bikes been sittin for about 6 weeks.....

[TomT]

tried to start her and she is running like crap. Siphoned as much gas as I could from the tank. added about 3 gallons of 87 non ethonal plus some "dry Gas" .   Ran it for a bit and then let it soak for two days.
Drained the float bowls, and tried to start her again. she will run with full choak but not good! When I rev to about 3 grand, she backfires and just runs like crap.
I mech went through the carbs last Oct. He didn't use a carb kit, he just pulled the carbs and did a through cleaning, and put it back together. Seemed to work just fine. but my problem is I JUST DON"T RIDE ANYMORE!!!! I have only put about 100 miles on the bike this summer and that is just not enough!!!   
DO I need to purchase a "Carb Kit" and have him do the carbs right this time? or is his just doing a through cleaning OK?   
Let me know
PLus, what do I need to order? anyone have the order number?
Thank you for your time,
Tom T
Lynchburg, vA

[9Ball]

You may want to replace the slow jets rather than trying to cleaning them...I've worked on 4 different bikes (and my own) and found that those that just tried cleaning the jets ended up doing the job twice anyway...with new jets.  Some have recommended going to #38 secondary jets to minimize jet fouling issues...I stick with the stock #35 jets.

Whether you decide to split the carbs and replace all the O-rings and tubing is up to you.  You may get by just fine by doing a thorough cleaning.  It's always wise to have the parts ready just in case you run into things like torn O-rings, etc.  I've found this particularly true with the tiny pilot jet O-rings...

Did you leave your carbs full of fuel during the lay-up, run the carbs dry, or drain the carbs?  Just curious.

[Valhalla]

Maybe start a Sunday morning ritual where you just start her up and let her sing hymns for a few minutes. Something to let her run at least nice a week.

[salty1]

Rich has the gaskets you'll need if you decide to pull the carb bank. Six weeks just isn't that long, are you using any kind of fuel stabilizer?

http://redeye.ecrater.com/p/2064055/intake-o-ring-kit-viton-gf

[Ricky-D]

I don't understand what you think a tank of non-ethanol gas with some "dry gas" added

Is supposed to do.

Me,,,, I think the answer to that would be, NOTHING.

Get some proper ADDITIVE such as Techron,  or B-12 that is formulated to solve the kind of problems that come from using ethanol enriched gas and these same additives are very good to use to clean up the mess you achieve from letting the crappy gas sit in the tank for prolonged periods of time.

Pour a whole large super size dose in the tank and keep doing the same until it clears up.

It WILL clear up.

Or, pull out your wallet - again. And again.

If you don't smarten up,,,, then get used to pulling out your wallet. Plenty of times.

***

[longrider]

If you are leaving her sit for more than a two or three weeks take the time to drain the bowls.  I do this every winter.  The engine may be hard starting as it takes some time to fill the bowls.  To help I just remove the line off #6 and apply vacuum (brake bleeder or just draw on it like a straw for a minute or so)  and it will start right up. 

warren

[gordonv]

The other issue is, if you aren't going to "fix" the problem of why this happens in the first place, then don't bother fixing it now. Wait till you either sell the bike or have the time to drive/run it on a more regular bases, and then get it fixed.

You've already paid once to have someone else do the work you can do yourself. That kind of funds can buy a heck of a lot of Techron/B-12 (like Ricky-D suggested). Best results for major problems have been corrected from riders who have used different brands of gas/carb cleaner.

You said that it sputters at higher RPM (main jets), and needs the choke for idle (slow jets), sounds like all your jets are a problem. 1/2 a tank of fuel, and 1/2 - 1 full bottle of cleaner, drive regularly till finished, then repeat. Us the same cleaner, and when you get no more cleaning (performance) out of it, change to a different brand of cleaner.

Most likely it will be the slow jets (bad slow idle) that will be the final problem. You want it to idle, but you don't want the bike to just sit there idling. So drive the bike slow in a high gear, so you are driving at a low RPM, and this should have the bike us the slow jets.

