Started pulling the carbs on my Valkyrie today

[Doomer]

It sat all winter without being run and the carbs got gummed up so bad it wouldn't run. I tried to start her and gas came pouring out the bottom, a sign of a stuck float. I've vbeen procrastinating but the urge to ride has finally triumphed. They'll be coming off the bike tomorrow and I'll start the tear down. I can only go so far because I have to wait on a special needle valve tool to arrive.

I've never done this before but found a series of utube vids that show you step by step how to do it from start to finish.

If she won't run after I finish I can always haul her to the dealer. I had to do this once with a Toyota. Had a blown head gasket and I decided to replace it myself. Got it all apart and decided I was in way over my head. I loaded all the pieces in her and called a wrecker to haul her to the dealer. They charged me 400 bucks to put it back together. I thought that was a helluva deal. Put another 50k on her and never had any more problems.

 

[lxskllr]

Good luck! That's a good looking bike, but I'm not personally familiar with them.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIpmYEYC2rU

 

[twinrider1]

Have you tried any less involved fixes? Removing 6 carbs sounds like a royal PITA.

 

[pauldun170]

It sat all winter without being run and the carbs got gummed up so bad it wouldn't run. I tried to start her and gas came pouring out the bottom, a sign of a stuck float. I've vbeen procrastinating but the urge to ride has finally triumphed. They'll be coming off the bike tomorrow and I'll start the tear down. I can only go so far because I have to wait on a special needle valve tool to arrive.

I've never done this before but found a series of utube vids that show you step by step how to do it from start to finish.

If she won't run after I finish I can always haul her to the dealer. I had to do this once with a Toyota. Had a blown head gasket and I decided to replace it myself. Got it all apart and decided I was in way over my head. I loaded all the pieces in her and called a wrecker to haul her to the dealer. They charged me 400 bucks to put it back together. I thought that was a helluva deal. Put another 50k on her and never had any more problems.

Having done this job several times on other bikes, I recommend not half assing it and planning on some down time.
Take pictures as you disassemble things.

Carb cleaning isn't that bad. Its just a bit tedious is you are dealing with lots of carbs and bodywork

Make sure you have an impact driver on hand
(http://www.sears.com/craftsman-impac...p-00947641000P
)
Get the sizes of the various screws used on the carb and get replacement screws. Replace ALL the phillips head crap with allen key\hex head type screws. So worth it in the long run.

Plain old carb cleaner spray and a container for soaking the carb parts over nights.
Guitar strings for cleaning the needles.
Clean rags to block off the holes when the carbs are removed.
Have your website of choice available for when you discover bad gaskets\seals.

If gas in your area is ethanol garbage, use Star Tron additive.

Also dont forget, you'll need to balance the carbs once all is said and done.
If you don't have the tool, then might as well have a shop do that last bit for you.

 

[Doomer]

It's had carb problems since I bought it 4 years ago. It had set up for at least 2 years and would not idle. After running several cans of Techron and Seafoam through it, it finally started idling but the idle speed would double after warming up. I figured it was time to take the plunge. I've rode her all the way down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Front Royal, VA to Cherokee, NC and want to do it again before summer ends.

 

[Doomer]

Thanks for the tips pauldun170 and thanks for the video Bruno. Gonna add that one to my riding music.

 

[Mandres]

Does the Valkyrie actually have 6 separate carbs? I'm surprised the didn't use some kind of manifold

 

[Squisher]

I've never thought to call a dealer and ask what kind of discount can I get if I take it apart and have you guys put it together. Brilliant!

 

[pauldun170]

Thanks for the tips pauldun170 and thanks for the video Bruno. Gonna add that one to my riding music.

What year Valkrie is it?

 

[Doomer]

It's a 97 standard.

Yes, it does have 6 separate carbs but they come out as a unit.

Gotta wait on the special "D" tool before I can get started. It's already shipped so maybe I can dig in mid week.

Yea, the local Toyota dealer did me right. no doubt they laughed behind my back tho.

 

[JulesMaximus]

:thumbsup: Nice! Would like to see some pics when you start tearing into it. Carbs have always been sort of a mystery to me. I rebuilt the carbs on an older car I used to have but it didn't run any better afterward so I probably didn't do something correctly. So glad my bike is fuel injected.

Keep us updated on the progress.

I'm in the middle of a valve adjustment and belt replacement on my Ducati and it is in pieces right now (had to order some shims which came Wednesday). Hoping to wrap that project up today.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2390032

 

[Doomer]

Here they are off the bike. Now the fun begins.

 

[Doomer]

They're stripped down as far as I'm going to take them. All jets and needles are soaking in lacquer thinner. I'm waiting on the jet cleaner tool to arrive before proceeding A couple of the carb had green stuff in them. Now idea what that was. Everything came apart with little effort and nothing broke. I know how easy brass is to break and I was dreading it.


Carbs after disassembly -

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Have you tried any less involved fixes? Removing 6 carbs sounds like a royal PITA.

Removal is the easiest part. Putting them back in without tearing up old boots is semi-painful. The real fun begins when you try to sync them all.....

Tried to do a honda V4 motor on an older Magna. Never again. Gladly pay someone to do it. Better yet, just get a newer FI bike.

Good luck with your project Doomer, I'm rooting for ya

 

[Doomer]

Thanks. I always have the option to haul it to the shop if I can't get it right. But it is an interesting project. I decided, after some research, to do a desmog while I'm in there. Everybody recommends it so I'm going with the flow. Hopefully she'll be ready for the road by the time the hot weather is over. I really would like to do the BRP this year.

 

[rstrohkirch]

I really would like to do the BRP this year.

R or L

 

[Doomer]

If you mean what direction, both.

 

[rstrohkirch]

If you mean what direction, both.

Sorry,
BRP is a very popular acronym for a particular dirt bike.

 

[Doomer]

The carbs are just about ready to install back on the bike. What an adventure this has been. Along the way I learned a valuable lesson. James next door said I didn't need a carb jet wire cleaning tool. He said he's rebuilt many carbs without one. I ordered one anyway and I'm glad I did. One of the reasons I redid the carbs was piss poor idle. The idle jets are very small. Somewhere around the diameter of a human hair. 3 of mine were totally clogged and one was a cuss job to unclog. Carb cleaner or whatever you want to run thru it / soak it in ain't gonna do the job. These soaked in mineral spirits for days and ten got a bath in carb cleaner. It took the smallest wire in the set to unglog them and 2 of them took quite a bit of time. The thin piece of wire is totally mangled but it did it's job. Lesson learned. This tool is so cheap, about 8 bucks, that I'll order one before and future carb job.

Now I'm thinking I might make it to The Blue Ridge Parkway this year after all.

 

[twinrider1]

Guitar strings are good for cleaning jets too. You can get singles if you know what size you need or a whole pack for $2.29 to your door.

 

[rstrohkirch]

I don't try to clean clogged pilots, I always replace them because of what you've found. Also, street bikes aren't as big of a deal but throttle response issues from clogged pilots are really annoying on dirt bikes.