Bombshell: Carbs (especially CV carbs) don't like to sit around idle.
Seriously, I don't think this comes as a surprise to anybody who's dealt with them for any length of time. I knew better. But, the Phoenix mean season doesn't exactly beckon to motorcyclists. Not me, at least. I normally get a couple of long road trips in each Summer, but I "came out of retirement" in late June and missed my window this year.
So, three motorcycles have been mostly idle. If I remembered, I was starting them every couple of weeks or so. But, the Valkyrie sat for almost a month and the carbs dried out. Normally, unless an idle/slow jet gets clogged that's not always a kiss of death. But, for the second time since I've owned it. the #5 float stuck down and the machine poured gas on restart. I banged the bowl and said kind (and unkind) words on two separate occasions. No joy. Flood city. Enough that I had the fire extinguisher on hand.
I guess the third time's the charm. I did some spirited banging, rocked the bike back and forth as far as I could, crossed my fingers and fired it up. No more flooding! I think I dodged a bullet this time.
But the moral?
If the bike must sit for a while, treat the gas, and either drain the carbs or start the machine frequently enough not to let the floats settle on the bottom. They seem to like staying there on occasion. (My '84 Aspencade would do the same thing).
Seriously, I don't think this comes as a surprise to anybody who's dealt with them for any length of time. I knew better. But, the Phoenix mean season doesn't exactly beckon to motorcyclists. Not me, at least. I normally get a couple of long road trips in each Summer, but I "came out of retirement" in late June and missed my window this year.
So, three motorcycles have been mostly idle. If I remembered, I was starting them every couple of weeks or so. But, the Valkyrie sat for almost a month and the carbs dried out. Normally, unless an idle/slow jet gets clogged that's not always a kiss of death. But, for the second time since I've owned it. the #5 float stuck down and the machine poured gas on restart. I banged the bowl and said kind (and unkind) words on two separate occasions. No joy. Flood city. Enough that I had the fire extinguisher on hand.
I guess the third time's the charm. I did some spirited banging, rocked the bike back and forth as far as I could, crossed my fingers and fired it up. No more flooding! I think I dodged a bullet this time.
But the moral?
If the bike must sit for a while, treat the gas, and either drain the carbs or start the machine frequently enough not to let the floats settle on the bottom. They seem to like staying there on occasion. (My '84 Aspencade would do the same thing).