Hey folks! Yes "FUEL SUPPLY" Question. I bought this 1998 Magna in March of 2016, from a really nice fellow in Austin. It has 17,000 miles and is a very clean bike with a lot of upgrades. He said he had recently had it serviced and showed me the receipts. Obvious new spark plugs wires etc. I started it right on the spot and road it home to Waco, where I lived. I was in the middle of a divorce, and frankly, it was a tough time. I moved temporarily to a nice small apartment and the bike had to sit outside under a cover for about 6 months. When I first road it, it would still start immediately. Then back under the cover. Then I road it less and less, and little by little it required more and more choke to start, even in the summer. Well, then I moved it up here with my oldest friend, whom I've ridden with since 1966. I went overseas and he became a certified Honda, Lexus, and Infinity Mechanic. He is not perfectly healthy though these days, but there is a nice shop. So without further adue. The ISSUE.
1. It sat up for a while, but not that long. There was HARD weather, but it was covered.
2. In my move up here, I had to tow it, because of all my other stuff. We just parked it inside.
3. After I got settled, we went to fire it up and NOTHING.
4. Went through ALL of step one to step 3 fuel line processes. Rebuilt the petcock. (It can be done) Fuel lines clear to bellows. Unsure of a proper working bellow, we bypassed it. Still only cranking, but always trying it seems. Drained the bowls. Fuel is arriving to carbs. One carb was very slow to drain, even after removing the drain screw (and friggin losing it!)
5. Dave Dodge sent me a new screw, and once again firing it up. This time the engine is almost running on it's own, accept when letting go of the starter, or giving it too much gas.
6. Sooooo. QUESTION. When I first brought the bike here and it wouldn't start, we found a very interesting post from someone pertaining to blowing out the carbs, without removing them. I have searched and searched, just to see again what the post said, but I just can't find it.
If anyone remembers the thread I would appreciate it if you could lead me to it to have a look. The very last thing I want to do is remove and rebuild the carbs. Not that I haven't done it before, but because it is the middle of march. It's spring. The days are beautiful, and we want to ride now. Am I looking for an easy way out? Of course! Lol!
I have not moved to the digital electric side of the troubleshooting yet, but I just wanted to try that one trick before I find out I have to buy one of the ever famous rectifiers, etc. etc.
Is there anyone that can guide me to the original post, or maybe you've done this as well. Blow out in or to possibly clear the carbs without removing them?
Regards fellow Magnites! Peace to you and yours.
Dollars to donuts, your idle jets are clogged... IFFY to get them cleared without removing the carbs..
You have to get some carb cleaner (SeaFoam is my favorite) and get the jets soaking in a heavy dose..
Much better to just pull the carbs and clean them.. I just use a "Copper" Electrical wire (Never anything harder than copper)
and carb cleaner..
Keep us updated on what you find..
Someone said if you suck on the vacuum hose to the Shut off and air comes thru, then it's bad.. I've never had one fail.