1988 venture will not run when giveing it throttle

[Dave_Anderson]

bought a 1988 Venture that had been sitting for 5 years. I had to change out the needle and seats because they were stuck. Also freed up the slides. It still only runs on choke and slow speed. Put a level tube on the float bowl. It maintains level when I try to give it throttle, and the slides start to flutter. But it cuts out. Was thinking if it was one or two bad carbs it would ramp up, just have no power. If it was the fuel pump the carb fuel level would change. I shot carb cleaner through the main jet when I had it a part. Looking for ideas

[lonestarmedic]

Sad to say carbs need to come apart. Jet blocks need to come out and idle circuits need flushed out. You can try what they call the "Shotgun Cleaning'.

[Dave_Anderson]

what is a good resource for carb parts

[BlueSky]

partzilla for one

[cimmer]

Have you done a can of Seafoam yet. Get fresh gas in the tank but put a half a can of Seafoam in before filling the tank. Run it for about 5 to 10 mins and then let it sit overnight and then jump on it and drive it like hell and see how it performs. This might help or again if the carbs are really bad, it wont but a lot of members have had good luck with it. Make sure you have an air cleaner in the housing as these carbs need one in there to run properly also.

Hope that helps.

Rick F.

[Vonwolf]

I hate to ask the obvious, but when you give it throttle do you have the air box and cleaner together, these bikes don't run at all with the air cleaner off. Well they idle fine, but when you give it the gas it will just bog down.

[van avery]

Have you sprayed starting fluid around the intake boots with it running, If the idle increases then look for a vacuum leak? The orings under the intake boots maybe shot.

[Dave_Anderson]

been trying with air cleaner off thought you sync the carbs with air cleaner off also. If all it is, is the air box has to be closed up, that would be neat .Have the carbs apart and soaking. looking for the choke shaft bushing that hit the floor

Edited August 17, 2015 by Dave_Anderson

[cimmer]

Yes you need to have the air clear in the housing and it sealed up as the carbs need that to function properly at high speeds. A good test is to run the engine with the air filter out of the housing and then reinstall it and seal it and see the difference. The bike wont rev past about 3k with it out. Also synced the carbs with the bike ready to ride and the engine warmed up.

Another thing to check is the vacuum caps on the carbs where you connect the sync tool to, as these have been know to crack and affect the carbs. I would recommend replacing these with ones for a motorcycle as it seems the automotive ones are not as thick of a rubber and dont last with all the heat from the engine.

Good Luck

Rick F.

[jasonm.]

NO stock bike will run properly w/o the air filter and air box not assembled. Put it all together and give us a shout. FYI- you do not sync the carbs that way. You need a carb sync tool...aka vacuum tool..,..Manometer of sorts to watch the vacuum of all 4 carbs. Morgan carb tune I found to be the best made in UK. Since the mercury ones are hard to find.