98 honda vtr 1000 wont start

djlheat · 06-30-2012, 02:37 PM

hi im new to the site i have a 98 honda vtr 1000 superhawk it was stored for a 1yr. now ready to use. it will turn over but will not start, i replaced spark plugs, got new battery, took out carbs inspected & cleaned-also float is working ok, cleared old fuel out of lines, flushed tank put new fuel, after trying to start i slightly unscrewed both carb drain screws & gas is getting to carbs from tank, no gas leaks. after all this it will not start. please help

saige · 06-30-2012, 02:44 PM

check the fuses,just to be on safe side.
when you put in spark plugs,did you unscrew the tip,sometimes people dont remember to do that and could be losing contact.
make sure coils are pluged in to the loom.
make sure battery has good connection,and that it has a full charge.all it needs to do is drop a little,and wham,wont start.
make sure petcock vacuum hose is in correct spot,not the bottom of it,but on the back of the petcock.
make sure fuel is turned all the way in the on position.

8541Hawk · 06-30-2012, 06:02 PM

Make sure the kill switch is in the "run" position....

saige · 06-30-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8541Hawk

Make sure the kill switch is in the "run" position....

lmao,i forgot the obvious,i did that once or twice

captainchaos · 06-30-2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saige

lmao,i forgot the obvious,i did that once or twice

Haha yeah first reaction is wiseass until I realize how many times I've done that

8541Hawk · 06-30-2012, 08:25 PM

Yeah I think we have all done it once or twice.....

For me it is usually when I am trying to be quiet and we all know how loud the bang is when you remember and get it fire with all that fuel in the exhaust....

superdutyd · 06-30-2012, 09:01 PM

Does it sputter at all? When the carbs were out of sync on one of my hawks it was near impossible to start coming out of storage. I drained 2 batteries trying. Finally got it and did a carb sync. I think it may have been easier to start if i used starting fluid. So the question is , is there a place to spray starting fluid with the bike still assembled? Also, may as well check for spark with a tester first.

smokinjoe73 · 06-30-2012, 09:20 PM

Have you checked for spark? As a rule if you have fuel and spark you will run. Many stored bikes benefit from starting fluid. If it starts with that you have spark & lack fuel delivery. You may have to open the airbox to get a good shot to the intake to spray it in.

RWhisen · 07-01-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinjoe73

........... If it starts with that you have spark & lack fuel delivery. You may have to open the airbox to get a good shot to the intake to spray it in.

Be sure and keep your face away from the delivery point if you use this method because if you do have spark the chances of a fireball coming back up the chute are good.

smokinjoe73 · 07-01-2012, 10:56 AM

Fireball? Dont let that scare you. You can drive a car by spraying the aerosol into the motor. (the spray guy sits on the hood)

djlheat · 07-07-2012, 07:02 AM

thanks alot for all the ideas. i checked fuses are good. have spark on plugs. battery good. got the bike started with starter fluid. but it wont stay on unless i keep revving the engine. had to adjust, idle adjuster all the way up it stays on at 2500 rpm. once it warms up & stays on, i try to adjust back down to 1500rpm but then it stalls. i thought (idle fuel?air mixture adjustment?) i more of a car guy & a noobee with bikes.

RWhisen · 07-07-2012, 07:06 AM

PVLIR.

Search for it.

smokinjoe73 · 07-07-2012, 07:33 AM

So now you need to search your butt off looing for PLVIR which is the small hose that goes from carb to tank. It creates a vacuum without which the fuel wont flow. Cranking on your idle adjust is no way to do it.

djlheat · 07-07-2012, 09:36 AM

PVLIR i copy pasted to search bar looked through all the thread results & i cannot find, is this a title? not sure what im doing wrong. as for vacuum line it runs into the engine intake, not connected to carb what can i do to check vacuum line?

djlheat · 07-07-2012, 10:09 AM

found threads Primary Vacuum Line Inadvertant Relocation. lines are connected properly. reading threads but not sure what to do next as far as checking vacuum. originally when i put carbs back together & installed them. there was no gas in carb or fuel lines, then i connected the fuel tank & after i started it with starter fluid, i opened both carburetor drain screws to see if i was getting gas to carbs & i was. so i assume the gas is flowing. so what am i missing?

VTRsurfer · 07-07-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinjoe73

Fireball? Dont let that scare you. You can drive a car by spraying the aerosol into the motor. (the spray guy sits on the hood)

... and he wears a Nomex suit.

VTRsurfer · 07-07-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djlheat

thanks alot for all the ideas. i checked fuses are good. have spark on plugs. battery good. got the bike started with starter fluid. but it wont stay on unless i keep revving the engine. had to adjust, idle adjuster all the way up it stays on at 2500 rpm. once it warms up & stays on, i try to adjust back down to 1500rpm but then it stalls. i thought (idle fuel?air mixture adjustment?) i more of a car guy & a noobee with bikes.

Did you remove and soak the pilot (slow) jets? If not, disassemble the carbs one at a time, then soak the pilot jet in carb spray for at least 1/2 hour. Then spray carb cleaner through the pilot jet, followed by shooting compressed air through the jet. Shoot carb spray, then compressed air, through all passageways. Remove and clean the pilot screws, then reinstall 2 1/2 turns out to start. Reassemble, then do the other carb. The carbs have different main jets and emulsion tubes, so don't tear them both down at the same time.

jeremyabbott · 07-07-2012, 10:45 AM

What kind of exhaust pipes and air filter? I know when I got my Hawk the PO said it ran "wicked" cold and you had to use choke most of the time. He had put 2 Bros. and K&N air filter in but did not jet so it was running incredibly lean. Had to tape off half the air box until I got the carbs jetted. Just another thought.

djlheat · 07-07-2012, 10:48 AM

sorry no nomex suit. i'm just a learn as you go type. i have the honda service manual from haynes, and have done everything i could that i found in the book with no luck

??

djlheat · 07-07-2012, 10:51 AM

thanks vtr surfer i havent tried that yet. i will let you know how it goes thanks

VTRsurfer · 07-07-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djlheat

thanks vtr surfer i havent tried that yet. i will let you know how it goes thanks

If you've got stock pilot jets in there, they are tiny, #45. They clog easily with today's gas, especially if the bike has sat for a while. I had #2 cylinder die completely in the middle of a ride 2 1/2 years ago. The #2 carb pilot jet was completely clogged.