i just bought a 1996 VFR which as been sitting in a garage since 2003 and when i bought it the bike started and drove well but it cuts off and was working at high rpm. the guy told me the carburetaor has to be serviced and cleaned, but when i took it home and try to start it in the morning it would not start and i think i flooded it because it will sound as if it was about to start but after i tried for a while it did not even crank at all. then i took it to the mechanic and he told me i need a valve job and a carburetor cleaned and he was going to charge me 1800 dollars for everything and i dont have that kind of money right and since i have the bike manual i figured i can fix it myself. i just need a little help . if someone can tell me what i would need for a valve job and carburetor cleaning. thank you
Oh my, 5 years huh, wow nice find, but how was the inside of the tank? Rusty? it would only take a bit to plug up the filter, was it in a for the most part a good dry garage or left outside? Mm don't bother with the valves, yet, that ain't the problem. You say it started right off? Did you start it cold or was it all ready warmed up? If you started it from cold how was the choke acting? did it move smoothly? also if you started it cold it should of only needed choked for a couple three minutes, so is that what happened? curious if you happen to drive off with the choke on? that happens to some thinking that's okay, it is if you know what to look out for, but one should take the choke off before you put it in gear. if it was all ready warmed up and seem to run fine how long was it before you noticed that something is not right? Did you put in new fuel? if so was the tank empty when you did? or did the PO add some? and how much? any way of knowing type, as in regular or super? yes it makes a diff. I wouldn't mess with the carbs just yet, I know this is going to be a pain especially if the tank is full pull the plugs and get a read on em, that and might as well hook up the battery charger while you're at it. if the plugs are soaked sounds like a choke problem like it was left on and fouled the plugs. there's more but man it will be hard to tell from where I'm at. for the most part VFR carbs are pretty good if left alone, it's when people get into em that things go airy I for sure would get some chevron techron fuel additive, great stuff and get some good fuel run it through, that could be tricky if it don't start huh? let it sit it will break it down any gunk, just may take some time if it's a fuel starvation problem. just something here has me going choke problem first, so while the tank is off check the choke cable make sure it's working the lever and all associated with it. Man wish you the best, that's a great bike, but don't, I say don't, take it to that dude.. sheesh crazy what folks do to make money. Oh how many miles on this beast? any photos? yes carbs can be a PITA but it goes a longs ways to take a look at a couple other things first, oh yea check the fuel filter too.
First thing i would do is charge the battery and install a fresh set of spark plugs. if the fuel is or was old that alone could foul the plugs. i would also open the drains to the float bowls and drain all the gas out of the carbs one at a time. put some nice clean white rags under the drains and check for any dirt or debri that comes out. if you see stuff like that anywhere on the rags and it still wont start after the charge and plugs chances are you'll need a carb clean. on a V4 i'd say 400 to 500 bucks. good luck.
