Poor running under choke

[cross]

Hey guys,

I have little issue after rebuilding and cleaning my carbs.
It idles and runs great once warm but cold, when choke is on it runs like it's running on low fuel or like not all carbs have fuel in them.
I checked and made sure that sliders on both banks slide completely and that all enricheners are engaged and checked for all vacuum leaks and there are none.
When i disassembled carbs all enricheners were removed and i sprayed carb cleaner followed by the air in the provisions for them as well as all carb passages. Problem is only when it's cold and choke is on.
Another thing is if i let it idle a bit like that, engine dies almost as if it's running out of fuel.
Fuel mixture screws were left at 2.5 turns i think, would this make it too rich?
What may i have overlooked?

Thank you
Sasha

[Bone]

I'm in Michigan if it matters when I start mine I back off the choke a little. Seldom do I idle it except for rolling it backwards out of the garage. Going into second the choke is almost open it runs like you describe if I don't. Maybe try and open the choke a little sooner to see how the bike handles the change.

[cross]

I'm tried that but no change, it dies the moment you back it off. It runs fine off choke if i hold the throttle a bit.
I'm thinking that it may be little rich since i left mixture at 2.5 turns out but i guess i can back them off as well.
I'm in San Diego

Thanks

[mddaddy]

I just finished my carb rebuild.  My carbs were pretty hosed, so still figuring the choke out. 2.5 seems rich, I am at 2.
This morning, I started it at 38 degrees. I only go full choke for first few seconds. About half choke keeps it at about 1500 RPM, until I can ride off.

[cross]

I'm at abt 1500 with full choke on. It really runs as if its running out of gas, even if i add throttle. Once i release choke, runs fine but i have to keep it on otherwise it's too low and it does.
Choke high idle is not adjustable on this carbs. And once the enricheners are  removed, there nothing there besides the spring

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm at abt 1500 with full choke on. It really runs as if its running out of gas, even if i add throttle. Once i release choke, runs fine but i have to keep it on otherwise it's too low and it does.
Choke high idle is not adjustable on this carbs. And once the enricheners are  removed, there nothing there besides the spring

I would think our morning weather is pretty similar . If I leave mine on full choke, it will rev at 2,500 rpm. I back it off so that it idles at about 1,200 or so while I getting my helmet and gloves on. As I pull away I remove all choke. I think either you are not pushing the choke lever all the way on (they can be very stiff) or the enrichener circuit is partially clogged.

[cross]

I guess they could be partially clogged still! I've made multiple rounds of carb cleaner, let it sit, more carb cleaner, compressed air and still! argh!
It runs fine once i take off without choke that is

Thank you guys

Sasha

[The emperor has no clothes]

I guess they could be partially clogged still! I've made multiple rounds of carb cleaner, let it sit, more carb cleaner, compressed air and still! argh!
It runs fine once i take off without choke that is

Thank you guys

Sasha

Are you sure you are moving the choke all the way ? They are notorious for their stubbornness . I had my Standard for over a year before I actually moved the choke lever ALL the way.

[cross]

Yes it is. I also removed chrome side covers and made sure both slider are engaging completely and that all enricheners are connected

Thank you
Sasha

[gordonv]

I guess they could be partially clogged still! I've made multiple rounds of carb cleaner, let it sit, more carb cleaner, compressed air and still! argh!

Which brand, and how much cleaner/fuel?

[Red Diamond]

Reading this thread I couldn't resist interfering. Cross, I will agree that the weather is very similar for you and Rob (Meathead). I would suggest you don't beat yourself or your brain up figuring this out, all these Valkyries act differently with the choke. Some require choking, others don't. My Interstate acts like yours under choke, my Tourer doesn't want to be choked at all. In my area we get more warm weather than cold, as a result, sometimes I need to choke the Interstate just long enough to get it running for about 10 seconds then no choke. If I instinctively choke the Tourer, it will not start. Regardless the weather,  by the time I put on my helmet and gloves, the bikes are ready to ride. I've never ridden off with the choke on. One last thing from my experience and I think a lot of owners have expressed this, I don't believe in push until it resists, then push some more. You can push to half choke and if that's not enough, then push until it stops. If you continue to push it trying to get more, it gets you a broken choke cable. Sounds like a sync is in line for your carbs.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Reading this thread I couldn't resist interfering. Cross, I will agree that the weather is very similar for you and Rob (Meathead). I would suggest you don't beat yourself or your brain up figuring this out, all these Valkyries act differently with the choke. Some require choking, others don't. My Interstate acts like yours under choke, my Tourer doesn't want to be choked at all. In my area we get more warm weather than cold, as a result, sometimes I need to choke the Interstate just long enough to get it running for about 10 seconds then no choke. If I instinctively choke the Tourer, it will not start. Regardless the weather,  by the time I put on my helmet and gloves, the bikes are ready to ride. I've never ridden off with the choke on. One last thing from my experience and I think a lot of owners have expressed this, I don't believe in push until it resists, then push some more. You can push to half choke and if that's not enough, then push until it stops. If you continue to push it trying to get more, it gets you a broken choke cable. Sounds like a sync is in line for your carbs.

