My california model Interceptor 500 isn't getting gas to the carbs

I bought my 86 VF500 in 2005 and have yet to get it to run without putting gas straight into the carbs. I know since it's a california model that the petcock is activated by vaccum. I have checked all the routing of the lines but it just doesn't seem to work. It runs bitchin otherwise and I've made it my number one priority to get it going before next summer. Does anybody know if I can somehow convert it to maybe like an electric fuel pump or something? I bought it from an impound yard for $100 and it has less than 9000 miles on it.

 

Wow. I gotta say. You are persistent. Five years working on a problem. Sorry. I don;t have an answer for you. But there are a few here that are very talented and are sure to step up. Welcome to the site though. Pix are a prerequisite even if it does not run proper.

 

Haha yeah I tried and tried to get it going but got burned out from taking the tank off and putting it back on 500 times so It's been sitting for 4 years. I have a pic on my profile and will try to figure out how to put it on the thread asap.

 

Browse the gen 1 forum, there is lots of info on your bike and many knowledgeable guys there to help you out. Here is a thread to get you started. http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/33021-vf500f-setting-float-height-after-removing-fuel-pump.html

 

It could be your petcock vacuum has given up the ghost. Have you checked to see if this is functioning correctly?

If this is the culprit, the vacuum can be bi-passed with a simple modification.

 

I'll try to figure out a way to create a vacuum on the petcock to see if I get some gas out of it. I'd like to say I'm mechanically inclined but all those vacuum lines confuse the hell out of me. I don't think there is any suction on that line to the petcock. I"ve put my finger over the hole and cranked it over and felt nothing. I'll try hooking up a different tank with free flowing gas today and see if it'll run without putting gas directly in the carbs. If that does work then I'll just bypass it?

 

If you have a Mityvac it is easy to do.

Connect this to the vacuum line, apply a vacuum and check to see if the fuel will flow.

Here is a schematic for the '84/'85 petcock - this is similar to the '86.

 

Remove valve, and clean. Dump tank into screen and check for rust. If clean, clean valve, blow out and replace vacuum diaphram and reassemble. Pull fuel line and crank over and see if any gas comes out. No gas may mean insufficient signal, try Mitivac. Insufficient signal means lack of clinder seal. Gas means if was either crud in line or broken diaphram. The VFR gas system uses a fuel pump at low pressure to get good carb performance. It CAN be run without.

Larry

 

Bottle-feed the damn thing with gas into the hose to carbs.