k.brown

i maybe able to come over to helpout, but i'm currantly out of work and watching my $s.t. Thank you for the thought, but this would be way too much. I know what its like not having a job and watching $$. There is no need for you to drive over here just to get this bike going. You can just help me on here and that will be more than I could ask. I will get it working, it may just take a little time.

Good news-I got bike to start and run late last night-all four cylinders going after cleaning the spark plugs which did not take long at all. Bad news its back to pouring from the overflows again (which sounds like stuck floats from all I have read). I ran gas and seafoam through it last night so hoping that will help break gunk up. I am really trying to avoid taking the carbs off. I have looked at one of the service manuals on this forum and I only have one concern while actually taking the carbs off-the throttle cables how do I take them off? and then how do I put them back on without changing anything? I read somewhere that there needs to be like 4-6mm of play (if I remember correctly) in the cable-is it something I wont have to worry about or just feel out before I take it off and guesstimate when I re-attach the cables? I have everything off the bike to the point where the carbs are right in front of me and I get closer and closer to pulling them off every time I look at them.

Ok, I couldnt give in so quickly, I am going to try and see what I can do before I take it to a mechanic. My father in law has been engineering and building cars for over twenty years and talked me out of taking the bikes elsewhere and offered a few suggestions. If I pull the carbs and soak them myself-and not touch the adjustments I should be fine right? Also-another theory my father-in-law gave me-that the plugs could be fouled and since they have only about 500 miles on them they should work if i can get the grime off of them...sound reasonable? Also, that if I can get something running through the carbs then they would clean themselves with the right chemicals running through them. There was also a mention of using ether-which I dont know much about. I am thinking about soaking the carbs in hot water/pine sol, any experience with this or any other suggestions where I dont have to take the carbs apart? It'll be a few days until I do it because I am waiting for a service manual.

WOW, this forum is pretty awesome-never thought so many people would post. I completely understand, respect, and thank you guys for the warning about the bike not being a beginner. Another part of the story is that I was also given a 96 Virago 250 to restore. I am looking to sell the royal star once I get it going good-it was given to me for that reason (to help with a down payment towards a house since I just got married). I would never dare to learn on such a heavy bike...I would really like to stick around and enjoy being married As far as the carb goes, this bike has been sitting for literally ten years and maybe this is not looked at positively, but I am bowing out and taking it to a mechanic because there is so much I dont know and what else could be wrong since Ive never worked on a motorcycle. Thank you guys so much for your help and concern. I will definitely learn on the Virago and see where that takes me.

I was given a 97 royal star very recently that has less than 500 miles on it, though it hasnt been ran in about ten years. Its been sitting in a garage and shows it. This is the first time I have ever touched a motorcycle, though I have done a good amount of work on cars. My main concern right now is getting the bike running. When I turn the bike on before I hit the start switch I get fuel pouring out of the overflow tubes. From what I have read its pretty obvious that I need to pull the carbs and clean them, though with there being four of them the task is a little daunting with syncing and everything else involved. I know that seafoam wont work if I cant get a flow through the carbs. Here is what I am asking: 1. Is there a way to clean the carbs out without removing them? 2. Are the carbs the culprit for these symptoms? 3. How do you sync the carbs once they are all clean and back in? 4. What else should I be replacing? ( plugs, oil, oil filter, where is fuel filter?) 5. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone knows a great way to get rid of pitting thatd be awesome. Right now Im using fine steel wool and a turtle wax chrome polish and rust remover, but there are still tiny spots that I am not sure if they will come off at all. Thanks