Getting Really Frustrated Now

[northwoods]

Ok so I bought this 81' 550L that had been sitting for a while. It was in great shape even though it sat for so long. I took the carbs off the bike (not the most fun way to spend a day mind you). I completely rebuilt them, dipped them in Berryman's chem dip. THey looked nice and clean, put them back together and back on the bike. Still a no go. I've got great spark but fuel is not getting to the engine. Anything I'm missing? I wasn't sure what to set the air screws at so I turned them out 2 full turns from set. Other than that, this thing should start. THe pilot jets were super clean. WHen I put gas into the cylinders it fires up and then burns the gas off then stops. Someone please help me here cuz I'm almost ready to give up on this thing, and it would be a shame because other than it not running, it is a nice looking bike.

Northwoods

[Calvin Blackmore]

checked your petcock?
is fuel flowing to the bowls?

[Nessism]

Sounds like a petcock problem. Test the petcock; fuel should run out when set to PRI, but no fuel with the lever on RES and ON unless there is vacuum pulling on the vacuum port fitting.

You can check to see if the float bowls are filling by removing the float bowl screws - put a rag undernieth first.

Good luck.

[northwoods]

sorry I should have said before, yes the petcock works fine. Fuel is getting to the float bowls so I don't know why it's not getting to the engine.

[Nessism]

Did you pull the drain plugs and verify fuel is inside? Assuming yes, some people have good luck with blowing air into the overflow tubes which forces gas up into the fuel passages in the carbs. Worth a try.

Good luck.

[mortation]

Did you check your float levels? If they are not right you may be keeping the fuel needle shut at all times so it never goes from the bowls into the body.

Carb diaphragms look ok? Any leaks?

[northwoods]

float levels are still set from factory and I didn't change them from when the bike ran before. The diaphrams looked in great condition.

[northwoods]

OK so now after letting it sit overnight, when I try starting this morning I get a couple pops and then nothing. Honestly, do I need to take carbs off again? I completely dissassembled and dipped them all overnight then sprayed them out. I could understand why one maybe two carbs isn't sending fuel to the engine, but all four? Can anyone tell me what the spec is for the air screws? how many turns out from set? This is getting nuts!

[Nessism]

Three turns on the pilot screws. Did you set the petcock to prime to fill the float bowls? take off the float bowl screws to verify fuel inside?

[northwoods]

Well after going back to Basscliff's site and looking at the carb rebuild series, I see that I forgot to clean the holes on the choke pickup tube and the passages. I'm wondering if this is the problem seeing that the rest of the carbs were pretty gummed up. I guess I'll have to take them off and clean the parts I missed, fun fun fun!!!!

[northwoods]

yes, the float bowls are full of fuel. I'm guessing it's the choke passageways that I forgot to clean, and the pickup tube as well. Gonna give that a try. Thanks for the spec on the screws. I only had them at two full turns.

[Matchless]

That may be your problem.
Just in case you have not looked at the owners manual yet, the proper way to start a bike with CV carbs (your model should have CV's) is to open the choke fully and to leave the throttle fully closed, otherwise you also get the same sort of result.

[northwoods]

hmm...didn't know that about no throttle and full choke for starting, thanks for that info. I should have the carbs off and re-cleaned by the end of today. Now that I've had the carbs off like 4 or 5 times, it doesn't take quite as long.

[Nessism]

Are you still using the stock airbox and exhaust? Mixture will be off if you are running pods and/or a modified exhaust.

The bit about no throttle and full choke is spot on. Rpm will surge as the bike warms up, reduce the amount of choke to bring it down to a reasonable level.

[northwoods]

I'm running a stock exhaust and airbox/filter. I took the carbs off again and cleaned out the choke tube and passageways, put the carbs back on again, primed the carbs, checked to make sure gas was in the float bowls, pulled the choke and tried starting, NOTHING! Tried and tried and tried, still no gas getting to motor. I'm really losing my patience here. This bike is so close to running, I just can't figure out what's wrong with the carbs to keep gas from getting to the motor. They've been cleaned and cleaned again. I keep putting gas into the cylinders by way of the plug holes just to here the thing run every now and again. WHAT AM I MISSING HERE?