Just changed my plugs on my f2, and did take the tank off, but not the airbox. Used a plug-socket, two different lenght extensions and that pivot-thingy (dunno what it is in english) and it was a royal pita... Had to assemble/dismantle the whole socket/extension thing bit by bit into every hole and fish those plugs up with a magnet-pen. Before I started my bike wouln't even promise, after the change the lightest and swiftest touch of the start button and she went Wrumm right away. I also suspected the old gas would have gone bad, empited the tank and put fresh stuff in, but afterwards I realised when it started the carbs were still full of the old gas so idk did it play any part in it...

 

Yes, fuel from last year. Would that really make a difference? Are these bikes that sensitive to old gas?

 

Gas can go bad in as little as 30 days. Every winter I fill the tank so it doesnt draw any moisture. Then every month or so siphon it out and put in fresh. Run the old stuff in the work car with 200,000 mile. I fill the car 3 times a week so the old stuff in diluted with fresh. I do the same thing with the lawn tractor and generator.

 

Old/bad fuel has been the cause of others having trouble trying to get their bike running after being stored over the winter. After you put in fresh fuel you'll still have problems for a few minutes until the old stuff is purged from the system. Be patient.

 

Fresh plugs and fresh gas, see if that changes anything. Once you get it running, put in some seafoam and go for a long ride to flush the gunk out of the carbs. If you don't use Sta-bil over the winter, fuel gunks up the carbs into a nasty paste and blocks efficient fuel to the motor. Sea-foam is a start before cleaning out the carbs. But that is another thread.

 

Okay, pulled the tank and drained old gas into a bucket. The gas was on the brown side but the PO said he did add Sta-Bil to the gas before storeing it for the winter. Will Sta-Bil give the gas a brownish color? Also pulled the airbox to get to the plugs easier......so far nothing scary, pretty straight forward, easy dismantle.

 

Oh, one more quick observation, when I tried to drain the gas through the petcock in the open position nothing came out. I blew in to it and no air went through to the tank.... like it was clogged.......does the gas flow on suction from the pump? Shouldn't I be able to blow air through the petcock?

 

No, the petcock remains sealed until vacume is present (provided via the small vacume line coming from the carbs).

 

Great........thanks.