1981 yamaha virago xv750

Hey my brother just picked up a 81 virago. We are having some problems tho. The engine will not turn over when you push the start button. when you bypass the noid it did turn over so we know the engine is not messed up. Sometimes it sparks sometimes it doesnot spark when ya hit the start button but the engine still will not turnover. took the starter off and put power to just the starter and it spins fine. The battery is good and there is no blown fuses. starter relay clicks. any help would be great.

 

there good be a dead spot in the starter. If you put it in first hold the clutch in and push it then dump the clutch will it start?

 

Also check the brushes in the starter while you have it off. Then check the wire that goes from the starter button to the starter soleniod. If it has set for a while, you could have dirty contacts on the start button itself. You can use an Ohmeter and verify the continuity of the wires from the start button to the solenoid and from the solenoid to the starter. Also, check your ground on your battery. On these models, the ground cable was connected to one of the bottom bolts on the battery box which made ground through the aluminum foot peg mount. This gets corroded and does make good contact. Suggest you relocate the ground cable to some place on the steel frame where it gets a good contact. This is a very common problem with the XV's and can create some weird electrical problems. Make sure your battery is fully charged, these guys take a lot of juice to turn over the engine. You might check out this link since the Virago Tech Forum is down right now. Good luck.......
http://viragotech.com/bykrmom/VTFAQ/topfaq.htm

 

This is the problem that caused endless headaches for Virago Owners.
So much so, I unloaded mine because I got tired of doing the Starter Fix.

The problem is the DESIGN that causes the Idler Gear to not engage the Starter.
Back when the Bikes were new, the Dealerships put-in a different Idler gears and a stronger Spring to hold the Idler Gear in place.

If that Bike hasn't had "The Fix" you have to Pull the cover and replace the two Idler Gears and the three Springs.
You may or may not get satisfactory results.

The Virago Starter Clutch issue became such a problem for that Bike, that the Dealerships were giving-away the Springs to customers that bought the bikes from them.

I guess you haven't heard the old joke about what "Virago" means.
It's Italian ... for "Push Start"!
(It actually means a violent or bad tempered woman)

 

Did you pull the side cover off when you pulled that Starter ? If not, you may have the starter spring clip laying in there. You have to pull the side cover to put that starter back in and to get the clip on as well. The replacement gear fix works if you can find one. I used a dremel to cut the leading edge of that gear so it would mesh into the flywheel better and added the additional washers between #1 idler gear and the spring to get #2 gear closer to the flywheel so it doesn't have so far to throw out.

Your spark problem could be a number of things, wires, plug caps(corroded resistors), or the TCI. I had David Denowh rebuild mine as I was having intermittent spark on one cylinder that showed up with a timing light. I had an 85 XV700, Great bike, lotsa power and fun to ride. Too much maintenance with the starter for sure.

 

So far my starter works on my '83 XV920, other than sounding like the proverbial "box of rocks", but I am sure I will have to do the fix sooner or later. My TCI is with David for repair right now. However, the starter on the Virago will never sound as sweet as my Seca does.

 

Once I added the shims and cut that gear, I lost that box a rocks sound !

As long as you have it tuned properly it'll grab and pop right off.

 

I need help... I have a 1981 xv 750 it will start under full choke and will run without choke but I can't apply any throttle without the bike dying ... I have done a lot to fix this issue but I am out of ideas ... please help

 

The problem is probably the pilot tube/jet plugged from fuel varnish. The carb slides may also be stuck. You need to pull the carbs and throughly clean them. If the bike has set for sometime, it would be a good idea to put a good kit in the carbs. K&L kits for these carbs are to be found at Bike Bandit.
Bill

 

I have rebuilt both carbs cleaned the gas tank and replaced all fuel lines .. I have also inspected the carbs after I rebuilt them 3 times for errors or debris and its all clean

 

I believe your model had the removable pilot jet, however, the tube can still get clogged and produce the symptoms you are talking about. But then, so can a vacuum leak. I suggest you check out this website; www.drpiston.com and click on the Hitachi link. Perhaps it will help.

Bill

 

Thanks useful site but on the subject of vacuum I have replaced all vacuum lines and replaced one of the main tees

 

Have you checked your fuel levels? The floats should be set at 19mm as measured from the center of the float to the top of the main jet tower with the jet removed. If you use the tube method, the fuel level should be 1mm below the bowl gasket line.
Can you see the slides try to come up when you try to add throttle? Did you check the diaphragms for pinholes?