new to the group, hello to all.

[blacktrain]

hi,i recently picked up a 1997 valkyrie ,had been sitting for 7 years in a garage . just got it running and found when checking vacuume  at intake tube guage flutters like crazy . bike idles great and good throttle respond.breaks up at lite cruise but i found a carb flooding . but why is the vacuume so jumpy any thoughts on this would be great   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Do you know what has been done to the bike so far ? Desmog ? I haven't checked mine with a regular vacuum gauge. But it doesn't fluctuate on a digisync.
By the way, Welcome 

[Steel cowboy]

You are looking at 1 cylinder per intake manifold, that has 1 cycle of intake (vacumm) and 3 other cycles (compression, power ,exhaust) of no vacumm. When compaied to an automobile's intake manifold your not combining the other 6 cylinders. If a carb is flooding you need to replace the float valves, the plunger that shuts off the fuel when the float lifts and shuts off the fuel to the bowl. The float valves have a spring at the point of contact with the float, if the spring is gummed up or not working right it can spell disaster. Valkyries are very susceptible to hydro lock, were a leaking float valve spills gas into the piston cylinder filling it. When you go to hit your starter the torque will shear off the starter gears, causing catastrophic transmission failure.

[blacktrain]

smog tubes blocked and valve removed ,im going to reinstall valve reconnect all hoses , bike is all stock  1 owner  with 33k . i cleaned all carbs ,plugs ,one carb leaks into cylinder over nite  so i am ordering new float needles some had sticky pin on top but i soaked them and they seemed ok . but i think the pin and spring are worn not shutting fuel off on that carb. i thought needle bounce meant bad valves but idles so nice and goes great when you get into it ,dont think its valves ,also same bounce on all cylinders

[old2soon]

97 you say. IF all the vacuum hoses are original they are 20 years old and likely dried out. Popping on decel IS an indication of this particular affliction. Like my friend-Rob-from Az mentioned it may or may not be desmogged. You might wanna put yer location in yer avatar cuz help could be just down the street or cross town or next town over. And cold adult beverages and good food go a long way to showin appreciation for help!   After a seven year lay up are you SURE the carbs are clean? And B T W-nice save on a Truly Great M/C.   In yer spare time peruse our tech board-lotsa answers in those pages. And Welcome to the insanity!   If ya duz in fact feed the inmates do NOT git yer hands to close while feedin em.   Again-Welcome from the Missouri Ozarks.    RIDE SAFE.

[The emperor has no clothes]

smog tubes blocked and valve removed ,im going to reinstall valve reconnect all hoses , bike is all stock  1 owner  with 33k . i cleaned all carbs ,plugs ,one carb leaks into cylinder over nite  so i am ordering new float needles some had sticky pin on top but i soaked them and they seemed ok . but i think the pin and spring are worn not shutting fuel off on that carb. i thought needle bounce meant bad valves but idles so nice and goes great when you get into it ,dont think its valves ,also same bounce on all cylinders

I don't want to freak you out, but you are in danger of having a hydrolock at any moment. Because of the layout of the engine it can be pretty bad. Breaking gears and rear cases very quickly. Be very careful. Myself, I wouldn't start it unless I had it fixed or at the minimum had an electronic fuel shut off. But, I tend to worry more than others.

[blacktrain]

 i have been removing the spark plug before starting to clear cylinder of fuel ,but its parked till fixed ,going to order new float valves,bowl gaskets and intake tube o-rings . K-L  brand sells these i will start there . thanks for all the info . if that dont fix it and your near douglas,ma stop and take a peek , lunch on me .

[Crackerborn]

Use search to reseach hydrolock. Many install a fuel solinoid (Dan-Marc or similar) to help prevent that issue. The Valk fuel lines MUST run downhill at all times. It sounds as though you are on the right track with the carbs.

Unless you have a balancing valve in your manometer,  the bounce is normal and makes it almost impossible to accurately  sync the carbs. FYI, #3 carb is the reference carb, i.e. no adjustment is possible  on 3 and the rest must sync to it.

I am not sure why you wish to re-install the par valves and all the vacuum hose potential issues that come with that, but it is your Girl and your choice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

i have been removing the spark plug before starting to clear cylinder of fuel ,but its parked till fixed ,going to order new float valves,bowl gaskets and intake tube o-rings . K-L  brand sells these i will start there . thanks for all the info . if that dont fix it and your near douglas,ma stop and take a peek , lunch on me .

I agree with Crackerborn. I think you'll get it with the parts you've mentioned. I would also suggest a cover set kit. Your petcock might be fine, but if you need it you'll have it on hand. I would expect sitting that long the rubber might be degraded. A Dan Marc is cheap also. I recommend the .250 orifice one.

[Chrisj CMA]

Welcome. Getting the carbs straightened out is very important.  Good luck

[oldsmokey]

I've got a Digisync if you'd care to use it at some point. Not that far away. Don't condemn the valve train, and verify which cylinder is loading up make sure it's not coming through the vacuum line off the petcock.

[Hook#3287]

Blacktrain, welcome to the world of Valkyries   

What color?

Sounds like you're heading the right way.

I personally have never had to swap out the bowl gaskets, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't.

You could try cleaning the slow jets, but they might be ok from what you're stating.

I didn't have any luck cleaning them and just replace them.  It sucks if you put it back together and the jets are still messed up.

I'd desmog her.

If you and oldsmokey can't get together, I also have a DygiSinc and would be glad to help you out.

[Skinhead]

Ifyouareleakingfuelinto a cylinder, you have 2 problems: 1-your peacock is not shutting off fuel to carbs, and 2 -float valve not sealing allowing excess fuel into carb Boulder.

If you have to start the bike before both issues are addressed, only bump the start button when you go to start the bike, if you hear aclunk, DO NOT CONYINUE TO PRESS THE STARTER!   Remove the spark plugs and roll the bike in gear to clear the fuel from the cylinders.   If you use the starter spin the motor, be careful a spark from the plugs/wires doesn't ignite the fuel that will be expelled.  This is best done OUTSYDE. 

[Hook#3287]

Ifyouareleakingfuelinto a cylinder, you have 2 problems: 1-your peacock is not shutting off fuel to carbs, and 2 -float valve not sealing allowing excess fuel into carb Boulder.

If you have to start the bike before both issues are addressed, only bump the start button when you go to start the bike, if you hear aclunk, DO NOT CONYINUE TO PRESS THE STARTER!   Remove the spark plugs and roll the bike in gear to clear the fuel from the cylinders.   If you use the starter spin the motor, be careful a spark from the plugs/wires doesn't ignite the fuel that will be expelled.  This is best done OUTSYDE. 

      Good advice   

[blacktrain]

hey thanks for all the info all,i did rebuild the petcock as it was so dried out ,ill tear them off and go throught them ,all parts will be here next week . looking forward to riding with you guys .thanks let ya know how i make out . mabey ill take ya up on the carb sync..enjoy the weekend

[Ken Tarver]

Welcome aboard!!!