My husband has a yamaha vstar and just recently he pulled it out of the storage unit to start. When he started the bike he was letting him warm up so he had the choke on, after 10 mins of warming it up he took the choke off, and tried to ride it but it died. The only way he could get it to start and stay started was to have the choke on it won't run without the choke, so we are going to have to have it hauled in. My first question is what could be wrong, how much will it probably cost to have fixed, and if he has insurance what is the likelihood towing would be covered?
2007-09-24 03:32:07 · 10 answers · asked by crymeariver 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
As reported it is a gas problem from storing it without a fuel stabilizer. Do not take into the shop! And, before you even think about taking apart the carbs try this first as this may solve your problem.
Just drain all the fuel from the tank. You don't need to take the tank off to do this. Just remove the fuel line and drain the tank from the petcock. Make sure the petcock is on "reserve."
Re-fill the tank and add a product called "Sea-Foam" (It's a fuel injector cleaner. I know you don't have fuel injection but it works better then carb cleaner.) Inspect the plugs and replace if necessary. Then start the bike. It may run rough at first since their is still "bad" gas in the carbs and the carbs may be gummed up a little. Ride the bike (on choke if you have to) rather then just letting it idle. If after riding for awile (long enough to use all the gas in the carbs and have the new gas being burned) you still have problems then the carbs may be very gummed up. Then you can take it to the dealer or local repair shop.
2007-09-24 04:03:40 · answer #1 · answered by tamarack58 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
If you can get it running and keep it running, try adding some Sea Foam to the gas. If you are really gummed up (and it sounds like you are), it may take a couple of cans of Sea Foam before you blow all the varnish out of the fuel system. Use a half a can of Sea Foam with each fill up. Let the Sea Foam sit in the lines for a few days to soften the grud. In other words, don't try to ride 600 miles all in one day. It may take a week or so to loosen. But by the fourth filll-up, you should be running pretty close to normal.
2007-09-24 08:52:04 · answer #2 · answered by V-Starion 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you ran it for ten minutes with the choke on there is a pretty good chance that you fouled the plugs. just put a new set in it and see what happens. it's a lot easier then draing all the fuel out and taking the carbs apart. i've let my harley sit in storage for 6 - 7 months without doing anything to it and it fires right up each time. plugs are only 2.50 to about 8 bucks a peice and take only seconds to swap.
2007-09-24 07:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by poo hat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The carbs should have been drained, or some sort of fuel stabilizer should have been added to the fuel system prior to storage. Not much you can do know except pull and clean the carbs (do it yourself or have a shop do it) the small passages in the carbs (jets) have no doubt become plugged up with gummy varnish like deposits left from the evaporated gasoline that was in the float bowl. This happens to all sorts of gasoline engines that have sat idle for extended peroids of time (especially carburetted engines)
2007-09-24 03:51:22 · answer #4 · answered by G B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like several things could be wrong,,,bad or old fuel. plugged jets, and or fouled plugs, dont ever let it idle with the choke on for 10 mins,,,
replace old fuel, fire it up and let it run,,,spray some carb cleaner in it while it is running to burn out the old fuel that may be plugging jets. also i would suggest that since you idled it for so long you may have fouled the plugs i would take them out and replace them,,,also check the tank to see if rust or water have accumulated in the tank while it sat.
good luck,
2007-09-24 07:49:39 · answer #5 · answered by tonyw94561 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drain and re-fuel, run some carb/injector cleaner through it and one added note,** If left to idle for 10 mins. with the choke on , the plugs may be fouled, it's a good idea to remove ,clean and re-install them.
2007-09-24 04:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
listen to tamarack58 the answer there is right. We have a V Star 1100 too and found out that leaving fuel in it while stored was a bid idea. Luckily we found out before we stored it. Good luck.
2007-09-24 04:23:56 · answer #7 · answered by kellyed17 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also agree with tamarack58.
But I also think eventually you should give your carbs a good cleaning. You should obtain a service manual for your bike. It will guide you through the carb cleaning. And of course it will be valuable for other things as well.
2007-09-24 04:40:24 · answer #8 · answered by Wyoming Rider 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bad gas. Dump all the gas out and put a full tank of fresh gas in. let it idle through about half a tank then put a little bit of seafoam in it. Idle it some more, rev it, ride it. Put in another tank of gas and replace the spark plugs. good as new.
don't have it hauled in.
2007-09-24 04:12:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
sounds like you stored it with gas in it, and no "sta bil" to protect it. The gas gummed up the fuel system and you now have a problem with it running too lean.
Just my guess based on what you say in your request.
2007-09-24 03:48:25 · answer #10 · answered by randy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