Irish IS in trouble again!!!

[Paddy]

I know similar issues have been discussed in the past, here is my trouble, at idle the engine ticks over fine however when riding after 10 miles its as if im running out of fuel on the right side, it cant really be the coils as they supply HT to either side so im guessing if a coil were breaking down it would affect both sides. I have spark on all six even when the engine is running bad so am i right to suspect a fule problem? if so is there any definitive test to carry out
Many Thanks
John.

[SCain]

I think your right, sounds like a fuel problem. Start with the simple stuff, make sure the tank vent is clear and venting the tank. You could also open the gas cap when the problem starts to rule out the tank vent.
Check the petcock vacuum line.
Apply vacuum to the petcock and see if its operating properly.
When the problem starts, open a carb drain and see if fuel drains.
Good luck, keep us posted.

[Farther]

Sounds like a kinked vent line or leaking vacuum line to the petcock.  Maybe it's time for a petcock cover set and vacuum line & vacuum plugs replacement.

[Paddy]

Wow !!!!! that was a quick responce,,  Thanks There may be a little difficulty in translation when you say "petcock" im taking this as the "fuel tap" or at least thats what it has always been referred to in Ireland the large pipe is serving a "Tee" which feeds both carbs but the smaller tube this im assuming is the "Vacume" ? the "vent i think is the little metal pipe behind the "fuel tap" well when i removed the tank fuel began to leak from ther so i think this is ok. where can i buy a petcock cover set and vacuum line & vacuum plugs replacement set what does this entail? also how can i apply vacuum to the petcock and see if its operating properly. Sorry about all the questions there are approx 65 Valkyries in Ireland and most shops wont touch them as far as repairs go so its prety much up to ourselves to complete repairs ourselves

[Ricky-D]

One easy and sometimes productive thing to do with these type of symptoms is to drain a little bit of gasoline out of each float bowl.

There is a flat blade screw located at the bottom of the float bowl which only needs a couple of turns to let a little bit of gasoline trickle out.

If during the cold times the motor runs rough as if it's missing or running out of gasoline, sometimes it can be a bit of water that is frozen in the float bowl and clogging up the jets. As the motor warms up the ambient air around the carburetor will allow the ice inside the float bowl to melt and free up the jet.

it doesn't take but a few drops of water to cause a problem.

***

[Patrick]

When did this problem start?? Was it after the fuel tank was removed ?? The kink in the fuel line the boys are talking about is the flex line that attaches to the rear of the fuel tank and extends to the swing arm.. Make sure that line is not kinked and is free and clear..
The vacuum line goes from #6 cylinder intake to the fuel shut-off/petcock..
You can check for fuel supply/delivery by setting the bike upright, pulling vacuum on the petcock, removing carburetor drain lines, and then opening each carburetor drain to see if they have good fuel flow to each one..

[MP]

1st thing.  Run it with the gas cap loose, or put a plastic wire tie in the cap, so that the tank can get air that way.  If that cures the problem, your vent line is kinked.

If it does not, I would guess you need a "cover set" to rebuild the petcock.  The valve you turn to turn on/off the gasoline, er, petrol!  

These foreign languages are hard for me!  LOL   

MP

[valkeire]

Hi John,

Sorry to hear of your problems with the IS. Where are you based? If you don't get sorted, let me know and we could meet up, and I might be able to give you some help.

I'm in Lucan, Dublin.

Arthur

Valkeire

[Paddy]

Thanks to you all,
The trouble began before i removed the tank, a couple of weeks ago on a spin i felt the motor miss very slightly i did pull over and reved the motor all seemed ok and on i went it seemed to get progressivly worse and now im down to about 10 miles before the trouble starts. (the bike is not ridden much 3k miles per year) when the trouble starts and i clutch the motor dies let out the clutch and it will fire up again but drives bad. all the indications are that it is fuel trouble. one other question, attached to the air filter housing is a "orange" coloured tube full of liquid it liiks like a vent pipe with a plug at the end below the swingarm should this be full of liquid or can it be drained.
Thanks
John
PS Hi Arthur
Im In Kerry

[MP]

called "Dragon Drool".  Needs to be drained.

