My 2001 Interstate is running like crap. Only 9000 miles on the clock. Have not ridden much this year and have a good dose of Seafoam and fresh gas in the tank for a month now. Starts and idles OK but will not take the gas when I turn the throttle. Doesn't die but sputters horribly. Pretty much chokes when starting off in first gear. Really not rideable the way it is.
I always store it over the winter with Stabil and have never had a problem before. I'm thinking it cant be all six carbs but it feels like it. Could a vacuum line be the problem?
What do you guys think?
Vacuum leaks masquerade as carb issues, so making sure all vacuum lines are in good shape, making sure that the intake boots are properly seated on the carb intakes, making sure the 18 bands that secure the intake boots to the carbs and carbs to the intake tubes are properly tightened, and making sure that the o-rings under the intake tubes are in good shape, are all points to verify first. And, they're pretty easy to bring up to snuff.
Also, a failing OEM petcock, or cracked vacuum line to the OEM petcock will cause fuel flow issues, and so also masquerade as carb issues. Also easy to check and fix.
After you satisfy yourself that you aren't chasing a vacuum ghost, keep trying to run the bike with heavy doses of carb cleaner. As Ricky-D suggested, I would drain the bowls first. You may not have run it enough to use up the old gas in the bowls and start to pull the carb cleaner / gas cocktail through the carbs. I would also alternate between cleaning agents. Seafoam is good and acts as a stabilizer besides. Techron is a very good cleaner, but not a stabilizer.
Finally, before you tear into the carbs, try a technique that has been successful for a couple of people around here. Get your hands on some Yamalube carb cleaner. Remove the tank. Drain the carb bowls. Pour the Yamalube cleaner in the fuel line and crank the engine to draw it into the carbs. Lather, rinse, repeat until you're sure the carbs and carb bowls are full of the Yamalube cleaner. Let it sit over night, then repeat the process starting with draining the carb bowls. Let it sit overnight again, then drain and remount the tank and try and fire up the bike. This has cleared some very stubborn clogged jets in bikes that sat for a long time before finding new homes.
