XJ750 struggling after using fuel / engine cleaner

Hi there,

First off. The bike was running fine until I had it sitting with no stabilizer in the fuel for 1 month while I was troubleshooting an electrical issue. Afterwards, the bike started to bog out on my reserve tank, telling me that that my reserve tank is full of crap. Too late. The bike started running like crap on low idle.

I decided I would seaf0am the carbs for a quick fix, drained the gas tank, clean it out, etc. I got recommend some Red Line Fuel / Engine treatment as a quick fix. After some hesitation, I said, what the hey, let's try it. Wow! The bike ran like a champ for a whole day! It was running so nice I decided to wash it (I don't think it's ever been washed). I sprayed down the engine with a mild degreaser where there was oil buildup from 30 years of usage. I washed it all off. I tried to start the bike, it didn't start.

Ok. So I left it for a day thinking that water got into places and needs to evaporate. I tried starting it today and bam! No problem. However, about 10 minutes into riding I started losing torque and the bike started to struggle, then kick ass! Then struggle. Then kick ass! Okay. Carburetors need real cleaning. However, soon the problem became where the torque would stop coming back, and after 15 minutes of riding, the bike now funs like crap, has no torque, and doesn't want to idle for more than 5 minutes before it bogs out and dies.

I don't have a single socket that can remove the spark plugs to check for fouling. I will pick that up tonight after dinner. In the meanwhile, I drained the float bowls and poured the same amount of seafoam in to once again half-ass clean the carbs (they were working great less than a month ago, zero issues).

I'm beginning to think the engine cleaner probably messed up my valves by removing deposits from the shims, for example. Perhaps my valve clearances have changed and it's time for a valve job?

Any ideas? I've never torn an engine apart. And will probably pay for the valve job.

Jerry

 

in the oil or gas or both? you don't want to run it too long in the oil, change the oil.

thinking you got the coils wet, their old and don't like water.

this is a good thing to do but did you notice any bad stuff come out? black specks and such?

it won't change valve clearances. but it's not a bad idea to check them anyway.
look at the plug wires in the dark or if your brave touch them in a few places while it's running. You got the coils/wires/boots wet. maybe if you take all that off and set it by the furnace a few days they'll dry out, it takes a while.