My bike has sat for a while without being started. I tried to start it and it wouldn't fire. If I spray some starting fluid in the carbs it will start, but will not stay running. I took the tank off and was going to drain the gas because it has been in there for a while, I took the petcock off and gas would barely trickle out no matter how i positioned the tank, am I doing something wrong or is my tank clogged up?

 

Get some tube hosing that fits onto your carbs fuel rail, and a funnel that fits into it. Hook that up to the carbs, than hang from cieling full of gas. That will allow you to bypass the whole thank thing.


Honestly, if your bike sat for a long time without the carb bowls being drained, you PROBABLY need to clean them. The above method aughta work though to see what's going down. If it works, the issue is in fuel delivery to the carbs, not the tank itself. If it doesn't work, the issue is in the carbs, not the tank delivering fuel.

 

If gas is dripping out while you have the tank off then your petcock probably needs a rebuild. Next time store your bike properly. Also, since its leaking with no vacuum attached then that means gas was flowing into your carbs while it was stored possibly overflowing your floats. CHECK YOUR OIL for gas as it may have flooded past the carbs into the bike and u probably have a carb cleaning in your near future.

 

Damn dude you sound like you're scolding him! Chill out old man Honda!

Anyways, the above situation of gas overflowing past the float bowls into the motor and blah blah blah... yeah not all that likely and not that damn common. However, what IS undeniably common on these bikes is them gunking up when you let it sit with fuel for long periods of time (likes yours) resulting in poor fuel delivery. Hence it runs with the starter fluid, but isn't getting enough gas on it's own! Everything you've described points at Gunked carbs. It's getting ignition hence the starter fluid allows it to turn over, it's getting air, it's just not getting fuel into the air.

So there you have it.

 

I was scolding him a little bit... I didnt come off like an ******* or call him an idiot. If he would have taken 30 seconds to run the carbs outta gas with the fuel tank to off, then he would have 0 problems and not required and in depth and potentially expensive carb cleaning. Live and learn, make mistakes once and dont do them again. next time store properly.

Also, although this problem is not common, I have witnessed exactly what I described above on several occasions. I picked up a 92 ex-500 I was rebuilding. Leaking petcock, flooded carbs, past floats into engine. Doesnt hurt to look at the sight glass and save some bent rods. I only mentioned it because he mentioned his leaking vaccuum operated petcock leaking fuel... Its only supposed to leak fuel with vaccuum applied which means that fuel was leaking into the carbs the entire time it was stored...

I agree its more likely he needs to clean his carbs but I wouldnt dismiss the 2 second check for gas in oil like and end up with bigger problems even though hes already turned it over a few times.

Apologies if anyone took offense. Just being helpful. I am only 21 years old and all of my mechanical experience is from hands on. I am a STM at its finest with no formal training but havnt found anything yet that I couldnt take apart and put back together. Also have about 4 years of rebuilding bikes under my belt now (all carbed, mostly ex-500's). started learning on cars at 15 when i replaced my own clutch in a 94 v8 camaro

 

Word, you should check out EX-500.com. Good info on those bikes. I built one up recentl into a streetfighter and sold it. Good looking little bike, although I'm not a fan.

Anyways, change the oil anyways. It's $20 and your bike will be the happier for it, haha. Now you can address both issues!

...and yeah, for future reference turn the tank off (or remove in your case) and then drain the float bowls. It takes almost no work and is an easy way to avoid problems like this in the future.

Some one should make a "storing your bike for the winter" DIY thread, since it's such a common issue.

 

Im the same username on that forum as well : ) I thought jnicola sounded familiar Been rocking my ex since I started riding and just finally found enough cash to upgrade. Still got my 06ex and now a 92cbrf2

 

You misunderstood my post. With the petcock still installed on the tank, no gas would come out. I removed the petcock from the tank to try and drain the gas from the tank and with the petcock removed from the tank gas would only dribble out, This isn't normal, correct?


And about properly storing the bike, yea I know I should have, I didn't intend to let them bike sit that long, but I had to move for a job and didn't properly store it before I moved...

 

Try opening the cap and seeeing if it pours out of the bottom faster afterwards. I bet dollars to donuts it'll pour out faster and will rule out the tank being gummed out.

It's a lot like opening those cheap cans of fruit juice. If you just pop a hole in one side, it trickles out. Pop an extra hole on the other side, and it pours!

If you really want to rule out he gas tank, just hook some tubing and a funnel up to the carbs, ala beer bong style. Fill it up with gas and try and then try and run the bike. If your delivery to the carbs is the issue (tank/petcock issues) this will enable the bike to run. If it isn't delivery to the carbs, it still won't run.

I'm betting dollars to donuts it's carbs.

 

I did try it with the lid open and there was no difference.