Draining Carbs

utopia · 07-01-2020, 02:26 PM

I've got to say ... Mr Gazza's advice sounds good to me.
I'd be inclined to give the battery a damn good charge and then be persistent with the starter button. ...very persistent.
If it still doesn't start before the battery goes flat, I'd be inclined to recharge and repeat before stripping the carbs.
I would probably also check that fuel was reaching the carbs before stripping them. There is every possibility that the diaphragms in either the fuel tap (if a vacuum tap is fitted) or the fuel pump itself have deteriorated though standing dry for a while.
Removing the carbs is quite a lengthy process, never mind stripping them.

Removing the plugs to see if they're wet (indicating that fuel is reaching them) would also be worth doing.
While they're out it might be worth cranking the engine a few times as it would spin up faster with the plugs removed, thereby pumping fuel to the carbs faster too.

Club member Dookbob used to prime his floatbowls using a syringe if his 600 had been standing for a while.
Eventually I think he even fitted a manual priming pump.
Personally I've never had a problem as long as I've been persistent with the starter button after a period of non-use.

13-02-2020, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utopia

Club member Dookbob used to prime his floatbowls using a syringe if his 600 had been standing for a while.

Interesting to read that! I did exactly the same on my Suzuki VX800, which also had a vacuum stopcock and vacuum pump. I tee'd in a spur in the pipework below the pump and used to fill the carbs with 50ml of fuel from a big glass syringe. It saved a lot of punishment for the battery and starter-sprag, though one VX-er suggested that the engine oil wouldn't have gone around so well prior to firing.

That bike (the VX) was charming but had to make way for the S4R: chalk and cheese, I reckon!

Nick

manwithredbike · 13-02-2020, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clockie

Interesting to read that! I did exactly the same on my Suzuki VX800, which also had a vacuum stopcock and vacuum pump. I tee'd in a spur in the pipework below the pump and used to fill the carbs with 50ml of fuel from a big glass syringe. It saved a lot of punishment for the battery and starter-sprag, though one VX-er suggested that the engine oil wouldn't have gone around so well prior to firing.

That bike (the VX) was charming but had to make way for the S4R: chalk and cheese, I reckon!

Nick

For my recent refill, i took out the plugs and spun it for a while till petrol smell appeared in the cylinders. Took a fair wee bit of time to prime it. The battery would never have lasted with the compression on it.
I thought about your idea of the tee spur-ed into the line past the pump but ended up not doing it.

Darren69 · 13-02-2020, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clockie

Interesting to read that! I did exactly the same on my Suzuki VX800, which also had a vacuum stopcock and vacuum pump. I tee'd in a spur in the pipework below the pump and used to fill the carbs with 50ml of fuel from a big glass syringe. It saved a lot of punishment for the battery and starter-sprag, though one VX-er suggested that the engine oil wouldn't have gone around so well prior to firing.

That bike (the VX) was charming but had to make way for the S4R: chalk and cheese, I reckon!

Nick

I had to Google Suzuki VX800 because i never heard of one or seen one before . But yea, its a cruiser engine in a kind of 600 Bandit frame. A bit meh imho. Was it an official model or a grey import? Closest jap bike to an S4 woud probably be a TL1000 but without the suicidal handling issues!

17-02-2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren69

I had to Google Suzuki VX800 because i never heard of one or seen one before . But yea, its a cruiser engine in a kind of 600 Bandit frame. A bit meh imho. Was it an official model or a grey import? Closest jap bike to an S4 woud probably be a TL1000 but without the suicidal handling issues!

The VX was certainly an official import into Europe and the US, though the US got a different crank angle to give extra vibration to suit their tastes!

I've just been reading a 1990 Bike magazine test, which is one of the few aspects of the bike I have left after it had to make room for the S4R (No way did I mean that the VX was Japan's version of the Monster: LOL) and one of the testers really caught the vibe of a release from trying to ride ballistically on sports-bikes and finding the pleasure of relatively-sedate and comfortable travel on two wheels. As I said, a real charmer of a bike with nothing to prove. If I had more space, it'd still be here.

Nick

07-01-2020, 02:26 PM	#1
utopia No turn left unstoned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: leicester Bike: M750 Posts: 4,545	I've got to say ... Mr Gazza's advice sounds good to me. I'd be inclined to give the battery a damn good charge and then be persistent with the starter button. ...very persistent. If it still doesn't start before the battery goes flat, I'd be inclined to recharge and repeat before stripping the carbs. I would probably also check that fuel was reaching the carbs before stripping them. There is every possibility that the diaphragms in either the fuel tap (if a vacuum tap is fitted) or the fuel pump itself have deteriorated though standing dry for a while. Removing the carbs is quite a lengthy process, never mind stripping them. Removing the plugs to see if they're wet (indicating that fuel is reaching them) would also be worth doing. While they're out it might be worth cranking the engine a few times as it would spin up faster with the plugs removed, thereby pumping fuel to the carbs faster too. Club member Dookbob used to prime his floatbowls using a syringe if his 600 had been standing for a while. Eventually I think he even fitted a manual priming pump. Personally I've never had a problem as long as I've been persistent with the starter button after a period of non-use.