Finally back together but...

Whew.

The front brake rebuild is done, lever firm.
The rear brakes got new shoes yesterday. All good.

NOW - Got her filled with fresh gas and a fully charged battery and started up after a looooooong winter covered outside. But it's doing the same thing it did when I first got it. Runs with choke, dies with throttle.

Now, I cleaned those damned carbs like a pro hitman does a crime scene last year before I stored it and it was running beautifully.

So, the next question is what kind of carb trouble can I expect after storage?
I had stabilized gas in the tank the whole time and I drained the bowls prior to winter.
Am I looking at taking them off the bike again? God, I hope not. I'm hoping a little fuel cleaner through a tank or two would straighten things out.

Thanks in advance.

 

You shouldn't have stored it with the carbs drained; you now have gum-uppage somewhere. Better had they been full of treated fuel.

I would make sure the bowls are filled correctly and let it sit on the centerstand for a couple of days; then drain all 4 float bowls and try again.

Otherwise I think you already know the answer.

 

How's the plugs? My first start this year wasn't too glamourous, running like crap only on like 3 cylinders. Fresh set of plugs made all the difference.

 

Crap, Fitz, I had a feeling you'd say something like that!

I don't remember where I read that draining the bowls was a good idea, but upon reflection what you said makes sense. Ok, well, at least I'm a pro at getting them off and back on the bike now.

Upon further inspection, it is definitely a fuel supply problem because after several minutes running with choke, it just dies down slowly. I suspect as the fuel in the bowls runs out, new fuel isn't getting in. It starts to lean out after a bit, the exhaust starts to pop a bit and then slowly just dies out. Definitely a lack of fuel thing because it starts up ok when the bowls are full and runs with full choke just fine.

Thoughts on the above, anybody?

Mwhite, I put new plugs on last year and while my mixture isn't perfect, it's not bad - to be fine tuned sometime this year. But as I said, it has to be fuel supply problem, there are too many symptoms that fit the bill.

 

Put it on prime, let it sit a minute for the carbs to fill up, then fire it up. If it keeps running on prime then the petcock could be suspect.
Switch it back to the on position and see if it dies. Then do the prime again, then switch to res. If it stalls again then you know what's up. Just sayin'.

 

Capt, you aren't hearing any hissing from the gas cap are you? I've read that some of these older bikes have an issue after several years and the cork inside of them disintegrates. Just mentioning....the other thing I'd ask is when you first start it, with choke, how does it run? Smoothy and the rpms build up really high if you don't modulate the choke? Or barely? You can pop off the fuel feed and spin the engine to see how well it's flowing.

I just started 4 bikes last weekend in my garage that were stored the winter with stablized fuel in the tanks and I still had to drain two of them and refill with fresh gas before they would run. They all ran perfectly once I put in new gas so maybe the stabil helped to keep them from generating gummy bears in the carbs even though the stuff wouldn't burn.

jeff

 

...also read something, might have been on here about fuel separation. Something to do with Ethanol additives. Maybe after sitting for so long you got that going on. Anyone on here remember that thread?

 

Run it on PRI with the gas cap open; I bet it doesn't die.

Then you can check your vacuum system for the petcock and your gas cap vent.

 

And I'll bet you guys are right.
Thinking about it more, I think I left the vacuum line off all winter and forgot to reattach it when I put everything back together. Won't be able to check until I get home from work, but I'm hoping it's that simple.

And next winter - treated gas in the bowls regardless.

 

Yep, forgot to attach the vacuum line. Took it for a spin right after I did. Runs fine. Hallelujah. Thanks, guys.

 

lol.....

 

Rebuilding and installing new brakes, = $150.00. :!:
Taking of the carbs and cleaning like a Pro, = labour of love. :!:
Describing how it starts up and dies after a while, = reaching for help. :cry:
Realizing that after all your hard work and money you put in to discover you left off the vacuum tube to the petcock..... = PRICELESS! 8O
Sorry dude, couldn't help but laugh that something so easily overlooked caused you some grief. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Anyway, this is all meant in jest, glad you got the bike running again. Enjoy the upcoming riding season knowing that the work you did on your own got you out there!