I ripped the whole carb assembly off to clean it all out and it went well, no stuck floats, the needles/jets were pretty clean already, and no built up gunk anywhere.

bike cranks strong but no signs of life. Fuel drops from the float bowl drains when loosened.

the PO had it put together wrong from what I can tell. The top two hoses on the carbs are vents (he had gas going into these), the bottom two are fuel feed, and the big middle one is a vent as well.

here's a pic on how I have it hooked up, please tell me if it's right



1: fuel
2: breather (goes to top part of carbs)
3: big center tube (vented with tube above carbs)
4: carb drain tubes?

 

Everything looks right, at a glance - the number 4 in your illistration, are hoses connected to the nipples that fuel drains out of the float bowls from, when the drain screw is backed out...I've never seen hoses attached to them before - the PO must have just wanted a way to drain the bowls, probably for storage, and have the fuel go where he wanted it to - that's my guess, anyway.

 

well crap, it's not starting, it did last night before I took it all apart. I really didn't think I messed with anything. I have it on a battery charger right now at 2A. giving the starter a break, but it's not even trying to start :/

 

Is there possibly something I'm missing?

 

Is it not turning over at all, or just not firing when you do crank it?

 

 

something sounds weird - esp how your bike seems to turn over audibly different with the choke on or off.

I just walked out to mine, which hasn't run since Friday, and tried cranking it over with the run switch in the off position. It gave a steady rhythm crank over, with the choke in both positions. Didn't sound different to me at all.

Yours also sounds kinda like its dragging as it is trying to crank over. I'm going to say you're at least on the right track with the battery - anything that is pulling 2A+ on the charger needed a little help at least.

 

I just listened to it again.

Have you pulled your plug wires off, either at the coils or at the head? Almost sounds like you've got the firing order off in just the perfect storm where it doesn't even sound like it is trying to run.

 

cranks a bit stronger/faster and moves the tach a little now that it's been charging, but no changes in it running. I pulled it all apart again and took some pics of how everything is hooked up, I'll upload them in a few/tonight.

 

haven't touched the spark plug wires at all. but I'll check them tomorrow. it did run when I got it and it was pouring out gas, maybe 2 of them are off or something :/