Trying to get my '97 Valk Std. back on the road

[garystpaul]

Hi, guys.  This is a follow-up from a post in April, had to let things be for a while.  Now I'm almost there, but need some help.

Bike sat for a good year after not much riding last summer.  As of today, I have: replaced the battery, checked and cleaned the plugs (they look good), replaced the air filter, drained the carbs, removed tank and replaced old gas with fresh plus about a third of a can of Seafoam.

Where I'm at today: It started up on full choke and putted along at about 250 rpms with a lot of white smoke from the exhaust. On my last try I was able to flick the throttle and get it up to about 2500 rpms, then could hold it there with the throttle lock.  So it seems like there's progress.

I'm not sure what's going on. Is there something else I should be doing?  Or does it sound like I've done what I can and it's a matter of getting her up to speed (while not running the battery down again)?

Appreciate any advice or tips.  Thanks.  Gary

[Valker]

Sounds like gummed up jets in the carbs. Today's gas is VERY bad when it sits very long.....

[garystpaul]

Thanks, Valker.  Is that something that will sort of fix itself over time, with the Seafoam doing its work, or do I need to remove the carbs and clean it all out?  Was hoping to take it up to the north shore of Superior on Sunday. Gary

[Valker]

For an attempt, I would go to a Yamaha shop and buy some of their high dollar carb cleaner. It is like $20 a bottle, but nothing on Earth is better. Too strong to use on a regular basis.

[MP]

+1  on Valkers suggestion of Yamaha cleaner.  Techron is better too for cleaning.  I would wager you have maybe a 50% chance of this working.  If not, you will need to replace the slows.

MP

[garystpaul]

Thanks, guys.  This is a big help. But when you say first attempt and 50% shot at getting it to work, you mean what?  Running the Yamaha juice, if I can find it, through the tank (or bypassing the tank directly into fuel line), maybe a couple of times, letting it sit? Or something else? 

I ask because I just spent an hour on a thread starting May 23, 09—CLEANING SLOW JETS IN CARBS, HOW EASY HOW HARD—which was pretty much about the problem I'm now having and I got a sense of what is involved.

So I'm assuming I have at least one option, trying to clean things up with Yamaha (or Techron) jet stuff, before tackling the (scary) carb removal and  clean-up, etc.  I've worked on the carbs of small engines, but after looking at the Valkyrie shop manual I may be out of my league. On the other hand, I have always done most of the work on my Valk myself, have a clean workspace with good tools.  The bike has always been a high performer, now has 40K on her and a lot more to go. But I don't want to f*** things up.

Any advice appreciated.  Gary in St Paul

[Valker]

Try the Yamaha stuff. Run it strong in a tank, ride for a while (use as much throttle as you can get away with) then let it sit overnight. Ride it hard the next day, let it sit. Refill with new gas and ride the snot out of it. I would then run something (SeaFoam or Techron) for the next several tanks.

[garystpaul]

Cool, Valker, thanks.  Can you tell me the exact name of the Yamaha product? I want to be sure to get the right stuff. Is it this?

http://www.parkeryamaha.com/yamahacarburetorcleanerdip.aspx

[garystpaul]

Yamaha techs say: Yamaha RING FREE, about 22 bucks a can.  Sound right to you>

[Valker]

Not sure, but it isn't a dip. Just a fuel additive. It is something like "Yamaha Fuel System Cleaner".

[stlthmsta]

The Yamaha cleaner I have used is for filling the carbs with after draining the gas. Let sit over night and refill with gas and give it a go. Sometimes it works and sometimes not depending on how bad things are.
I just worked on 2 GW 1500's with clogged carbs. In both cases it was too much for the Yamasoak. I had to clean the pilot and slow jets the old fashioned way. It's a toss up on which is a bigger pain, the GW's or a Valk.  Hopw this helps, Tom M

[garystpaul]

Thanks, Tom. I had to go the long route, cleaned everything.  Turns out I was going on three carbs. Now it's purring again. Learned my lesson about winter storage, that's for sure.  Gary

[stlthmsta]

I have used Seafoam with good results when things aren't quite that bad. It is good for periodic maintainence and for storage. The old saying is "an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure".  I have 4 bikes and 2 lawn mowers so prevention is a good thing.  :)Tom M