Carb Sync w/Digisync questions

[StoichSix]

Folks,

I started to get rolling on a carb sync today on my 2000 Valkyrie Interstate.  This is the first time I have attempted this on a Valkyrie.  I've done a few on the older GL bikes with 2 and 4 carbs.  I have a few questions.

1. How many should have hoses vs caps and on which cylinders?  I see hoses connected to 3,4,6 and only caps on 1,2,5
    I thought only two should have caps???  I think this is wrong.  Surprisingly the bike seems to run really well.

2. I have a 6 point digisync guage and this is my first attempt at using it on 6 carbs at once.  Can I just hook up all 6 hoses at once and do the sync procedure or do you have to cap off a few intakes at a time like the manual states?

3.  How on earth do you reach in there and pull these hoses on the back side of the intake tubes?  So you pull off the front air pods for more clearance or is that a waste of time?  I might need to get a very long nose needle pliers for this task....might have to do this another day?? 

[Chrisj CMA]

Your vacuum lines and caps are correct. Never done a sync on an interstate but the pods seem to be in the way a lot.

[SCain]

Folks,

I started to get rolling on a carb sync today on my 2000 Valkyrie Interstate.  This is the first time I have attempted this on a Valkyrie.  I've done a few on the older GL bikes with 2 and 4 carbs.  I have a few questions.

1. How many should have hoses vs caps and on which cylinders?  I see hoses connected to 3,4,6 and only caps on 1,2,5
    I thought only two should have caps???  I think this is wrong.  Surprisingly the bike seems to run really well.


2. I have a 6 point digisync guage and this is my first attempt at using it on 6 carbs at once.  Can I just hook up all 6 hoses at once and do the sync procedure or do you have to cap off a few intakes at a time like the manual states?

3.  How on earth do you reach in there and pull these hoses on the back side of the intake tubes?  So you pull off the front air pods for more clearance or is that a waste of time?  I might need to get a very long nose needle pliers for this task....might have to do this another day??  

Some tips.
I have a set of 10.5" Hemostats (clamping pliers), with a 45* angle. You can reach right in there and remove the vacuum lines. You will need to apply a vacuum to #6 (if you have stock petcock) or pull a vacuum on it and pinch it off to hold open the petcock.
Remember, don't push on the adjustment screws, insert your screwdriver and turn only, make small adjustments. You might need to put a fan in front of the radiator.

Check out Harbor Freight # 65711, use them to take off and put of the vacuum lines.

[Fazer]

+1 on the Harbor Freight.  I have seen BonS, creator of the DigiSync, working on bikes at Inzane, and that's how he removes the vacuum lines.  The 90* long nose pliers seem to work the best.  You get a set of straight, 45* and 90* in a set.  They are plenty long.

[StoichSix]

Roger, heading out for pliers tonight.

So if I understand the procedure, with a 6 ch digisync, all I need to do is hook up all 6 lines at the same time. I need to clamp off the #6 hose to keep vacuum going to the petcock valve so I can keep the fuel flowing and I should be good to adjust the screws in one step?

[pancho]

Just remember to adjust everything to #3 and take enough time to let everything settle between moving screws. Don't start  adjusting until things are warmed up or it will change on you.

[StoichSix]

Well, I did it now.

I was taking my time, adjusting everything off #3 and the numbers were really close.  I was adjusting the idle back up from around 700 trying to get it back up to 850-900.  I got it set and while blipping the throttle I noticed the bike was not very responsive.  Then the bike killed.  Now it won't start...like at all. 

I let it cool off for about 15 minutes and had to put the choke on full to get it started.  It showed the idle around 792.  I shut off the choke and it killed again.  The motor is warm.  I'm at a loss. 

The only thing I'm doing differently is that I capped of hose #6 and I have all the vacuum lines 1-6 hooked up to the digisync.  Should I start over and follow the procedure in the book?  I was under the impression that you could do all 6 at one time with this guage, other wise why buy one with 6 channels?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well, I did it now.

