New to old goldwings

[higgy333]

Hi there guys. I am a teacher at a community college in south central Kansas. I had a vt500c as my first bike and decided to move up because I am proposing to my girlfreind, and that 500 just wasnt big enough for any long trips with her. I purchased a pretty blue 81 interstate. But the carbs are gummy and I just had to spend $100 for a front brakeline. (20" line for $100!) Oh well enough ranting. I am going to go troll the site for people who have fixed gummy carbs. Hopefully I dont have to shell 300 out to a mechanic for a complete rebuild.

 

[slabghost]

welcome aboard! You've found the right place.

 

[joedrum]

welcome to classic ...updating an oldwing can be sort of costly if you out of the pocket it here we try and do some things on our own

 

[backlander]

Welcome biggy 333 to CGW, from backlander in south Arkansas.

 

[AApple]

Welcome to the CGW Forums, higgy333!!! :clapping: :clapping:

 

[mwbill37841]

yep welcome from tn.

 

[Winger 82]

Welcome from N.Western,Pa. :hi:

 

[billy1957]

Welcome aboard ,there is a lot of knowledge here.

 

[cooltech]

Welcome great to have you here

 

[mcgovern61]

Welcome to the site from New Jersey! :clapping:

A quick try for gummy carbs is to add 8 oz of ATF (automatic transmission fluid) to a full tank of gas. Do this for several tanks and see if it improves. The ATF works as a cleaner and helps the gas! (It will not hurt the carbs or the engine and it will improve gas mileage). However, if the carbs are gummed and shellacked real bad, you might have to take them apart to clean them. Try the ATF first (and do not be alarmed if after ATF is added that you get smoke on start up).

 

[higgy333]

ATF huh? That is new to me. How does that compare to seafoam? I have ran a bottle through in two tanks and it didn't touch the gum.

 

[Bobo]

Welcome to the CGW Forum! Check the thread entitled "Carb Cleaning" which mentions the Pine-Sol technique. Best tip I've had in a while.

 

[griz]

Hi there guys. I am a teacher at a community college in south central Kansas. I had a vt500c as my first bike and decided to move up because I am proposing to my girlfreind, and that 500 just wasnt big enough for any long trips with her. I purchased a pretty blue 81 interstate. But the carbs are gummy and I just had to spend $100 for a front brakeline. (20" line for $100!) Oh well enough ranting. I am going to go troll the site for people who have fixed gummy carbs. Hopefully I dont have to shell 300 out to a mechanic for a complete rebuild.

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Well howdy from Michigan,
And to answer your question. In the 40+yrs of motorcycle repair the best carb cleaner I have ever found is the 5.5oz bottle of LUCAS injector cleaner. Put 1/2 bottle in the tank and top it off with premium gas and ride it. Then put in the other 1/2 top it off and ride it home. It should run a lot better.
Absolutely the best stuff I have ever found.