Have you tried opening the fuel cap and running that way yet?  Need to try that. Either you have a kinked vent hose, or your petcock needs rebuilding.

MP

[Gerard irl]

  Hello John I have A 2001 Interstate 100.000 k
If you cant get sorted ring me 0860876173 Their is A guy in Dublin I
Use is Very good 

[Paddy]

Thanks Gerard,
                       I wont  be home until Friday eve, so i will work on the bike Sat and try the suggestions already received by members
I will keep ye posted on  developments

Thanks too all
John

[Gryphon Rider]

Paddy, read my second post in the following recent thread and see if it might apply to your situation:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=37485.0

[valkeire]

Hi John,

Keep us updated with what you find out, we should be able to help sort it out.

Arthur/Valkeire


Hi Gerry, long time no see, how's life treating you! Any plans to go to the 2012 InZane in the Czech Republic??

[Quicksilver]

Have you ran some seafoam or techron through it for a couple of tanks. The low mileage per year would mean gas sits in there a long time possibly messing things up. Even a fuel stabalizer would help between rides.

[Paddy]

Hi All,
        Here is an up-date as of Jan 27th,

cylinder 1 & 5 on the right bank have a blank cap (vacuum plug) fitted  both were perished/cracked but cylinder 3 has a hose on it 

cylinder 2 on the left bank also has a blank cap (vacuum plug) but this is in good condition

cylinders 4 & 6 have hoses attached

could the perished/cracked vacuum plugs  be the cause of my trouble?

I completed the Mod on the petcock (bypass the vaccum) as explained to me in great detail by Gryphon Rider but did not fit it yet,
im wondering now if it is  the perished vaccum plugs are the issue.

 is it normal to have 3 cylinders blanked off ?

Thanks

John

[Patrick]

If you have 2 bad intake caps, chances are the others are bad as well.. Might as well change the caps and the hoses.. The hose connecting 3 and 4 [ends up at the pair assembly] are noted for splitting on the bottom side making it a little difficult to notice..
Since you've converted the petcock to manual operation[ which also means capping #6 intake] its easy to check for fuel delivery to each carburetor..
If this monster continues to run poorly after this work, chances are you have some plugged low jets.. A few tanks with heavy doses of Sea-Foam should help clean things up..Be patient, it takes a while.. A good sign that the low jets are the issue is the bike running poorly below 3000 rpm and good above that engine speed.. If the jets won't clean up, its time to get your hands dirty and clean them the hard way..

[Hoser]

Get rid of the junk,install a manual petcock, and use it correctly is my advice.  Hoser  

[Paddy]

Thanks for the tips Patrick except the machine runs poorley above 3Km rpm but im sur i have it fairly sorted now, went for a spin today and ran much better with the petcock converted to manual. I think ill take "Hoser's" advice and fit a manual petcock

Thanks to all
John

[Patrick]

OK, good.. Glad to see it was an easy fix.. I know some will dis-agree,but, I'm with Hoser.. I like the manual Pingle..

[Paddy]

  Happy Day's
Machine running 100%. ordered a new manualy operated fuel tap today just to tidy up and remove the standard petcock altogether. The modification was a great way to establish the problem with the motor, but i feel a replacement with a manual one is the way to go for me
Im assuming i will also need 6 Caps to blank off all 6 Intakes???????

I know alot of you went to alot of bother to explain to me all the inn's and out's of what was going on with the motor and a big THANK YOU to all and to  "Gryphon Rider" who sent alot of real detailed info to me

Best wishes from a greatful Irish F6 rider.

[gordonv]

Maybe the next time you throw a wrench party, you invite us all over? I wonder how many would show up, I've never been overseas myself?