1984 VF 1100 Sabre not running :(

hello I just purchase a nice looking VF 1100 1984 and was not running, turns out the old guy that sold it to me didnt know how to turn on an old bike, he just switch the key and pressed the start button, no choke or nothing, I knew I could get it running again and when I went home started looking around taking parts out, found the fuel cut off valve in the OFF position, I laughed my ass of cause I knew it, the bike now runs,and sounds nice, but it does not stay on, the rpm's just go

down and then it dies, I cleaned and remove the air filter and box, changed the fuel filter, changed the 4 spark plugs,(which 2 of them were different), the oil is good, battery is new, I wanted to take the carbs out but dont really know how, the bike was running good for a little bit this afternoon after I adjusted the idle but its running rich, burns my eyes, I would appreciate any tips or advices, I have been riding since 05, and I love working on bikes

 

I couldn't tell for sure if you got it to stay running after the plugs and fuel filter. If not, some of those fuel valves have a vacuum diaphram that's suposed to let fuel through only when the the valve is on AND the motor is running and providing vacuum. The diaphram could be bad, or the vacuum hose leading to it could be bad or disconnected. Enough fuel could be leaking by to fill the carb bowls and let it start, but it might not be allowing enough fuel to keep the motor running. The valve could be clogged, and just letting a little gas through.

Try running some injector cleaner with the gas for a while to clean the carbs. With a bike that age, you could need a carb rebuild.

Once it's running good, a carb synchronization will smooth it out, too.

good luck

 

thanks for your reply geronpg, during all this days I have taken out and rebuild the carbs, they were nasty and a couple pf the needles, the ones that hold the floaters and have a rubber tip, they were stuck like glue with all the crud, that could explain why it was running so rich, now they are super clean and I put the airbox back together it stays running, but it runs weird, revs high around 4-5 rpm's the when I adjust the idle to about 1-1.5 rpm's it slowly dies, its like it revs high then down and then up again, I guess I have to synchronize the carbs like you said, well I still have to change all the brake and clutch fluids, ok well got to go back to wrenching, thanks again

 

Can you tell me how to sync the carbs. I have a '84 magna v65 and just rebuilt the carbs. But it idles really low. Without the choke engaged, it pretty much dies. I am going to try to adjust the idle screw to see if that helps, but im thinking I may need to sync. I just have no clue how to do this. Thanks!

 

It is the same old problem and has NOTING to do with syncing the carbs. Leave that till later.

When a bike sits the idle jets get clogged with gummy fuel and the only way you can get them clean is to remove the carbs ,take off the float bowls ,remove the jets and clean them and make sure when you hold them up to the light you can see through them.

Syncing the carbs takes two special tools.
A Manometer and a special bevel drive
right angle tool with a SOCKET on it.

If you do not have the tool do not mess with it now. You can take care of it later.

Before you do anything let me ask you DID YOU TURN THE IDLE UP???
Find the idle adjust knob. Get a shop manual t start.


WAS THE FUEL FILTER CLEAN OR FILTHY?
Change the oil, check the air filter.

Take of the simple things.

Maybe you will not have to take the carbs off.

By THE WAY...... That old man knows what you got. He was being nice to you.
Don't think old men do not know what is happening. I am 61 years old and on the internet i am needed. In real life on the street a young guy might not give me the time of day.

 

BTW that Sabre is a great bike.
It would cost you thousands to buy a bike that size now days.

Sometimes an older man is looking for a young guy he can give away a bike to because he thinks you are going to fix it and take care of it.

Drive it by and show it to him when you are done so he can see it alive again. I bet he would really like that.

 

The fact that it will run if you pull out the choke is proof that the slow jets are probably clogged. Count on it.

 

I have just removed the carbs from my bike and did a major cleaning. Took everything parts, cleaned with carb cleaner, and made sure each jet was unclogged (a few were before I cleaned them). Now I put the carbs back on the bike and it idles a bit low. I will try adjusting the idle screw this afternoon when I get home.

 

That sounds typical of old manifold boots. They will leak air a tad. Tighten the clamps on both ends of the boots as tight as you can get them. They get hard over the years and get a set shape in them from the heads and carbs. Then it gets tuff to get them to seal 100% all the time. The best way to fix that is to buy new ones. About $10 a piece.

This place has them for 7.70. They ship fast also. Good guys.

Honda Yamaha Suzuki Kawasaki Sea-Doo Can-Am Ski-Doo Motorcycle Parts ATV parts Scooter Parts personal watercraft parts Accessories

Part #7. Carb insulator.

Nice bike by the way. Does it have the sport fairing? Those bikes looked and work good with those. Nice long distance touring machine. To bad they quit making them. They would be Honda's competition for the BMW's and such today.

 

I was able to adjust the screw on the carbs to raise the idle rpm to about 1000. Im pretty sure I messed with it when I was cleaning them so shes running good now. Good luck with yours, i've gotten to know mine very well.

 

sorry for not replying earlier, and thanks for your advice Mr Donald and GreyVF750F, so far I changed the oil, changed the clutch fluid (which there was none), there was some nasty greasy type of substance all over the clutch slave caliper that I wish never to see again, so I rebuild the caliper, and now it shifts gears nicely.

I purchased a clymer shop manual for the sabre and all the V fours from the 80's, its awesome and I have been reading it like a Bible.

my airbox is spotless clean, but Im still getting the same results, I have been adjusting the idle knob when it revs high or low but it does not idle steady, my cousin ordered a carburator synchronizer from motion pro and it should get here this weekend, hopefully.

My biggest concern and question I have is about the carbs, the #1 carb on the left side, if your mounted on the bike, which is the carb that has no synchronization screw, is backfiring, I dont know what could be causing this, maybe I need to set the float bowls hight or I didnt tighten the spark plug right. Im not sure.

I have been working hard on taking care of the rest, I got some honda brake fluid and hypoid gear oil that I plan on changing soon. so again any advice or ideas is very welcomed, thanks for your time.

 

thanks CRZY, I would gladly tell you how the carb synchronizing goes, when I get there.

 

well also by THE WAY,,,,,, I helped out an old lady get her mother into her car last week, took her 5 whole minutes to move 10 feet, i was afraid i was going to break her arm she was so fragile. but anyways thanks for your help I give my time to people all the time, thats what i do.