Bike won’t fire up

[jpeel73]

Hi,
Can you help please?
My bike has been stood for about one year, I have recently tried to start it but it won’t start.
I am getting a spark at the plugs, I have checked fuel is running upto and out of the filter but I don’t know how to check if it is getting into the carbs.
I have strip it down to the carbs, I can’t see any fuel when I try to start it but I have noticed one I can not move one of the sliders. Is this normal?

I have tried spraying the carbs with carb cleaner, tried the bike and it nearly started, I have tried easy start, it fired up and then died straight away, this is telling me there is fuel starvation.
Could anyone point me in the right direction on what to try next?
Thank you
John

[Swagonmaster]

Since it seems that you have a fuel problem I would start by seeing if there is any fuel coming from the fuel pump in the first place. If you were to disconnect the hose from the fuel filter going to the carbs there at the right of the fuel tank filler and connect a hose to it and run it into a container so you don't get fuel all over the place if it does work and then turn the engine over (you have checked the tank for fuel didn't you?). As to the air slides, they should both be able to be raised with very little resistance manually if you are able to get to the inlet of the carburetors. If you have fuel going to the carbs then things get a little more involved since it would be likely that the old fuel has gotten the inside of the carbs gummed up and that would require the removal of the carburetors for some cleaning.

[jpeel73]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I have already checked if fuel is coming out of the fuel filter and it is. I can only move one of the sliders manually. I did take the spark plugs out to check and clean, they were wet and I could smell fuel.
John.

[FluffyDog6]

Bad fuel is my guess.

Try actual starting fluid. If it runs, the motor's system's are good, and the fuel is bad.

I brought my "dead" riding lawn mower back to life this Spring by dumping Seafoam into the tank and using a can of starting fluid to keep it running long enough to suck the seafoam into the carbs to clean them up.

Redneck as hell and not NASA-approved, but it's been running fine now that the bad gas got sucked up and burned.

[jpeel73]

Thanks,
I have put fresh fuel in, I’m using high octane,
I’ve seen that sea foam mentioned in some other videos, sounds like it’s good stuff that cleans anything.
I’ll see if you can get that in the U.K.

[Swagonmaster]

Sea Foam is some good stuff but it is not the only good fuel system cleaner so if you don't find it available check with some of the local bike shops to see what they use. Also, if it is possible to free up the carb slide that is stuck that would be a good idea before you try to start it. Try spraying some penetrating oil on the slide and then the pin after you get the slide up, it is not going to run at all well on only one side.

[jpeel73]

Update, sea foam is on its way. I managed to get it from Amazon.
I’ll work on the slider and try and free it.

Would you put the sea foam directly in the carbs or just add it to the fuel?

I don’t want to do any more damage

Thanks everyone
John

[mlkmn89]

Update, sea foam is on its way. I managed to get it from Amazon.
I’ll work on the slider and try and free it.

Would you put the sea foam directly in the carbs or just add it to the fuel?

I don’t want to do any more damage

Thanks everyone
John

You have a little over 6 gallon capacity gas tank on your Goldwing. For a good cleaning I would pour an entire bottle of seafoam directly in the gas tank then fill it with non ethanol gas and run it a little harder than what is considered normal.

[ct1500]

The folks who mega-dose their fuel tank with Seafoam tend to have more fuel pump failures. Use according to the directions on the bottle as it is very caustic. I would rather get a little gasoline in my eyes than Seafoam.

[Solo So Long]

If one of the carb sliders is frozen, I can pretty much promise you that your carbs (and the rest of the fuel system) will have a bunch of shellac plugging the galleries. There's a reason that one of the first fuel system cleaners was called "Gumout."

It doesn't take much -- your engine runs on fuel VAPOR, not liquid, and if you reduce the amount going into the cylinders by very much, you lean them out to the point where they can't fire.

Seafoam will only work if you either let it soak, or if there is actual fuel flow. You may want to try aerosol carb cleaner, too.