WILL NOT STAY RUNNING UNLESS CHOKE ON

[BIGDOG1954]

Tried to start after long lay up, really hard to get going and once it did it would not stay running unless choked. I let it run for about 10 minutes to warm and tried to take the choke off and died right away. restarted and continued to warm up until fan kicked in. Then I tried to take off the choke and died again. Repeated several time and would not stay running unless it was choked. Increased idle speed no luck. Bike will accelerate no problem so I don't think I have a fuel supply issue. Added fresh fuel and 1/2 can of Sea Foam and ran for about 1/2 hour. Tried again. Still no luck. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[bulldog620]

Sounds like maybe one or more low speed jet may be fouled. I just went through the same thing. Three of six low speed jets  were blocked, did a rebuild, and later replaced all the fuel rail O rings, will be doing a carb sync this week.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Agreed. You might get lucky with the sea foam . I ended up having to remove carbs and clean them.

[bulldog620]

And if you do pull the carbs, do yourself a favor, do the o rings at the same time. Don't be an ass like me.

[Harryc]

I hate Ethanol gas. Trick I learned a long time ago. Put the Seafoam in the 'full' tank before it lays up and run a bit through before you button her up. Full can, not half. I only put her to sleep for 3 to 4 months a year tops, but I've had other gas powered devices sit up much longer with that potion mixed in and had no problems. My snowblower sat a year and fired right up last month and ran great. My gen set sometimes sits for several years. For that one I drain the tank and run her dry each time but I do use the seafoam in that one too.

[bulldog620]

HarryC, good advise.

[Hook#3287]

I don't believe any gas additive will work in a 1/2 hour.

Sounds like plugged slow jets, a common issue with corn gas and 35' slow jets and some sitting time.

I would run the Seafoam through and get a bottle of Berryman's B12.

Add a bottle to a full tank and go for a ride at low RPM so that the gas mixture gets into the carbs and the slow jets.

Let it sit overnight and repeat.

If after 3 or 4 of these "treatments" if no improvement, get yourself some new jets and pull the carbs.

You can clean them, and some have with good results, but it only took me once to try that and fail, that I now just replace.  Pulling the carbs is not hard work, but pulling em twice sucks.

I use 38's and the jury is out, for me, on whether that will promote carbon build up on the valves.  All I know is I've never had a clogged slow since swapping.  And I'll probably be in a different place before the carbon build up will bother me.

[Harryc]

You can clean them, and some have with good results, but it only took me once to try that and fail, that I now just replace.  Pulling the carbs is not hard work, but pulling em twice sucks.

Good advice on slow jets right there. Replace them. Don't forget new float needles too.

[Pappy!]

Everything you will need can be had at RedEye. If you are unsure what all you will need just contact him. Not a difficult job but time consuming to do everything and do it right.

http://redeye.ecrater.com/

[Harryc]

Everything you will need can be had at RedEye. If you are unsure what all you will need just contact him. Not a difficult job but time consuming to do everything and do it right.

http://redeye.ecrater.com/

I don't think he sells jets or float needles. Try here -

https://www.amazon.com/Supply-18-8955-Float-Needle-K3-Keihin/dp/B001KOD732/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480257219&sr=8-2&keywords=honda+valkyrie+float+needles

http://jetsrus.com/a_jet_kit_street/honda_1500_valkyrie.htm

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

I had the same issue when my Valk sat for two years. Gas looked like a dark ale beer. It took awhile, at least 10 tanks of gas with B-12 and low speed runs, but it finally cleared up. I agree with Bill and Harry that given the same situation again, I would pull the carbs a lot earlier. Am working on a project bike right now where I have the carbs pulled and cleaning etc. Have the kit from RedEye and am running all parts through an ultrasonic cleaner. New float needles too.

[gordonv]

Seafoam for storage.

Carb cleaner, Berryman B12, Techron, etc, is for cleaning your carbs/jets.

Which ever rpm range is giving you trouble, run the bike in that range. Idle/low rpm, drive low speed in high gear.

All suggest about 1/2 can to 1/2 tank of fresh fuel. Run for .5 - 1 hr, then let sit over night. Repeat.

It has even been said, that it took multiple different cleaner to do a complete job, each different cleaner making it work a little better. All this, before you spend the hours pulling the carbs and spending $ on parts. It's a lot easier for most of us, and more enjoyable.