only right side carbs getting gas, not starting

[KitKat]

Hey all,

just fully rebuilt the carbs with overnight soak for each one and everything. As i reassembled the bike and attempted to start it, it wouldn't start. Checked the spark and it was good. Checked carb #1 float bowl and it was empty. same with #2. Checked the petcock and gas flowed smoothly on prime. Checked carbs 3 and 4 and there was fuel in both.

I'm confused. The T in between carbs 2 and 3 goes both ways and should guarantee that there should be fuel in at least 2 and 3. But there was not fuel at all in 1 or 2.

All help appreciated!

Thanks

[cowboyup3371]

Can you post a picture of your carbs? It's possible something is on backwards or is still clogged up.

When you put the carbs back together, did you measure and set the floats correctly? Did you bench synch them first? Put your tank on prime for a little bit before trying to start?

[KitKat]

I did not sync the carbs after putting them on, and i will get a picture asap.

I left the bike on prime for at least 3 minutes prior. Even if i switched the number 1 and 2 carbs by mistake, the carb in where number 2 is supposed to go still should be getting gas in the float bowl because it is directly connected to the T shouldn't it?

Also, the float levels were decent, but how does that affect if there is any gas in the carbs to begin with?

[MisterCinders]

Even if i switched the number 1 and 2 carbs by mistake, the carb in where number 2 is supposed to go still should be getting gas in the float bowl because it is directly connected to the T shouldn't it?

I had this happen once when I accidentally swapped carb bodies. Note that the 1 and 4 carbs on the outside are cast as dead ends for fuel flow. While they look identical from the outside, and can be linked mechanically with the tube connectors, they are not really connected to deliver fuel. If you swap carbs 1 and 2, then the inside carb will get fuel, but the outside carb will not, even though it looks connected from the outside.

Look though the passages on the carb bodies to make sure they are in the right positions.

[MisterCinders]

Re-reading your OP, I suspect that you have shuffled the carb bodies. If you get the following results from left to right

1 2 3 4
N N F F

and your T connector is good. Then you may have swapped 2 and 4, with your T-connect going into a dead end, and the rubber cap keeping the fuel in 4.

HTH

[Redman]

... or floats/ float neddles are stuck closed in 1 & 2.
Maybe can remove bowl(s) while carbs still in place, and then can tickle the float and/or the float neddles.

I had strange things happeing after carb dipping. I think I got the floats mixed up in the wrong carbs, so the float hiegths were all messed up (but I had gas overflowing).

(nedles? needels? nedels? them thar things the float closes against the seat. I know, I know, I look like an ignoramous. I know, I know, use FoxFire, it has spellcheck).

I one time took apart a set of carbs where one carb seemed to not be getting fuel. I think I found the float was installed upside down in that carb. That would keep the needle closed.

AH... needle.

[KitKat]

Thanks for all the responses guys!

So i'm starting to believe i switched some carbs around, but if i switched 2 and 4, what is preventing gas from coming out the side of what is now in my 4 position?

(a diagram of what i might have now)

1 4 3 2

[KitKat]

Re-reading your OP, I suspect that you have shuffled the carb bodies. If you get the following results from left to right

1 2 3 4
N N F F

and your T connector is good. Then you may have swapped 2 and 4, with your T-connect going into a dead end, and the rubber cap keeping the fuel in 4.

HTH

What rubber cap exactly would be keeping the fuel in 4? The rubber cap is near the top of the carb body, which is a cap for the throttle shaft end. There is no rubber cap in the place where a connector would go

[cowboyup3371]

Why don't you post up a picture of your carb rack before taking anything apart (at least get them off the bike).

Then, go back and clean them again.

[KitKat]

pics of the carbs

[cowboyup3371]

I don't know VM carbs very well but it looks like numbers 2 and 3 are reversed.

[KitKat]

after taking off the carbs, and then taking out the drain bolts from the bottom of the bowls, and attachign the gas tank, as i set the tank on prime, heres what happened:

1 2 3 4
N F F F - all but the leftmost carb received fuel,

does this mean that my number 1 and 2 carbs are switched?

[cowboyup3371]

Here's the parts fiche picture; looks like 2 and 3 are the ones with the vent hoses...

[KitKat]

figured out the problem, but not the solution...

so the carbs were in the right order (as i could see through the carbs where the fuel line connected on 2 and 3, and the ends closed accordingly on 1 and 4).

As i connected the carbs to the gas tank, the fuel lines operated as they should, but 1 still did not receive any gas, when i connected just 1 to the T bracket ( i know not the right order, but for testing purposes) it wouldn't accept any fuel, and all the fuel just shot out the other end of the T. So i have deduced that the gas fuel line input on carb # 1 is clogged by something.

Any ideas to figure out what is causing this?

[MisterCinders]

Um, look through the input passage? It's pretty large, so you should be able to see right through it. If you cannot, it's blocked.