So are you saying it runs now? Have you tried starting fluid yet?

Kris01 wrote on 06/29/14 at 16:19:54:


Indeed, fresh clean gas is always a good thing when chasing starting issues.

It still wont start up.

I had starter fluid and a small gas can on my list of things to get today and forgot them all 3 times I went to the store. I will get them tomorrow, drain out the old gas and put new in.

I thought I had measured the Seafoam correctly, but I won't say I was ultra-precise. I don't know much about carbs, if I drain the float bowl is that getting all the gas out of the carb? So drain the tank at the petcock and the carb at the float bowl = all gas out?

At that point, I guess it is just suck it up and drop the carb.

Thanks guys, I won't even pretend that I'm not a newbie. Everyone has to learn at some point.

Ok here is the results of my next few tests.

New gas, no starter fluid = no start, same as always.

New gas, starter fluid = will start, runs for about 3 seconds (off the rest of the starter fluid I'm guessing)

I tried it a few more times and it was consistent.

Next I tried holding the throttle open about half. It would keep running but horribly. Very inconsistent idle with tons of gun shot backfiring. I didn't do it for more than 10-15 seconds. Just enough to look all around the engine. No leaks or smoke.

However, after that 30 or so cumulative seconds the exhaust header was instant finger burn hot. I figured it would definitely be warm, but it was intensely hot. The pipe is also quite blue.

My guess, bike is running lean as hell. Not even enough gas to start. How it ran home and after the oil change but not after sitting? Who knows, I live in Georgia, it is humid as crap here. Or maybe something broke loose with the Seafoam and is clogging a jet?

What do you guys think? Next actions? Idle mix screw or just drop carb?

Remove the carb, clean the crap out of the bowl and blow out the jet. Remove the needle from the seat and blow that out as well.

Seaweednh wrote on 06/28/14 at 19:25:26:


Indeed, decades ago, I watched a motorcyclist at the A&W root beer stand in Delphos, Ohio trying to kickstart a 4 banger 750? Yahonski. Finally got so crazy and frustrated—and there were girls watching, mind you—that he accidentally became unbalanced on a kick and dumped the bike on its side. I got off my bike, helped him tip it back up, and...that big red kill switch just needed a little nudge. Then it started right up.

What I'm saying is, there might be a female watching and making you a wee bit nervous.  How do they do that?

rapfohl wrote on 06/30/14 at 17:58:06:


All you need is a little bit to suck into the jet.  Most time there is no need to take the jet out if you have an air compressor.  I just bought my first bike recently and it had been parked for the last seven years.  Changed the fuel added a battery and pulled the carb.  The bowl had small particles of crap in it.  Wiped it out, blew out the jet and it works great.  Done this a hundred times fixing rental equipment, a car that sat for over twenty years, antique engines, etc..  It doesn't take much to keep them from running.

I recall a thread recently and basically the bottom line was they don't matter... But, I'm old and my memory is going, so don't trust me.