What did you do to your Vmax today? Part 2

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I tried to fire up Redbone on Sunday. It turned over fine but would not start, backfiring through the xhaust and intake. I should layout the setup: new-to-me carbs that came from another Vmax that was setup w/ a Morley Jet kit for a elevation of ~600', my elevation is 694". The carbs are clean running 162.5 main jet, A/F 2.5 turns out. Running Marks 4 into 2 and have installed COPS (denso's from a '04 Honda F4vi,"Long") Plugs gapped at .025".
Since this is the first time I had tried to restart since returning the engine to the frame I wondered if I had installed something wrong, there was somthing wrong with the carbs (remember, new to me) or that I had disturbed some connection while either while dismantling, modding while engine was out or something had gone wrong during the install. This is the first time I had ever tackled this extensive of work on a motorcycle so I was learning a great deal as I went through each step.
I was not all that sure I had put everything back together properly when I turned the key to on, listened to it run through the vboost cycle, and the familiar clicking while it frantically tried to fill the bowls. I cycled the on key a couple of times to make sure the bowls were full. I hit the starter and the starter spun, the carb coughed. Being on edge about getting everything "right" my heart jumped out of my chest the first time it backfired out of the exhaust. I'm happy to report that I must have a strong heart! In my mind I going over the entire install, much like one would do when one goes over their entire life while slowly dying on tv. Then it hit me! Bam! I bet I had the front two coils crossed up! I quickly swapped the front two coils around, checked all connections, and hit the starter again. It turned over once...then twice....and sprang to life! While it was a little rough running (gas from November) it seemed to be running fairly well, all things considered. I brought it up to tempeture, burping the cooling system to purge any trapped air. I had some fresh gas which I added to the 1/4 full tank of old gas and Redbone seemed to like this much better.
WHEW! What a relief it is for it to be running this well, I still need to do a carb sync so that should help. It is also acting a little funny returning to idle a little slower than I like but I have also installed new SS throttle cables and when it is idling I twist forward on the grip the idle settles a little. I will go through the cable adjustments. Any suggestions on how to do this?


Just been thru the same story. Bought a CB900 to "chopperize" which was not going as the PO claimed electrical problems Got it home and quickly found a nuked pulse generator or "trigger", replaced it and it still wouldn't start, checked carbs etc as it hadn't been running for a year.
Then I wondered if some Bozo might have the coils round the wrong way, swapped them about, hit the start and BAM it went stright away:eusa_dance:

As for your idle etc, double check your cables seeing as you have changed them, check that you have them routed correctly around the frame etc.
 
Hey Redbone, Congrats on getting her running again. I just recently installed the COP's in my max and initially had the plug gap at .022 and I was not impressed with how she ran. I regapped the plugs to .030 and was pleased with the performance.
To bleed your clutch you may want to try the method that I used in this thread: http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=12103. This worked quite well for me and is without a mess or waste of fluid.
Thanks Kevin, I had no problem with the clutch, I used a syringe (as a mityvac) to pull the fluid through the slave and now have a nice DD clutch pull. The rear brake bled very nice and quick too.
I am having a hell of a time getting the front brake to get the real firm feeling back. I am still using my stock calipers as my bollts for my Busa calipers have not arrived yet. I think a master cylinder rebuild is in order when I put on the Busa's and that will bring my lever back to the firm feel. I have left the brake lever squeezed overnight last night hoping to purge any air that may be trapped in there. I was getting nothing but fluid and the occasionall bunch of micro bubbles while bleeding and tapping the calipers with my dead blow hammer.
 
Just been thru the same story. Bought a CB900 to "chopperize" which was not going as the PO claimed electrical problems Got it home and quickly found a nuked pulse generator or "trigger", replaced it and it still wouldn't start, checked carbs etc as it hadn't been running for a year.
Then I wondered if some Bozo might have the coils round the wrong way, swapped them about, hit the start and BAM it went stright away:eusa_dance:

As for your idle etc, double check your cables seeing as you have changed them, check that you have them routed correctly around the frame etc.
I have checked the routing, had 3 nice shots from the carb to through the triple trees to guide me there. I didn't get the chance to mess with it much last night as I was working on the brakes/ clutch. I have a cable luber need to read up on the cable adjustments in the Clymer that Danny suggested. It is quite rideable right now so it's just a matter of a little tweaking.
I tell you it was quite a relief when I switched around the cables and 'ol Redbone fire straight away! I felt like a bozo for getting them mixed up in the first place!:rofl_200:
 
I have checked the routing, had 3 nice shots from the carb to through the triple trees to guide me there. I didn't get the chance to mess with it much last night as I was working on the brakes/ clutch. I have a cable luber need to read up on the cable adjustments in the Clymer that Danny suggested. It is quite rideable right now so it's just a matter of a little tweaking.
I tell you it was quite a relief when I switched around the cables and 'ol Redbone fire straight away! I felt like a bozo for getting them mixed up in the first place!:rofl_200:

Don't beat yourself up Brian....it's very easy to do! :punk:
 
