Bought a 2001 IS yesterday. May have carb issues..

[mrbill]

23K miles.  Seems to be in reasonably good shape except “I think” one or more of the carb jets may be clogged or partially clogged.  It always starts fine but have some “sputtering” at low speeds and when fully opening the throttle at higher speeds.      It seems to run reasonably well in the 30 – 75 mph range (except when the throttle is fully opened).  The symptom is pretty much identical to what typically happens when you know you are running out of gas and must switch reserve on the fly.
Yesterday I poured an entire bottle of Techron into the tank (tank may have had around 3 ½ gallons of gas).   Ran for about 75 miles and then turned the petcock off and ran the bike until it stalled).   Then poured an entire bottle of Seafoam into the tank, added two gallons of fresh gas, and then ran for another 100 miles or so. 
So far, I don’t see any improvement.    Wondering if I should give up on Techron and/or Seafoam stuff or give it a few more days, or longer (the stuff isn’t cheap!!).   
If the gas treatments do not work, and assuming the jets are the issue.. I don’t have enough experience with the carbs to tackle replacing the jets. Good chance I would royally screw something up and definitely do not trust the local dealers.   Is there anyone within 100 miles or so of St Louis that could replace the jets? (very willing to pay an experienced person a reasonable fee to take on the job).
Have other questions about the IS but will save that for another post.
Thanks!!

[Dave Weaver]

Keep on doing what ur doing for now. I have had Valks in the past with similar issues that eventually cleared up by using techron or seafoam or Lucas.  Use it strong as you are, ride it a while, let it sit in the carbs overnite, ride it next day, repeat several times. She should start to showing some improvement.

[98valk]

open up the idle mixture screw 1/2 turn. use techron, regaine, redline or amsoil cleaners. much better and cheaper than seafoam for what u get. letting it sit with a good dose of cleaner in the carbs overnight and then run it.
ethanol fuel E10 runs lean, what u describe could be leaness. opening up the mixture screws has to be done. all pilot jets are good up to 4 to 4 1/2 turns open before having to go to 38 pilots, 35 are stock. with stock airbox and exhaust mains are ok, and opening up the pilots actually affects the mains somewhat.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

My Interstate did the same thing when I got it the dude I bought it from never rode it    I did the Techron and Seafoam deal and it did nothing. Put some Lucas in and within a tank she was runnin' sweet and still to this day runs like a new one.I add some Lucas from time to time to keep it that way 

[dustytrader]

I just bought an 01 I/S as well and had the same problem...mine ran terrible.  I took some advise from someone on here and used a bottle of Techron to about 3 1/2 gallons gas...went out on a slow road and rode it about 20MPH in 5th gear with the choke fully open for about 5 minutes at a time...and the 2nd round it started running 10 times better.  It worked for me...might try it.  The slow jets get clogged easily

[mrbill]

Great.. sounds like there is hope!!  Really appreciate the advice.  (Today I also tried the 5th gear at 25mph with choke open trick but I didn't do it for anywhere near 5 minutes.  Will be back at it tomorrow!)

[Hoser]

I just bought an 01 I/S as well and had the same problem...mine ran terrible.  I took some advise from someone on here and used a bottle of Techron to about 3 1/2 gallons gas...went out on a slow road and rode it about 20MPH in 5th gear with the choke fully open for about 5 minutes at a time...and the 2nd round it started running 10 times better.  It worked for me...might try it.  The slow jets get clogged easily

+1

[dustytrader]

I lugged it pretty good and throttled it alot to try and flood the bowls....then would run it normal for a bit and do it again. 

Great.. sounds like there is hope!!  Really appreciate the advice.  (Today I also tried the 5th gear at 25mph with choke open trick but I didn't do it for anywhere near 5 minutes.  Will be back at it tomorrow!)