'83 Venture will start and run unless I give it some throttle.

[RAM1961]

I have an '83 Venture that I got from my Dad. Has just under 17K miles on it, and due to an ankle fusion on right leg, I have been unable to ride it the past four years. I've stored it in my heated shop and that's how my dad stored it as well. I decided I might as well sell it, but it seems to be having carb problems. I can fire it up and it will run half-choked AND as long as I don't give it any throttle. Twist the throttle and it dies. I've only ran 91 premium with no ethanol and I did put Sta-bil in it as well. I have fired it up every year I haven't ridden it and it idled and ran fine until this summer. I've given it some shots of carb cleaner to no avail. I'm not a carb mechanic by any means and my right foot is in a cast again due to more surgery needed on it. Is there anything I can do without taking it in to a shop - right now I can't even load it on a trailer. Thanks in advance.

[cami]

I had the same problem on my 1999 RSV. Took it into the shop and was told the pilot jets were clogged. Yamaha told me to double the dosage of STP or Sea Foam cleaner, set the idle higher to keep it running off of the 1/2 choke setting. I ran about 2 gallons of gas through and little by little was able to lower the idle speed, now the bike now runs fine. Hope this works for you.

Mike

[CaseyJ955]

I have an 89 Venture, and a Vmax and both bikes have the same finicky carb setup. I have been down this road more than once with exactly those symptoms. The first thing to try is a "shotgun" carb cleaning. It often works. I have trouble linking stuff with my phome but a google search should get you there. I know its covered here and there is a great writeup on vmaxforum.net also (same proceedure).

 

I use seafoam when I do it. This might not work, if it does not then the carbs are coming off for a good cleaning. Worst case scenario is sat with ethanol tainted fuel. Not good, the corn squeezings gell up and leave a sludge, and it really wont take long for that to happen. Once you find a thread about the shotgun there will be some reading about whats next if it fails. I have found the way to prevent it by never ever using ethanol unless there is no choice. If you must use ethanol then splash a few oz of seafoam with it and do not let it sit for to many days. I have had ethanol fuel make mine do this after just a couple weeks. When the bike will sit for awhile use pure gasoline and a few oz seafoam. Mine set all winter with pure gasoline and seafoam topped off and fire right up in spring. Since doing thos I have not had to endure this issue. Never ever store it (or any carb equipped gasoline engine) with ethanol fuel.

 

Pure gasoline and seafoam =good happy nice. If you do use seafoam run as much out as you can and come behind it with pure gasoline and seafoam. I know im repetitous but its that important. I hope the shotgun works, keep is posted and ask if any clarification is needed.

 

Edit: just saw you left no ethanol in it, perhaps try seafoam in place of sta-bil. I like the above idea too from Cami too, im keeping that in mind. Since you didnt use ethanol I'll bet these other options have a decent chance of working.

 

Edit again: welcome!! I see where you live, what an amazing place, ive ridden through and its spectacular. I usually end up in MT and WY when I ride aimlessly. If I ever move from South Dakota (unlikely) it would be for MT.

Edited August 6, 2018 by CaseyJ955

[.45Cole]

Pull the carbs and clean them. Rebuild kits are $20/ea and the work is really easy, just takes time. I'm going to post a rehash on pulling/cleaning carbs as I think new part numbers and such are in order.

 

Cleaning them really isn't hard and they are easier to pull/replace than I had ever thought. I'm not a mechanic nor a longtime VR owner. Ask if you need help.