Good point Eli  My Standard doesn't like any choke. It will usually stumble and die if I choke it.

[cross]

I guess they could be partially clogged still! I've made multiple rounds of carb cleaner, let it sit, more carb cleaner, compressed air and still! argh!

Which brand, and how much cleaner/fuel?

I used Barryman spray carb cleaner after i disassembled carbs to clean circuits. Didn't use in fuel carb cleaner

[cross]

Reading this thread I couldn't resist interfering. Cross, I will agree that the weather is very similar for you and Rob (Meathead). I would suggest you don't beat yourself or your brain up figuring this out, all these Valkyries act differently with the choke. Some require choking, others don't. My Interstate acts like yours under choke, my Tourer doesn't want to be choked at all. In my area we get more warm weather than cold, as a result, sometimes I need to choke the Interstate just long enough to get it running for about 10 seconds then no choke. If I instinctively choke the Tourer, it will not start. Regardless the weather,  by the time I put on my helmet and gloves, the bikes are ready to ride. I've never ridden off with the choke on. One last thing from my experience and I think a lot of owners have expressed this, I don't believe in push until it resists, then push some more. You can push to half choke and if that's not enough, then push until it stops. If you continue to push it trying to get more, it gets you a broken choke cable. Sounds like a sync is in line for your carbs.

I'm not too worried about it, i was just wondering if i missed something. It runs fine without it.
I did preliminary bench sync and last thing to do is sync them with gauges. One things is that the bike idles perfectly, great throttle response, revs go right back to idle without pausing even when hot but i'll check the sync anyway. Have to put my gauges to work at least once right?
I did absolutely everything on this bike except checked valve adjustment and i'll do that as well.
Timing belt replacement was a breeze!


Thanks guys, i'll keep updating this post if anything changes

Sasha

[Ramie]

Just a point may have nothing to do with your situation.  I noticed when I first got my interstate that after I tightened up all the clamps on my Air cleaner boots and intake boots.  (they were all a little loose)  that my choke worked differently.  Before I could barely choke it or it would die and after I had to use the choke full on to get it started.

[cross]

I've checked those few times but there could be some leak where boots attach to the box. I'll check that when I get the electric fuel shut off solenoid.

Thanks

[John Schmidt]

Re. pushing the choke lever until it resists.....the majority of the time you're only taking up slack in the cables, not giving it "half choke." That's why the lever moves so easily to begin with, it's not moving anything but loose cable.

After a messed up cable leading from the lever to the left side, and with new HD controls adapted to my Valk, I no longer had use for the factory system so devised my own using a lever mounted to the carb bank on the left side. If Photostash wasn't messed up at the moment I'd be able to post the pics of the completed installation. If I find them elsewhere on my hard drive, I'll add them here later.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Re. pushing the choke lever until it resists.....the majority of the time you're only taking up slack in the cables, not giving it "half choke." That's why the lever moves so easily to begin with, it's not moving anything but loose cable.

After a messed up cable leading from the lever to the left side, and with new HD controls adapted to my Valk, I no longer had use for the factory system so devised my own using a lever mounted to the carb bank on the left side. If Photostash wasn't messed up at the moment I'd be able to post the pics of the completed installation. If I find them elsewhere on my hard drive, I'll add them here later.

Here you go John. It’s still showing on your old thread. 

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,93903.0.html

[Chrisj CMA]

I guess they could be partially clogged still! I've made multiple rounds of carb cleaner, let it sit, more carb cleaner, compressed air and still! argh!

Which brand, and how much cleaner/fuel?

I used Barryman spray carb cleaner after i disassembled carbs to clean circuits. Didn't use in fuel carb cleaner

Did you actually see the cleaning fluid exit the end of each vent because it sounds like some are clogged

[cross]

Yes I did. That's why I made multiple passes until fluid was coming out every passage.
I do remember that choke passages were not straight through like jet circuits as there seems to be another brass thing in there which made fluid not go through as much.
Everything was followed by air from the compressor.
I adjusted choke cable to have minimal slack and when choke is engaged bothsiders are pulled all the way. I added some seafoam to the tank and ride it a bit and will ride it to work tomorrow

[Firefighter]

I haven't read everybody's response to your trouble, but I know that spraying carb cleaner through passages doesn't always clean the passage. Sometimes there can be a trace or a lite film of varnish left that will cause trouble even when they look clean. Might need to check again or run Berrymans for awhile. I don't know the history here, could be getting trash from above, or assembly trouble etc., has to be exactly right. These members can help you.

[cross]

That's entirely possible and it all points to "NOT CLEAN ENOUGH" even though i did use more than one big can of it. I also do have new inline filter.
I rode it to work this morning and it ran like crap when i started it with choke this morning. Ran for 1m and it died. after that i started it without choke and held throttle a bit before i took off. After that it was fine.
I just don't wanna take them off and separate them again to clean enricheneres 

Thank guys for all your help

Sasha

[SCain]

After reading all the posts on this thread, I am thinking you don't need the enricheners for start up. If the bike runs fine without the enricheners, why are you using them. I only use mine when it gets below 35* or so. Just my thoughts and .02