I rode my baby for the first time today. I got my 85 offa ebay in November. I drove from Sacto Ca to El Monte Ca to pick her up, after I loaded her on the trailer and tried to leave, my trusty old PU refused to start. I spent the next four hours changing the trucks intank fuel pump. It ended up being a twenty hour day. I've been sorting things out since I coasted her off the trailer once we got home. I"ve done a bunch of upgrades, progressive springs, fork seal kits, welded the air holes closed, steering head bearings (The old ones were notchy like a 3/4" ratchet) Busa front brakes, Galfer rear pads, Shinko tires, Pulled the fuel tank for derusting and sealing and the list goes on. The clutch M/C sight glass had popped out and the front brake one was barely hanging in there so I made two new ones out of an old piece of plexiglass and expoxied them into place, so far so good. Anyway once I had brakes and a clutch I had to take her out for a short spin, there are still some carburetor issues but I think I may be falling in love,..... again. I do have one question though is it normal to feel engine vibration in the handle bars? When I first felt it I thought maybe I'd screwed up changing the front wheel bearings but I coasted down a hill with the clutch in and the engine off and she was smooth as silk. I've still got a ways to go but I think she'll be ready for our vacation tour in September. Jay

you may feel slight ones, but overall not too much. can you tell if your motor mounts were solid or rubber?

a barsnake may help your problem!
 
you may feel slight ones, but overall not too much. can you tell if your motor mounts were solid or rubber?

a barsnake may help your problem!

I don't know about you Garrett, but my bar snake seems like a waste of money. still lots of vibs after my solid motor mount install. Guess i just have to get used to it...
 
I don't know about you Garrett, but my bar snake seems like a waste of money. still lots of vibs after my solid motor mount install. Guess i just have to get used to it...

Wierd!! I didn't notice any significant difference with sallymax after going to delrin mounts...a little bar & mirror buzz, but far from uncomfortable.

Maybe I drive slower than you guys? :confused2:
 
I don't know about you Garrett, but my bar snake seems like a waste of money. still lots of vibs after my solid motor mount install. Guess i just have to get used to it...

ya know i would agree, but a lot of people swear by them. i think they helped slightly.

Wierd!! I didn't notice any significant difference with sallymax after going to delrin mounts...a little bar & mirror buzz, but far from uncomfortable.

Maybe I drive slower than you guys? :confused2:

i notice it only when cruising above 90mph for over 20-30 mins to be honest too danny.
 
I don't know about you Garrett, but my bar snake seems like a waste of money. still lots of vibs after my solid motor mount install. Guess i just have to get used to it...


I picked up a set of Vibranators from Ricor when they had them on sale for 50% off - only have limited riding in so far this year, but definitely an improvement.

Mike
 
3-4 is where I usually run mine... lol

I'm glad I stuck with stock mounts. My hands fall asleep as it is. BAD!
 
I use to run mine beteween 6-8 couse stage 7 with v-boost always open is just starts to fun at 5k LOL

Never said that solid mounts are bad, they're just inperfect LOL
Honestly little vibes here and here, sometimes the loosen bolt or nut, somethimes my hands are not likey the long trips above 300miles...well i dont give a **** about it couse its not a tournig bike LOL :rofl_200:
 
you may feel slight ones, but overall not too much. can you tell if your motor mounts were solid or rubber?

a barsnake may help your problem!

Thanks, I never thought of that, I'll have to give them a look see tonite while I'm dinkin around with the carbys. I know my FZ1 really buzzes until you get above 4K then she just goes smooth, weird. Jay
 
I lubed the throttle cables and rerouted them which helped the return to idle issue. I also sync'd the carbs and it smoothed out the idle and mostly stopped the coughing/ backfiring through the carbs. I stll have a little bit of the old fuel mixed in with two fresh gallons of fuel. The engine was still hot from syncing so I'll see today about how it runs while starting from cold.
I have some more tweeking to do, I know, but it feels stronger and the Mark's 4/2 12" cans are pushing out some sweet, sweet music! :punk:
 
I played carburetor dinker this afternoon, installed new boots, shotgunned and synched em. I got it idling pretty good but when I went for a test ride she kept dropping a cylinder then going flat. Every once in a while she'd hook up on all four and scare the piss outa me, but now I've got the carbies off, sitting on the bench waiting for me to dive into them. #1 carb was flooding out and #3 was going super lean, the plugs were sooty black and crystally white respectively. I'm thinking crap in the float valve on #1 and plugged main jet on #3.
I had a quick scare when I pulled the spark plugs. #1 plug had coolant puddled around it's base, but it came from an overfull reservoir dripping onto the fuel line then dripping into the plug well. I'm thinking about switching to another style of plug wire that uses the rubber sleeve around the plug instead of the VW style phenolic thing Yamaha stuck on there, any thoughts?
Oh yeah, the vibration in the bars starts just under 3K and goes away at about 4k. Jay
 
noticed my valve cover gaskets are leaking a bit more than before. tighteneing them down tongiht (hopefully that seals them, no visible cracks) and fixing my exhaust end caps....
 
bike still blocked in by the mountain of parts for my trailer so cant do anything but look at it :bang head:
 
no caps dude, hopefully soon, need something to keep my max addiction in check starting to get separation anxiety.
 
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