Big freekin mess!

[Hollywood]

Just a reminder, if you have your valk(or ny other bike) set up for a long period of time(just a few weeks will do it) DRAIN THE GAS FROM THE TANK AND CARBS, OR ADD FUEL STABILIZER!
this is from experience, and even though redneck has told this to other people HE DIDN'T DO IT!

now after removing and cleaning the carbs 3 times,maybe our baby will run. Make sure you put everything back right, and don't put the brackets on backwards either.   

[Red Diamond]

Aren't you over reacting just a little? Don't mean to p's you off are anything, but I think it can sit for a while and nothing happens  except maybe the battery will go dead. My .00 worth.

[hubcapsc]

Mine never sits for too long, we can ride here all winter...

but...

My bike recently sat for almost two weeks, right before the Fall Color Ride, and when I went to
put Carolyn's seat on, I removed my seat and there was a mouse nest with babies sitting
on top of my battery!

I hope not to test the "how many weeks till gas gums up your carb" question anytime soon 

-Mike

[tybme]

Aren't you over reacting just a little? Don't mean to p's you off are anything, but I think it can sit for a while and nothing happens  except maybe the battery will go dead. My .00 worth.

No I don't think he is overreacting. I had to take a 500 Shadow in because of gummed up carbs. The guys at the shop were telling me that they are seeing gummed up carbs from gas that is less than 3 weeks old. They are hypothesizing that a new additive has been placed in gasoline causing it to break down sooner. They stressed to me to drain the carbs and add a fuel stabilizer. They also stated that Heet doesn't seem to be enough and gave me a list of brands that they felt were doing a good job (no they did not try to sell me any of them).
I don't think you want o drain your fuel tank - you actually want to top it off. The metal in a fuel tank will rust quickly if it is not "protected" by fuel.
That's my .02 worth - but I'll give a discount and let you all have it for free.  

[Jess from VA]

My bike recently sat for almost two weeks, right before the Fall Color Ride, and when I went to
put Carolyn's seat on, I removed my seat and there was a mouse nest with babies sitting
on top of my battery!:cooldude:
-Mike

I love wildlife stories.  Hahahaha

Some years back, I rolled the wife's Vulcan out after sitting all Winter, and fired it up.

It ran a little rough, and after a few minutes it started to stink... pretty bad. 

After about 13 minutes, I shut it down and started looking around.  When I pulled the air cleaner, it had a fully cooked mouse inside the cleaner element.  I have no idea how he (she?) got in there (really tight) but there was evidence he had lived there a good portion of the Winter (food, nesting).  I had to pull the mouse out with needlenose pliers... in pieces.  I later showed him to the wife, and she wanted to know why I was so cruel as to murder an innocent mouse. 

That bike smelled like fricasseed mouse for the next few rides.   

[Hollywood]

thanks for the input. Yes, gas nowdays does break down quicker,and yes,it will gum up the carbs.we see this all the time.our bike sat up for a couple months,for painting.when we got it back together it ran rough and was back firing, then quit and wouldn;t start.
we also know a guy that had a mouse nest and fried mouse,his bike had sat up for a year. we call him RATT!

[hmt81]

Guys, I was turned on to this from a friend who's Yamaha V-Star 1100 was in the shop 3 times for carb/fuel related issues. The dealer recommended this stuff to prevent varnish & gumming. I have seen it in more & more auto stores and Walmart too. Good reading, claims to control/stabilize fuel up to 2 years........ I would'nt chance that but seems to have more effect on Ethanol fuel than Sta-bil. Here's the link to the MFG.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron//content/view/12/34/lang,en/

[Houdini]

Star Tron!  Wasn't that one of the Transformers?

[Jess from VA]

Guys, I was turned on to this from a friend who's Yamaha V-Star 1100 was in the shop 3 times for carb/fuel related issues. The dealer recommended this stuff to prevent varnish & gumming. I have seen it in more & more auto stores and Walmart too. Good reading, claims to control/stabilize fuel up to 2 years........ I would'nt chance that but seems to have more effect on Ethanol fuel than Sta-bil. Here's the link to the MFG.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron//content/view/12/34/lang,en/

HMT, I happen to ride with a long time G. Winger, and just last weekend he showed me his bottle of that stuff (Startron enzyme) and swore it stopped (counteracted) the ethanol from gunning up the  fuel system.  One bottle treats a lot of gas too.  

I just looked at that site for where to buy, and it came back telling me my local WalMart had it and that it was..."Attention! Stocked In Sporting Goods Boating Aisle Only! "

BTW, my wife used to have an 1100 V-Star, and that bike, and its dual carbs, are notorious for getting completely gummed up when not ridden for the Winter.... despite a full Stabilized fuel tank and being run intermittently in the shed.  Carbs off boil out on multiple occasions!!

[hmt81]

I hear ya on the carb cleaning. The Startron says the bottle will treat 128 gallons. All I know is the Valk is my 3rd bike, I have always kept them filled and with a stabilizer and would run them every week or 2 for 15-20 minutes. The Valk I bought sat with fuel unattended for 2 years. I was lucky to get it started with fresh fuel & Seafoam but I was never able to get the stumble gone from partial throttle. It felt good under wide open but flat & stumbly under light throttle. I was too intimidated by the 6 carbs and took it to the stealer. $500+ later, she runs like she should.Pic on day 1 and now.

[Jess from VA]

HMT... Wow, very nice and clean.  You even have one of the rare Show Chrome radiator hose covers.

How about coming over and making MY wheels look that good??