I just got my first F2. Needless to say the carbs were messed up. So I took them off and gave them a good cleaning. While they were off I made sure to clean the cables. So the throttle now snaps back like it should, and I was able to see through all the jets like I should be able to. I did not have the pilot jet tool and wanted to try to make the bike run without using a saw on the top of the jets. So i put the carbs back on, hit it with some starter fluid just to make sure, starts and runs for a second great. Finish everything up and nothin. Cranked till it killed the battery. Turned out the float bowl drain screw and there is fuel in all of the carbs. Just not firing. What else could I be missing? Thanks for any help. BTW, there is new fuel in the tank and a new petcock as well.
Bret

ETA: Went back out and tried again. This time I noticed that the vaccuum line would slide freely off and on the engine. I plugged both ends with my hands and now there is a sputtering sound I also noticed a sucking sound from the right side of the bike. Noticed that there are no clamps holding the fuel lines onto the carbs. Gonna fix all that in the morn and hopefully she'll live!
Bret

 

check your spark plugs, they may be fouled and/or not firing.

 

It fires and runs briefly on starter fluid when I had the carbs off. Also if I spray a bit into where the vaccuum line from the tank attaches to on the engine. Is there an easy way to check the plugs or does the tank and airbox have to come off again?
Bret

 

Spark plugs are just an easy check, they can still fire fouled, just not every time. You can drop in a socket, then the extender, then attach a ratchet. If you have small enough hands, and drop in each piece of the wrench at a time you can get them out without removing the air box. I do it all the time.

Spark plug readings also give you an idea of the problem. Are you using the choke to start it up?

 

Thank you for the replies Dissevered, I will check the plugs. When I cleaned the carbs they were terrible. I did all of the jets but the pilot screw because I did not have the tool and I do not want to cut the carbs. Well, after a wild goose chace today I was able to find one, except that it was $90.00 So I was bummin around the garage trying to think of what else I can do. Found a .223 shell on my reloading bench. Fits just right over the pilot screw so i made a little dent and there you have it! Home made pilot screw tool My next question is this. If you were to not know the position of the screw prior to removing them for cleaning how would you replace them? Maybe all the way down and 1 1/4 turns out or something? It's still cold and snowing here so I'm not in too big a hurry but I sure don't want to waste the good weather wrenching. I am a firm believer that that's truly the purpose of winter
Thanks again,
Bret

 

yeah don't ever spend crazy prices on dumb tools. I just saved myself 160 dollars by making my own "special" honda tools with old sockets and a grinder.

It varies depending on weather, elevation, and aftermarket mods, but an ok place to start is to turn them in fully and turn them out 2 turns.

 

Ok, I have a couple new questions. I was looking at my engine which currently looks like this:

Why is the line coming off of the second from the left plugged? What does it do and should it be like this? Also, there is a line coming from between outter left and inner left that appears to go into the thermostat housing. What is this line for?
Bret

 

The plug is supposed to be there, its removed when syncing carbs. The line is a coolant line, it attaches to your pump. Thermostat is on the right side of the bike.

 

You get everything fixed, Bret? It's funny that you used a .223 shell for the pilot tool. I was just sitting here thinking, "I wonder whether a rifle case could be used for a pilot jet tool..." when I searched and found this thread! lol Good call, and hope you got everything fixed.

 

Nope. Really wish I could say that I have. Two of the diaphgram tops are cracked. The pilot jets were fine. Carb cleaner blew right through. I am thinking of just getting a set from ebay from a running bike and trying that. I'm still lost. Getting kinda bummed...
Bret