1985 VF500 Yet another problem

And what a thought was an easy fix is not. The bike wasnt working up untii a few days ago. I cleaned the carbs (ish), change the oil, charged the battery and added some seafoam and it started up and was working great. Since it started running again, i put about 85 miles on it with no problems (other than the not idling)

Today on my way to class it died on me, causing me to miss class. It was acting as if gas wasnt going to the engine. when i would open the throttle it would die even more. With the choke on it would start and idle but whenever i would open the trottle it would immediately die.


There is gas in the tank and the engine turns over but wont stay on. seems that there isnt a constant gas flow?
What else could it be / should i check?

 

have you checked your petcock?

 

You have an 85, that uses a fuel pump. Could be fuel pump related.

Also could be clogged fuel lines / carb related, but then it usually at least would run, just very poorly. It's strange for it to stop completely. Could be r/r related as well. Have you checked for spark?

 

I remember seeing that on jamiedaughertymotorsports.com so i emailed him.

Have you done this mod to your bike?
it seems pretty simple on the website, just pull the petcock out and cut some holes into it.

I had to leave the bike out in the woods so im planning on going there early tomorrow morning and attempting to do the petcock mod

 

if you have already planned doing that go ahead a remove the fuel pump as well it is not needed....out in the woods! pretty safe place where you live huh?

 

Fuel pump? thats getting a little technical for me

Ill have to look in my repair book to see where that is and how to remove it.

Would i NEED to remove it?

And i hope its safe. Kind of a non travelled road. under a tree across from a few private roads. i had no way of taking it home

 

the fuel pump is useless trash they only flow a couple of pounds at best and cause problems when they go bad its best to just simplfy the system if this tell you anything my bike is a 1986 vf500 honda didnt put a fuel pump on it! it works just fine as a gravity feed system

 

sounds good.. ill do some research as to how to take it off but im just worried about getting it home, therefore if it works with it on just until i get home i plan on doing that

thanks matt.

Ill let you know if it works

 

no problem bro just keep asking questions thats how you learn...need any thing else just holla

 

you also might want to make sure your tank is venting.. really clean the gas cap.... sounds dump right ??? if the tank can't breath the gas will not flow. use LOTS of Carb Cleaner..

 

And put a new fuel filter on her as well.

 

I have had this problem and it was clogged idle/pilot jets.
The Seafoam helps but if the jets get a little moisture the jets won't let gas through.
Will run with lots of choke. Thats the clue.

I live in northern California and never had this problem before but the Seafoam helps keep the moisture in suspension. Northern CA is very humid and damp and I think when I put the bike in my garage and it is warm and it is cool in the garage-it makes condensation.

The only way I got rid of the problem was to take the idle jet out and blow through it until I could see daylight through it. Just putting Seafoam in the tank will not clear out the jet once it gets clogged. Water and gas just will not mix. It could be the new gasoline mixes they sell also.

And MRICH is right - do not forget about changing the fuel filter!
The first time I forgot, and had to do it over again.


And MATT is absolutely right too ,you don't need a fuel pump.
Gravity feed works fine.

I see that you live in the Bay Area too!

 

just browsing on the site here and found this article. sedesousa, I am having the same problem as you. Bike will idle with choke but will die as soon as you apply throttle. Did you ever get it fixed? Donald, what were you referring to as seafoam?

 

+1 million

the fuel filter causes all sorts of problems when they go unseen for 20 years... they are usually kinda hidden. also, it seems reasonable the pilot jets got clogged. the seafoam may have dislodged some trash from the bottom of the float bowls, and the pilots sucked it in.