float needles

[Gavin_Sons]

Are there any symptoms of bad float needles? In high gear (5th) running 70 mph I have a symptom that seems like its starving for fuel. I have gone over everything 10 times and now wondering if it could be a bad needle or 2 not letting the floats "float" at the right height. You give it full throttle at 70 mph and it studders and shakes a little and slowly gains speed. I rode my dads Interstate and at 70 and full throttle it freaking goes. Im bout to pull the carbs and install new needles and jets while im at. I have checked those rubber diaghphrams under the chrome covers on the carbs and the throttle side looks good, not sure about the clutch side, havent had time to check those yet. Any other ideas?

[salty1]

Have you made any other mods that might impact free fuel flow, like a fuel filter, quick fuel line disconnect, etc.?

[Gavin_Sons]

Just a pingle manual petcock, no filter no quick disconnect.  The only thing I have not done is pull the carbs to inspect the innards. This may just happen sunday. I have a new set of needles I bought for my brothers bike when we tore it down to fix a hydrolock that I never put in it because his were still good.

[BonS]

When you put in your Pingle did you change or add to your fuel line? Too long a fuel line can cause kinking and a restriction of fuel flow. Typically, bad float needles will allow excess fuel levels in the bowls and this causes an over-rich condition, hydro-lock etc., not fuel starvation. High speed running is all about the main jets, jet needles, diaphragms and plentiful fuel flow feeding the carbs. Good ignition voltage is also required but you didn't indicate that you have any reason to suspect that.

[Gavin_Sons]

The fuel line was cut back 1/4" and is pretty tight and downhill. It does seem to run really rich, I stink like exhaust after every ride, which also leads me to believe the float needles are bad, maybe I'll order some jet needles and replace them too.

[98valk]

dirty air filter? rodent made nest in air box inlet?
tank vent line kink?, open end blocked?
drool line drained?
bad plugs/wires or bad connection at plug and/or coil? OEM plug wires have internal resistor that have gone bad at times.
carb slides sticking? bad diaphragm/s?
last time B12 chem tool ran through carbs? partially clogged main jet and/or pilot jet.
in-tank fuel filter screen failed/collapsed on itself reducing flow?

you've been eating/drinking tooooo much lately and the bike just can't move like it did before?    just trying to relieve your frustrations.  

[BonS]

How many miles? The jet needles are pretty darn sturdy. The can oval-out after many miles of vibration but I've never heard of anyone here having that problem. How about your enrichiner circuit (choke)? Is it fully off? That would surely make things blubbering rich.

[Gavin_Sons]

Enricher does turn off fully. I did check that, barrymans got ran through last fall and again a few weeks ago. Air filter is clean, new last fall. Drain drool tube several times a year. This is not a new problem, It has ran like this since I have owned it. I just wont be happy until I pull the carbs and have a look for myself.

And yes I have ate/drank too much and gained a few pounds 
I like food and beer

[Gavin_Sons]

Oh yeah, it has about 130k on it. Not sure exactly because my father in law wrecked it and had the fairing replaced and new guts so it does not show actual miles, it says 48k now

[Gavin_Sons]

Oh, it runs great in all other gears ant all rpm, it starts acting up in 4th and gets worse in 5th. Im at a loss on this one until I can pull the carbs. I just take my brothers or dads carbs off one of their bikes and swap them   they're on vacation this week, they will never know.

[BonS]

Well, I sure not going to discourage you from rebuilding your carbs. That's a lot of miles and years. Just be meticulous and don't overlook anything. Just follow up and let us know how it goes. Oh, and take plenty of pictures!

[Ricky-D]

I suggest to do a compression test on the engine before you start to tear into it. How can you expect to

make the engine run better without knowing the condition of the engine.  What you describe is an

engine that has a lack of power. That can mean "old and worn out".

***

[Gavin_Sons]

wouldn't it have a lack of power through the whole rpm range and in every gear if it was " old and worn out"? I remember back in my dirt bike days if your compression was bad you lost power through the whole rpms and in every gear. this is not what this bike is doing. just in higher gears which leads me to to carbs and fuel issues.

[Lyle Laun]

Please keep us posted on what you find. I've got 1 Valk that I put a Pingle on and it is doing exactly what your's is. I too suspect it may need carb work as I have checked out the air filter, tank breather, fuel line kinked, etc.

Thanks

[98valk]

Oh, it runs great in all other gears ant all rpm, it starts acting up in 4th and gets worse in 5th.

under load/accell or cruizing?
under load 3/4 to WOT fuel flow problem or ignition problem.
if it runs well other times most likely not the carbs.

[Gavin_Sons]

Got the carbs off and found that the left bank fast jets were pretty much plugged, the float needles, 2 of them on the left were sticky, meaning the little spring loaded nipple was sticking. Managed to break a slow jet trying to get it out so ordered a few new ones. Hopefully this will fix my issue. If not I'll  ride it til she blows. I had the carbs cleaned when I first got the bike and am now wondering if he even took the fast jets out or if there was junk in the tank from sitting for 3 years that worked it's way into the jets. No one will ever know.

[98valk]

Got the carbs off and found that the left bank fast jets were pretty much plugged, the float needles, 2 of them on the left were sticky, meaning the little spring loaded nipple was sticking. Managed to break a slow jet trying to get it out so ordered a few new ones. Hopefully this will fix my issue. If not I'll  ride it til she blows. I had the carbs cleaned when I first got the bike and am now wondering if he even took the fast jets out or if there was junk in the tank from sitting for 3 years that worked it's way into the jets. No one will ever know.

sounds good, your half way there. 

[BonS]

Yeah! It sounds like you're on your way to getting her back into shape. Any clogged slow jets?

[Gavin_Sons]

Yeah! It sounds like you're on your way to getting her back into shape. Any clogged slow jets?

Not a single clogged slow. Which is wierd because they are usually the first to clog. The high gear starving for fuel symptom would have been caused by the 3 clogged mains. Now just have to wait til thursday for my new slows to get here. Put it back together sync the carbs and adjust the valves, they have been chattering a little. Really hope this fixes it.

[Gavin_Sons]

Oh buddy, just got the bike back together after new float needles, slow jets, and cleaning the mains. Put new plugs in and new air filter and adjusted the valves. This thing runs really strong now. Guess it's not just old and worn out like RickyD said.  not getting any of the starving for fuel symptoms I was having before, now you apply throttle in any gear and it goes.