Won't idle.

[Rich in New Jersey]

Had a nice ride into work this morning, the bike was running great with the new spark plugs I installed last week. My 1991 Voyager started when I barely touched the button, with no choke, and idled perfectly this morning. The problem began when I pulled into the parking lot and began to back into a space. While pushing backwards my right foot hit some cinders and slid outwards and the bike tipped to the right. Now my foot's too far out to support the bike so I laid it gently on the crash bar, no problem, a little embarrassing though, and it did stall out. I right the bike and park it and restart it. It was a little tough to restart and would not Idle. Riding home I hoped it would clear up, it ran fine just had to keep it reving at stops. It still wants to stall back in the garage. Now I know none of you have ever tipped one of these over but I thought you might still have some idea what may be going on, did the carbs get out of sinc or something? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[6ft1_grand]

Did you try to do some minor adjustments on the idle knob? It's on the left side by the carbs. I know this won't help if something got knocked out of whack but it's a place to start.

[Avidrider62]

Maybe dislodged nasty fuel junk from the tank? Fuel flow issue?

[Rich in New Jersey]

Did you try to do some minor adjustments on the idle knob? It's on the left side by the carbs. I know this won't help if something got knocked out of whack but it's a place to start.

I turned the idle up with the knob, but then the idle will go to 2000 after using the throttle.

[Tonyvdb]

That idle adjustment knob is really touchy, I tiny bit of a turn will make a big difference. Just play with it till you find the right spot but wait till the bike has warmed up compleatly so run it about 10 min.

[Me Again]

It's pretty easy to flood them when you tip them.The fact that it stalled is more reason to beleive you flooded it out.You may have to pull and clean the plugs again to get it to run right.you also may need to change the oil as oil will suck up the vent tube and you will wind up with gas in the oil. My 1300 fouled 2 plugs when I had it out in the rain .First plug cleared right away but The second did not clear until I stopped trying to run high R's and let it just idle.
The bad part about that was I was sitting at a stop light and all of a sudden I was in a fog.When I pulled off the light it was running great again.scared the begeebers out of me.

[ekap1200]

This happened to me once. run off the road by some mule deer doing about 65mph. Came to a stop sideways and gently laid it down. Gas fouled two plugs and had to spend some time to pull the plugs out on the road, . Don't keep running it until you check the plugs, you could gas wash the cylinders and have more serious problems if there is a plug not firing. Gene K.

[Rich in New Jersey]

This happened to me once. run off the road by some mule deer doing about 65mph. Came to a stop sideways and gently laid it down. Gas fouled two plugs and had to spend some time to pull the plugs out on the road, . Don't keep running it until you check the plugs, you could gas wash the cylinders and have more serious problems if there is a plug not firing. Gene K.

Thanks, I know it flooded out, just surprised its so hard to clear out again. I'll dry the plugs this weekend.

[Bob in Tucson]

How about draining the carb bowls? Maybe some gunk got past the fuel filter and into the needle and seats. Takes just 5 minutes to drain all 4 bowls.

[SgtSlag]

Once you get it sorted out, try running SeaFoam through the gas tank once per month, according to directions. SeaFoam performs several functions useful in keeping your fuel system in good order: preserves gasoline up to 24 months (may not be relevant, but it won't hurt anything, either); absorbs small amounts of water in the fuel system (it contains 0% alcohol, unlike the "oxygenated" gasoline you likely fill your tank with); it dissolves varnish deposits throughout the fuel system, keeping everything squeaky clean, when used regularly. You can use any fuel system cleaner you prefer, I just use SeaFoam because it is multi-purpose, and affordable: $9/can, down to $6 on sale; treats up to 20 gallons of gasoline, per can. Cheers!

[Rich in New Jersey]

You don't have to tell me about Seafoam I'm huge fan of the stuff and recommend it to everyone. My leaf blower would only run on full choke once so I swung the carb over into a bowl of Seafoam for a couple of days and it ran fine afterwards. The Voyager carbs and fuel tank were cleaned last year, seafoamed gas all winter, syphoned out the storage gas and filled with fresh premium with a touch of Seafoam before starting the bike this season. So I think things are pretty clean. Thanks for all the replies, probably just need to blow off the plugs.

[Rich in New Jersey]

Okay, I pulled the sparkplugs , they didn't look flooded, 1&2 slightly wet maybe. I'm pretty good at that #2 plug now. I drained the carbs and took it for a ride around the block, it seemed okay. Just took it for a little longer run, stopped at the ATM and at the next light the idle started to drop again. Back home I noticed that if I leaned it to the left the idle would drop trying to stall, once uprighted and to the right the idle comes right up to normal, what the heck. Something is starving to the left? Any ideas?

[Corne]

Hi,
I would first test the vacuum hose, if it leaks, you have the same problem, no idle.
The hose comes all the way from the front there is a vacuum valve, it could be bad
as well. Then it spits up in 2, and 2 other carburators have stop hoses. they could
be bad as well.
If the vacuum is not working perfect you will always have an idle problem

Corne

[debron]

... some mule deer doing about 65mph....

Gene, those are some fast mule deer!!

[ekap1200]

... some mule deer doing about 65mph....

Gene, those are some fast mule deer!!

OK , Ron, maybe they were only going 40... but they sure came out there on the road like they were going 65

[Rich in New Jersey]

While trying to solve my idling problem I noticed something everyone should check for tomorrow. The air filters plastic frame has a sponge [foam] gasket around the sides of it. Mine totally disintegrated leaving nothing but a sticky goo remnant. There were some particles in the air box, but I'm sure the rest went through the carbs. I drained the carbs a few times and am running a good dose of Seafoam. Today the bike ran good to work and back, but next time out, who knows. So I suggest everyone check that gasket, and by the way I found an air filter for $26.17 online I think that's a good price comparatively.

[Mr Jensee]

There is always the possibility that the float valve in a carb, one or more, you have 4, may be stuck open and flooding out a cylinder. The bike should not be so touchy leaning it either way once running. I would start with going over the carbs before you look elsewhere since this sounds like a problem with fluid levels not compensating.