XJ550H Fuel Issues

So I am trying to get my bike started and have run into a big issue: somehow no fuel seems to be getting to the cylinders. It WILL work its way through the carbs but not through the intake. The bike has compression and spark and the valve shims are within reasonable tolerances. Any idea where I should be checking next? I will post a video when I have some free time again.

 

Have you cleaned the carbs yet? Like sparkly clean? Like Church clean?
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/in-the-church-of-clean.14692/

 

they are pretty clean from what I can see. Planning on ordering parts to rebuild them all here shortly.

 

Matti is correct, you need to go to Church son.

Choose words carefully . . . .
You said your 'valves are within reasonable tolerance' - they need to be in spec, not reasonably close to being in spec, they must be spot on within the parameters of the specification range.

This is not horse shoes or hand grenades - these bikes need you to be meticulous with your actions to insure their reliability. Before you go to Church you should read this:
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/

 

read through it and sorry for any miscommunications. Within reasonable tolerances to me was in spec. There IS one exhaust valve that is out of spec but that shouldn't affect the bike starting should it? I believe that I have narrowed down my issue to the one exhaust valve shim and a fuel delivery problem from the carbs (most likely). The carbs were sitting for a while and I have rebuild kits on the way.

 

They are either in spec or not; there is no such thing as "close enough". Having said that a valve that is just out of spec should not (on its own) prevent a cold engine from starting.

 

if you spray starting fluid in will it fire?
I just read a thread on the carbs which stated that the carbs run on the Pilot circuit to around 3K rpm
after that the main jets kick in , it is possible your pilot jets and passages are clogged. also where are your mixture screws set to? good place to start is 2-1/2 turns from bottom. is it possible yours are completly closed?.
then there is the enrichment circuit ("choke") which gives the carbs gas to start your bike. if you are not getting any fuel to the cylinders. I would suspect that the enrichment circuit and passages are clogged as well.

enrichment needs to be clean to start bike
Pilot needs to be clean to run the bike
main jets and asperator tubes circuits need to be clean to runwell over 3K rpm.

see if starting fluid will fire the bike, if it does you need to clean your carbs.
it is where you must start and to help save you some time your bike will run without putting the carb to air box boots back on. if it runs then put your boots on.

a link to better understand your carbs
http://www.xj4ever.com/inside your carbs.pdf

rebuild tutorial pdf download
http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/Mikuni_BS-CV_Carburetor_Rebuild_Tutorial.pdf

and do not forget to read the church of clean

 

Got her running! The float needles were trashed. Next step is making 100% sure that the valve shims are right!