Help with Fuel and starting issue

[robertdwest]

Ok, here it is.  I pulled the bike out after having new tires put on the rims and went to start it.  My 94 magna has been sitting about 45 days since last start.  Pulled the choke full one and attempted to start.  No go.  Worked with the choke in different positions and still no go.  I ran into this same problem in Germany after the bike was shipped so I went through the following steps:

drained carbs
pulled plugs and cleaned
pulled fuel tank and drained and replaced gas with fresh from station
attempted to start and still no go.

Now today I picked up new plugs and went out to change them as well as go through draining the carbs.  When I drained the carbs fuel continued to flow until I shut off the petcock.  I also removed the fuel tank cap which had alot of pressure built up in it.  Additionally I had fuel dripping from the exhuast, most likely because the fuel was free flowing prior to shutting off the petcock.  I have the plugs pulled and letting everything air out.  Do I have a vent problem with the fuel tank on the fuel issue?  Any suggestions on the start up issue would be appreciated too.  Thanks in advance.

[roboto65]

The cap having pressure on it worries me not in a bad bad way just not supposed to do that. Also the slow jets on the Magna are very small and tend to clog quickly and also sounds like your floats are stuck allowing fuel to enter the cylinder not good as liquid gas does not compress very well.

If it were me I would pull the carbs and clean throughly and maybe replace the Idle jets just because they are so hard to clean and they are about 3 dollars a piece. You could also drain everything again or drain some of the fresh gas and add Seafoam to the mix drain the carbs and let the new Seafoam mixture enter and maybe clean them up but I am not to sure with it not starting if that will help.

Sorry long winded here!

Now another thing is how good is your battery if it is not fully charged and you were cranking on it on it is old the Magna is finicky about voltage to the Ignition not enough and she will not start she will turn over but not start!!

Ok I have said enough LOL

[hootmon]

I pulled the bike out after having new tires put on the rims and went to start it.  My 94 magna has been sitting about 45 days since last start.  Pulled the choke full one and attempted to start.  No go.  Worked with the choke in different positions and still no go.  

Now today I picked up new plugs and went out to change them as well as go through draining the carbs.  When I drained the carbs fuel continued to flow until I shut off the petcock.  I also removed the fuel tank cap which had alot of pressure built up in it.  Additionally I had fuel dripping from the exhuast, most likely because the fuel was free flowing prior to shutting off the petcock.  I have the plugs pulled and letting everything air out.  Do I have a vent problem with the fuel tank on the fuel issue?  Any suggestions on the start up issue would be appreciated too.  Thanks in advance.

I am not the resident expert, but here are my thoughts based on what you wrote.

If also have a '94 and have never noticed pressure in my tank, so I find this symptom interesting..
How is your vent tube?? Any chance it is plugged up (the tube or inside the tank)...

I would take out a spark plug (or used one of your new ones) and connect a plug wire, ground the threads and press the starter button and see if you get spark. Do this both on the front and rear and front cylinder banks.. This will tell you if the computer and the coils are working properly.. This will eliminate spark as a possible cause.

Also I find it interesting that fuel continued to flow until you shut off the pet cock.. There is a vacuum fuel shut off near the right rear cylinder and if the bike is not running, fuel should not flow from the tank to the carbs.. Others have had issues with this shut off in the past.

Fuel to the exhaust sounds like a float issue inside the carb(s)..

IF you have spark, sounds like you will be needing to pull the carbs and check them out for trash and float function.

As Allen indicated, also take off the battery connectors and clean them up, and then re-tighten them.

Where are you located??

[Charles S Otwell]

When I drained the carbs fuel continued to flow until I shut off the petcock

When you opened the drain in the carbs as soon as the bowl emptied the float in the carb would have dropped, opening the needle seat and would have let gas flow until you closed the drain and let the bowl fill and shut off the needle seat.

If you had gas dripping out the exhaust I would be sure and change oil, just in case you also got gas in the crankcase.
If you had enough gas go thru the intake to wash down the cylinder walls it wouldn't hurt to put a little oil in the spark plug holes to keep the engine from turning over or starting with dry cyclinder walls. Just my opinion..

[robertdwest]

Thanks for all the input.  Here is the update:

Got the bike started with the new plugs.  Once she ran for a bit the pressure problem in the tank resolved itself.  One of those things I'll spend idle time trying to figure out.  I took her out for a test run and around the block she did fine at 30 mph.  Once out on the open road she would get about 2 to 3 miles before bogging down and shutting down.  At this point I believe it would be in my best interest to pull the tank, drain the gas, and clean out the petcock as I read in another thread that it can sometimes collect loose material from the tank.  I agree with the assesment that I should probably pull the carbs and give them a good cleaning.  While at the gas station I had an old mechanic from honda tell me it sounded like the slow jet was clogged. 

As I have never pulled the carbs let alone cleaned them I am a bit apprehensive about doing this.  however, I've got all weekend starting on thursday so that would give me plenty of time.  plus I've got the manual so that would help.  Now if anyone is in the Killeen/Temple/Belton area that has done this before and would be willing to offer a hand, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for all the feedback. 

[Charles S Otwell]

Make sure your vent hose from the tank is not pinched or stopped up, I think this has happened to several, including myself..

[robertdwest]

Roboto65,

after looking at the process for cleaning the carbs and the fact that the bike is starting now, I think I will try the less time consuming and less expensive option of trying Seafoam first.  Perhaps that will help resolve the issue without the complication of pulling the carbs, buying all the new parts, and having to resync the carbs. 

thanks again

[TLRam1]

What you describing would lead you to the vent tube, insure the line out of the tank flows air also (shoot air pressure up the tank vent line) or something with your fuel shut off and this little jewel acts like a fuel pump and on my bike it mimicked yours on the "hard to start" part after sitting.

Clogged carbs might make it run bad but not shut it down as you described unless they are really dirty, still easier to try the least labor involved way. If you can ride with your gas cap open and the bike does not shut down, you have your answer.

[robertdwest]

Final Update:

First, thanks to everyone for all the help and suggested aspects to look at. 

Went out today and drained the fuel from the tank.  Used the compressor to blow out the vent line and also blew out the vent on the tank.  Put everything back together and filled the tank with the suggested Seafoam/fuel mix.  Started the bike up first try without choke (first time in a while).  Took her out for 10 mile test ride and everything went great.  She accelerated just fine and idled great.  I didn't find anything when I was blowing out the vents, even used the compressor on the tank cap just incase. It certainly appears to have been a vent issue, but I'm running Seafoam through the system just for good cause.  Look forward to getting out and riding with all this nice Texas weather.

Thanks Again for everyone's help

See you on the road

[Charles S Otwell]

Glad to hear your back up and running ..

[MarylandMagnav45]

Switch mechanics, and bring the bike back to stock...everything.

[roboto65]

Hehheeh Dan I think YOU need a new mechanic LOL 

[Charles S Otwell]

I think that what dan's saying, he figured out he needed a new dealership and mechanic about twenty five hundred too late

[MarylandMagnav45]

I think that what dan's saying, he figured out he needed a new dealership and mechanic about twenty five hundred too late

i wish, sir.

most dealerships around here charge $105/hour for service.

The dealership I used is the cheapest in MD...$83/hour (that I've found).

Is it like $50/hour in texas?

[dgc67]

I have not been to a dealer for work in long time, but I think it is like 60-70 these days.