I really don't think its the petcock, but obviously I'm no mechanic.  It does appear that I can get gas from the tank to the carburetor based on my test of the petcock.  Could it be the gas?  I siphoned the gas from the tank and stored it in a bucket with a lid, but that really doesn't seem like enough time for the gas to go bad.  Would an improper desmog act like this?  Could I have installed the mufflers or crossover wrong.  Again, I don't have a lot of experience but I would think it would at least start and then just run rough.  Any thoughts are appreciated.  OH and once I get her running, pix to follow...

Thanks in advance,

SC

[Tfrank59]

I think you need to ensure gas is getting into your carbs.  can you see gas flowing out the petcock that was just rebuilt?  I'm no expert, but if it's the desmog done wrong, it would probably start but run crappy.

[texdoc77]

I did pull the tank off and put a vacuum on the vacuum line and fuel did come rushing out of the petcock.  Now whether the carb is putting enough vacuum on the line or there is a blockage in the fuel line, I cannot say once it is installed again.  But I do believe the petcock is working properly.

[da prez]

Start with the basics. Check for spark. If you have spark , fuel will be next. I use a short cut because of the different jobs that I do. I am sure most on this board will thump on me , but time is of the essence in my work. I do not get a lot of time to diagnose jobs. I give the engine a whiff of ether and if it tries to start , then its fuel.  Sometimes I skip the spark check, but then time is of the essence for me. If you have spark and fuel , and no start  , it may be mechanical.  If you had the center cover off , the tip over switch may be the cause of no spark.

                                                 da prez

[texdoc77]

If you had the center cover off , the tip over switch may be the cause of no spark.

I will check the tip over sensor tonight.  Not a bad Idea, I did have the center cover off...

[Memor86]

insead of using the bikes vacuum, apply external vacuum to the petcock, check if there is gas on the bowls by opening a drain or two that way you will know if there is fuel flowing to the carbs, if it was the tilt sensor im pretty sure it would not even crank (starter wont spin at all)

[hubcapsc]

If you had the center cover off , the tip over switch may be the cause of no spark.

I will check the tip over sensor tonight.  Not a bad Idea, I did have the center cover off...

I did it. The switch looks like it ought to go one way, but if you actually look at it  
it sez on there which way it goes...

I hate taking the center cover off, be careful, especially if you have a
custom paint job on it...

-Mike

[indybobm]

If it was the tip over switch, I don't think the engine would turn over with the start button. Power goes from fuse to bank angle sensor, to bank angle sensor relay, through kill switch to the starter button.

[texdoc77]

If it was the tip over switch, I don't think the engine would turn over with the start button.

That is a good point, probably just like the kick stand relay, it will not even turn over.  Ok probably not the tip over switch.  I really do suspect it might be the fuel not getting to the carbs for some reason, there is really no good reason why I would not have spark.  I did not mess with that at all.  I will put external vacuum on the petcock as well and give that a shot...  I may mess with it at lunch a little and report back.

[hubcapsc]

If it was the tip over switch, I don't think the engine would turn over with the start button. Power goes from fuse to bank angle sensor, to bank angle sensor relay, through kill switch to the starter button.

You're right, I didn't read the full description well enough...

-Mike

[Gryphon Rider]

Starter spins engine, but does engine does not fire - sounds like a classic weak battery symptom; use booster cables from a car with its engine off.  Another possibility is you simply didn't let the engine spin long enough to start it.  Being in Texas, maybe you've never had to start the bike before after the carbs have been drained?  It takes 5-15 seconds for the bike to fire in that situation.

[Bighead]

Starter spins engine, but does engine does not fire - sounds like a classic weak battery symptom; use booster cables from a car with its engine off.  Another possibility is you simply didn't let the engine spin long enough to start it.  Being in Texas, maybe you've never had to start the bike before after the carbs have been drained?  It takes 5-15 seconds for the bike to fire in that situation.

+1 a weak battery will spin the engine fine but will not start the beast. That would be the first thing I would check

[Fazer]

If you had the tank off, make certain the fuel line is not kinked and the vent line is functioning.  Iv'e read where guys have replaced the fuel line with a little extra length to make it easier to hook up and in the added length causes a low spot or kink.  With gravity feed, fuel line length is crucial.

[pancho]

insead of using the bikes vacuum, apply external vacuum to the petcock, check if there is gas on the bowls by opening a drain or two that way you will know if there is fuel flowing to the carbs, if it was the tilt sensor im pretty sure it would not even crank (starter wont spin at all)

What he said,,,  insure that the carb bowls are full of fuel by applying an external vacuum,, either an extended piece of vacuum hose and done by mouth or a mitivac,, at least rule it out. Check by opening drain screws and seeing a good stream.

[Bighead]

insead of using the bikes vacuum, apply external vacuum to the petcock, check if there is gas on the bowls by opening a drain or two that way you will know if there is fuel flowing to the carbs, if it was the tilt sensor im pretty sure it would not even crank (starter wont spin at all)

What he said,,,  insure that the carb bowls are full of fuel by applying an external vacuum,, either an extended piece of vacuum hose and done by mouth or a mitivac,, at least rule it out. Check by opening drain screws and seeing a good stream.

He state he already pulled a vacuum and had fuel flow.

[texdoc77]

OK first and foremost thank you all for your help and input.  I am quite embarrassed but the problem was of the most supremely basic.  As I thought back through the issue when I checked the petcock I had placed the tank in an upright position which would have drained all the gas to the bottom and when I checked the petcock gas did come right out.  However, when installed on the bike it was in the usual horizontal position and with the petcock in the "on" position there was not enough gas in the tank to feed the line.  Simply switching to "reserve" solved the problem.  It fired right up. 

So, yeah, I didn't have enough gas in it.  However, hopefully this thread, and all the wonderful suggestions will help someone else out that really has an issue.  My issue, as per usual, was operator error. 

However, I now feel confident posting pix of the bike and new paint job, I will do this in another thread...

Thanks again!!

[RainMaker]

It has happened to a lot of us in the same way.  Bike looks great - maybe run in the wind with you someday on the way to see my son in Austin.

RainMaker

[texdoc77]

It has happened to a lot of us in the same way.  Bike looks great - maybe run in the wind with you someday on the way to see my son in Austin.

RainMaker

Thanks,

I have looked up some of the DFW rides, but could not make them.  Give me a shout when you're headed south.  Lot of great roads between here and there.

SC

[Memor86]

insead of using the bikes vacuum, apply external vacuum to the petcock, check if there is gas on the bowls by opening a drain or two that way you will know if there is fuel flowing to the carbs, if it was the tilt sensor im pretty sure it would not even crank (starter wont spin at all)

What he said,,,  insure that the carb bowls are full of fuel by applying an external vacuum,, either an extended piece of vacuum hose and done by mouth or a mitivac,, at least rule it out. Check by opening drain screws and seeing a good stream.

He state he already pulled a vacuum and had fuel flow.

he also mentioned that he performed the vacuum test with the tank off the bike, i suggested doing it with the tank on the bike feeding the carbs. anyway glad to hear that is solved.