I was taking my time, adjusting everything off #3 and the numbers were really close.  I was adjusting the idle back up from around 700 trying to get it back up to 850-900.  I got it set and while blipping the throttle I noticed the bike was not very responsive.  Then the bike killed.  Now it won't start...like at all. 

I let it cool off for about 15 minutes and had to put the choke on full to get it started.  It showed the idle around 792.  I shut off the choke and it killed again.  The motor is warm.  I'm at a loss. 

The only thing I'm doing differently is that I capped of hose #6 and I have all the vacuum lines 1-6 hooked up to the digisync.  Should I start over and follow the procedure in the book?  I was under the impression that you could do all 6 at one time with this guage, other wise why buy one with 6 channels?

Sounds to me like it ran out of fuel. I have found that you don't really need to worry about blocking the vacuum line to the petcock. With the bike warmed up, the carb plates already removed, you can set everything in enough time with what fuel is in the carb bowls. If it takes too long, just hook up your vacuum line again to fill up the bowls again.

[StoichSix]

I agree, probably out of fuel.  I'll plug in the #6 line and see what happens.  Thanks for the tip, I'll get back with updates. 

[JimC]

I'm betting out of gas also.
I use a brake bleeder / vacuum pump that I bought at Harbor Freight for about $20 to put suction on the petcock while doing the digisync.

The tool also helps pull brake fluid through the system when changing fluid, it's a good tool to have around.

Jim

[StoichSix]

Thanks guys!  It was out of fuel.  I thought plugging the #6 line was supposed to help but obviously it wasn't pulling gas into the carbs.  Lesson learned.  Thanks for the advice!

It's amazing how simple and easy that whole procedure was with the right pair of pliers and a Digisync - what a great tool!!  I was almost dead on anyways so only needed a little tweaking to get it spot on.   Gives me peace of mind for the riding season.

If anyone is ever in the Twin Cities (MN) area and needs to stop over and sync, by all means reach out to me. 

Take care

[ridingron]

There were several suggestions, what pliers did you buy?

[fraziarwp]

I installed a "T" connector on one of the sync tubes. I hook that line to #6 intake and connect petcock tube to the "T". Allows petcock to stay open while adjusting.

[Willow]

Thanks guys!  It was out of fuel.  I thought plugging the #6 line was supposed to help but obviously it wasn't pulling gas into the carbs.  Lesson learned.  Thanks for the advice!
...

Pinching off the #6 to the petcock will cause it to keep pulling fuel but you need to pinch it off while it is pulling vacuum, that is while the engine is running.

[StoichSix]

Thanks guys!  It was out of fuel.  I thought plugging the #6 line was supposed to help but obviously it wasn't pulling gas into the carbs.  Lesson learned.  Thanks for the advice!
...

Pinching off the #6 to the petcock will cause it to keep pulling fuel but you need to pinch it off while it is pulling vacuum, that is while the engine is running.

That was exactly what I needed to know...but didn't know before I started. 

[StoichSix]

There were several suggestions, what pliers did you buy?

I bought Harbor Freight sku 37909 which is a 3 pack of long angled hose pliers.  The pliers were too large for the small vacuum lines but worked perfectly on the Digisync lines.  I can also keep these for pullilng fuel lines off the petcock next time I take off the tank.  

I also bought sku 64090 which is a two pack of regular long angled pliers which worked perfectly for the small vacuum hoses.  I also dropped one of the tiny clamps down on top of the engine and I reached right in and picked it up with these pliers.  

I bought HF sku 99704 which is a locking hose clamp pliers.  It didn't work very good clamping the #6 line (due to lack of knowledge of the suction part).  I wound up using the non sharp side of a drill bit and inserted that into the #6 hose.  

[StoichSix]

I installed a "T" connector on one of the sync tubes. I hook that line to #6 intake and connect petcock tube to the "T". Allows petcock to stay open while adjusting.

  This is a great idea!!

[Chrisj CMA]

Just another reason to have a non vacuum Pingel