OK, this is my wife's bike, not mine. She doesn't ride when it's cold, so it sat for like 6 months.

It's a 600cc Honda Shadow - carb, not FI.

I charged the battery and choked it and got it started. It will drive OK at higher RPMS. However, if you let it come back down anywhere near idle, it dies. I can keep it running only if I constantly blip the throttle. Called the dealer and he said minimum of $200 - said he was gonna pull the carbs and rebuild em because of varnish build up.

This sounds like the problem, but isn't there something I can run through there to clean up the varnish build up? Do the carbs really need to be rebuilt you think? It's got like a whopping 50 miles on it.

 

Bump - Anyone?

 

The carbs don't have to be rebuilt, just cleaned from top to bottom. And usually the hardest part is getting them on and off the bike. Might be easier on the Shadow, but you should get a manual, like Haynes, to do it right.

 

I guess I'm looking for a cheaper, lazier way to do it.

Is there any carb cleaner or some such product that I can put in the tank and go through a tank or two that will clean this up without removing the carbs?

 

try Lucas. i think its an 8oz bottle, clear, with a green cap. try to put it in a tank thats low, then fill er up and ride it around. that was highly recommended over sea foam to me. if that doesnt work, the carbs will need to be cleaned.

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/deta...ption.asp?3649