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Originally Posted by DrBob  I'd bet money that the inside of your carbs look exactly like the junk that came out of the gas tank. Take them off and clean the heck out of them. Stuck floats, needles, and jets will cause it to run poorly and dump gas out the vents. new floats might be in order- check them for leaks.
New fuel lines might be in order, and also hoses, as rubber tends to deteriorate when a bike sits for a long time. Check the tires also, not only for visable dry rot and cracking, but also for the date of manufacture- if they are more than 5-6 years old they are probably unsafe and should be replaced. Change all the fluids, and then treat it like a new bike: change the oil and shaft drive oil again in 600-1000 miles. Make sure youflush the brake lines well, as the master cylinders probably look like mud from the old fluid, and that gunk will clog up the small passages and hoses.
As for the tank, a good cleaning should do it. You might add a canister fuel filter somewhere right after the petcock (if it does not already have one), and if it starts catching a lot of junk then get some of that gas tank sealing cream to prevent further rust. |
What he said. New floats may indeed be in order. Also, be as anal as you know how, on the cleaning of the carbs. Take all of the jets out, especially the pilot jets. They are the smallest and usually the first to clog. Look at them with a magnifying glass. Pilots, you can clean with strands of copper speaker wire. Just find some strands from a small enough wire gage, that will fit. Make sure all of the passage ways that the jets access are clear also.
If the floats are a black rubber looking material, then definately consider replacing them, as they can become saturated with fuel, and no longer "float". If they are white plastic, have no cracks or splits,,, and you can't see any fuel sloshing insde them, you should be fine. Fuel needle valves and seats can be cleaned with a Q-tip, and get this, tooth paste. Basic tooth paste is a very fine abrasive, and won't harm the seating surfaces. Rinse thoroughly and enjoy the minty freshness.