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Help guys!!!



My 05 VStar was delivered winterized on Feb. 3. It immediatly went in my basement. I ripped it out today. I started it, and it wouldn't stay on without a bit of choke. I rode it for .2 kilometres (around the block). Then, I tried starting it again. The bike said "What?". Yup -- she won't go. I've gotten it turned over a couple times with the choke. but she won't stay on. It got hot, so I tried without the choke. A couple times, she turned over and grabbed, but it was just barely holding on, and after a few seconds, she dies.

Now, she won't turn over at all. I've given up for the day and will try tomorrow. Any ideas? Please!!!

Battery's been on a tender since early February. Yes, it's got gas.
Are there any ideas please? it's 16 degrees celsius tomorrow, but after that weather sux for the next week.

Help!

What is the petcock set too?

Funny, Sev.

Petcock's in the on position.

Sounds like a block or crimped fuel line then, have you removed the tank recently? Double check all the hoses.

And no the petcock was not a joke, it's the first thing you're supposed to ask.

Thanks for all your advice -- you guys are awesome.

Okay, I've spent a few more hours on it in the garage.

I had the battery on the tender all night. It was ready.

I checked the plugs. Pretty black. I was going to buy new ones, but the only shops open on Sundays don't have them. I have to wait until tomorrow. For now, I cleaned them as best I could and put them back on.

I drained the tank and put in a full tank of new gas. Now I'm stoned from breathing in those fumes all day.

Drained the carbs of the old stuff too.

Lifted up the tank to ensure there's no kinks.

Went to start it. NO PROGRESS. Same stuff -- crank crank crank crank, a backfire occasionaly, and nothing. Tried for a few minutes, never holding down the starter more than 10 seconds. Nothing.

This truly sucks.

Tomorrow I'm going to get new plugs. Tonight, I'm going to try to vent the gas cap as advised in the knowledge base of a V* forum. Hopefuly, this will make a diff. I have no idea why taking apart and rebuilding the cap helps, but a few people on this Star forum report that it works. Doesn't make sense to me, but I'll giver a go.


Any other ideas?

canuckerjay wrote: Tonight, I'm going to try to vent the gas cap as advised in the knowledge base of a V* forum. Hopefuly, this will make a diff. I have no idea why taking apart and rebuilding the cap helps, but a few people on this Star forum report that it works. Doesn't make sense to me, but I'll giver a go.


Any other ideas?

If the gas tank vent is plugged up, then you will get a vaccuum build up in the tank which will not allow fuel to flow to the carbs. Try starting the bike with the gas cap open to see if that helps.

canuckerjay wrote:I drained the tank and put in a full tank of new gas.

Don't forget to drain the carb float bowl, too, as it is still full of old gas.

Yep -- drained the carbs too; but thanks for the reminder!

So.. did you get it to work? UPDATE!!!

Hey thanks for asking!

I got it up and running with new plugs.
Fired it up and had it running with the choke on halfway for about 3 minutes. Couldn't resist the urge to rev it a bit. I think that might have been a mistake. It wouldn't stay on without the choke.

Next day, I fired it up again. Still had to keep the revs up just to start it off. But I rode it for a few minutes (it's cold here) and at a light, it was staying on -- Cool!

And damn I love this beast!! Life is nice on a cruiser.

Got back and checked the plugs. They're already pretty black. So I'm waiting for the nice weather this weekend and will put new plugs on and test run it again, then check them to see if this is a consistent problem or what (it might be from me revving it the night before with the choke on).

I contacted the dealer, he says if there's still a problem, he'll come and get it and fix it. I'll let you know.

Again, thanks so much for all your advice dudes!!