[TomT]

Thanks for all of your input!!
Where can I buy the "Techron/B-12" talked about here?
I have used seafoam in the past with mixed results.
Thanks again,
Tom

[indiandave]

Thanks for all of your input!!
Where can I buy the "Techron/B-12" talked about here?
I have used seafoam in the past with mixed results.
Thanks again,
Tom

Wallmart or a Auto part store

[paps350]

I had the same thing happen to me once and as suggested on this site I added a full bottle of techron and ran it under 3000 RPM to keep the additive running through the slow jets then let it sit for a few days to let the techron clean the carbs.  Lucky for me it cleared up the problem. I don't get to ride as often as I would like so I add Stabile to the fuel tank when I know it will be sitting for more than a couple weeks.

[Ricky-D]

I'm not so sure that "Stabil" does that good a job anymore with ethanol enriched gasoline.

***

[TomT]

OK....Walmart didn't have the Tecron but did have the B12. The instructions say for vehicles with less than 21 gallons, to use 1oz per gallon. So I put 3 oz in drained the carb bowls and started the bike and let it warm up. Still running like crap. How long should I give it to work through the carbs? Or should I just take it out and try to ride it with it running this bad?
Thanks again,
Tom

[valkyriemc]

I'd put more in. I got mine to clear up after about a week of running a full bottle of Tecron in my Interstate. I always run some octane boost when I put in a big dose. May not be necessary in the Valkyrie. Like what has been said, run it so the slow jets get used. I had a right side obvious miss that's disappeared. I was unable to ride for a stretch due to a tree fall with six broken ribs ;-) If it's fouled up bad your chances may go down to 50/50. Its a judgment call as to how to proceed. G/L

[Hook#3287]

Tom;

After my first case of crappy idle/running from corn gas, I swapped out the slow jets to 38's on my first Valk .  First thing I did when I got the others, was swap out the slow jets to 38's.  Haven't had any issues since.

The plan is to get the B-12 into the carbs and let them sit for a day or two, after running some miles under 3000 rpm, then doing it again.  This seems to work for some.

1 oz per gallon is the every day regular maintenance amount.  You need much more.  I think some have even gone as much as 50/50, but I've never done that.

Has your bike been de-smogged?

[gordonv]

1/2 can to 1/2 - full tank of gas on a M/C is what you want to add for a "bad" running bike.

The 1oz/gal, like already mentioned, is for maintenance. This is not what you want. You are trying to fix a problem.

Use 1/2 a can, to 1/2 a tank of gas. When this is empty, is the bike running better or the same? Better, then the rest of the can to a tank of gas. At some point, others have said that no amount will make it improve. This is when they switched to another brand/type of cleaner (Techron first, then B-12, then etc.), again 1/2 a can to 1/2 a tank, and repeated.

After multiple applications of different strengths of different cleaners, they have come back and reported a good running bike. This doesn't work for everyone, or every time, and can still end in having a need to disassemble the carbs and clean them manually. But it is still a heck of a lot cheaper than paying someone to do the job for you.

I use 1/2 a can to 1/2 a tank of gas at the beginning of each year. Usually there is a slight stutter, which clears up fairly rapidly. Then I use Chevron gas through the year. Then the rest of the bottle of cleaner when it goes into storage, which is usually only about 3-5 months at the most. I also rung the bike from time to time, to flush out the carbs.

[TomT]

OK....I'm back again!   Have the carbs off and my mech is getting ready to clean them. Some have suggested that I replace the slow jets with .038 jets. I have called around and most only sell jet kits. While out local Honda Shop will sell the individual jets, but at $15.00 ea!!
Does anyone know of a supplier that would be less expensive than this? Or does anyone have a set they would be willing to part with?
Thanks again,
TomT

[mmurffy03]

    http://www.sudco.com/

http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/keihin-slow-jet/SD-19005.aspx


 they both sell jets I ordered part number #21-38 order 6 this is the most common jet upgrade its one size larger than stock at chaparral about $4.00 each cured all my problems

[9Ball]

Sudco is usually pretty quick...Chapparal not so much.

[Ricky-D]

Changing the slow jets to 38's is not necessary and will cause the bike to run more richly.

The problem is fuel quality and attention to that particular area, under your control.

Larger jets may seem like the answer but this is not the way.

Some who change to larger jets to solve the "crud" problem that arises, report stunning success, but in reality, now they have become aware, pay more attention to the fuel issues and that is the true basis for the success they experience.

You cannot ignore the accompanying problems associated with ethanol enriched gasoline and expect trouble free riding.

Larger jets are not the answer.

***

[Farther]

There ends the lecture.