Starting - need advice diagnosing

[Rhbrandy]

another easy fix is to not let them sit , get out and ride them, LOL

[SgtSlag]

One of the easiest maintenance techniques is to add SeaFoam, Marvel Mystery Oil, or Techron Fuel System Cleaner, to the tank, periodically. I know some folks view these additives as snake oil, but I disagree. They have their legitimate uses. They are not, "miracle cures," for whatever ails your bike. They will, however, perform certain functions, very well.

By adding SeaFoam (not sure what all the other products will/will not do), you will: absorb minor water contamination within the fuel system, getting rid of it, safely; it will dissolve minor varnish deposits within the fuel system, keeping jets, and everything else, squeaky clean of varnish; it will stabilize your gas, in the tank, for up to two years. I've been using it since around 2007, with great success, with what it is designed for.

I had a friend with a 1983 Goldwing that was running rough. I suggested he drop $10 on a can of SeaFoam, before he took it into the shop for a complete carb clean/tune-up. He did: he called me later, and sang its praises, stating his bike smoothed out within minutes of riding it, with treated gas. He never took it into the shop, until years later. Obviously, he had some varnish in the jets/carbs, or he had some gas with water in it, or both. It saved him >$150 in the shop! He was happy, and so was I.

My Father was quite an auto mechanic, when he was younger. He swore, and still swears, by Marvel Mystery Oil. I've never used it, as SeaFoam has become my go-to first step, depending upon the issues. I use it routinely, to mothball my bike for the Winter season (Minnesota: Go North, 'Ay!). Every Spring, I go out and start the bike like I just parked it a couple of weeks before, not 4+ months ago. Haven't had a carb issue in 3+ years. YMMV. Cheers!

[cranky]

.. + 1 ... if a little bit'a snake oil can put off a carb job, why not...

[coffeeboy4]

Walmart sells seafoam for $ 6.48 a can. Just saying.

[Toddo]

[quote="cushman eagle" post_id=90799 time=1603413623 user_id=1335]
I prime my carbs any time the bike sits over about 4 days.
I installed a starter relay bypass switch about 9 years ago,using info I got on this site.Priming will have it start like it ran yesterday :thmup:
[/quote]

It sounds like I need a prime, but I don't have the after-market prime capability, what/ if anything can I do? My bike(2001 VII) will fire and try to gain rpm's to 1500 then dies and needs to sit for 5 mins then will do the same, it has sat for months. I can't get it running to save my life.

[Nails]

Pretty sure you and Loren are talking about different things. He's talking about not having to crank and crank to get it to fire at all -- then it starts fine. Bypassing the starter allows filling the float bowls without cranking the engine.

You pretty clearly have a different problem. What have you checked? Are you using the "choke" right?

[Toddo]

Please see my post on the main board giving more detail on my starting issues.

[ekap1200]

... that one peeked my interest too... will try it... tho I really do hope
all condoms are "rain proof".... GBG

Hello cranky, I used a ( normally closed-momentary/push to open sw. ) I purchased it from ( DEL-CITY ) catalog , with a weather cap. Installed on ( right-side _ of dash - below cassette box inward side of speaker/control.

cushmaneagle , told me about this a long time ago.

Gene Kap.

[ekap1200]

Please see my post on the main board giving more detail on my starting issues.

Have you looked at the fuel filter and the line ? Drained the carb bowls ? Did you try to NOT giving it FULL choke ? We could use some more detail also. ie. when did this start ? age ? or has some previous owner had the carbs off ?
Where do you stand with this now ? And what have you done so far ? Has anyone been in there attempting a carb sync. ?
With the faux/tank cover off you CAN reach down to the starter relay and just pull the white/2wire plug , then key/on -engine run/switch one : then push the starter button. At that point your going to hear the pump run until it fill's the bowls and the float valve's all close . you'll hear the pump start to slow down when the floats close.
put the drain hose in an empty soup can and open up the bowl drain screws. repeat the prime procedure to purge whatever is still sitting in the bottoms of the carbs. Hope this helps you get it back to running like a ,,, well a Voyager 1200 ..

spring will be here before we know it.

Gene Kap.