Carb filling problems

I recently rebuilt the motor on my 82 seca 750 and its a bear to get started. After 20 min or so of messing around with the choke, petcock, throttle, etc (sometimes draining a full battery cranking the engine :roll: ) it will start and run fine, and once its warm it will easily start again.

I think the problem is carbs 3 and 4 have a hard time filling with gas. Their float bowls stay bone dry even with the petcock on prime. Randomly though they'll fill up and that's when the engine starts popping.

Anyone know what problems to look for that might be causing this? Or could my starting procedure be wrong?

 

I just went through this myself. If ur 3 and 4 carbs are not filling up it sounds like a needle valve and seat issue. I recently wet set my floats( something you should probably do) using a carb rack, my gas tank, and clear tubing. When I discovered my 3 carb was not filling properly I took out the needle valve and seats on all of my carbs and cleaned them well, and polished the seats. I also polished the float pins to keep it from hanging up. Put new o rings in the seat and put everything back together. Then I left the sticky carb bowl off. I held the float shut and turned tank on prime to check for a good seal then placed a bowl underneath and checked to make sure gas flowed through the valve

Also you may wish to clean your enrichment circuits if its not staring in the cold well.

 

When's the last time the carbs were cleaned? Sounds like 3 and 4 have some obstructions somewhere.

 

Doubt its the starting procedure. You need to rebuild / clean your carbs. I'm just starting mine and after removing the float bowls I'm astonished the thing ran as well as it did. Bike has only 24K miles but its obvious someone beat me into the carb and I'm not impressed with attempt. I've not even got into the top side, oh lord what will I find next.

From my experience as first time carb mechanic .... pull em and make sure there functional, especially with rebuilt engine.

 

Yeah the carb definitely needs a cleaning. I'm the 5th owner of this bike and it most likely has never been done before.

 

If you don't actually KNOW the last time your Carbs were cleaned, ... you're due!

 

Yeah haha. I pulled the float bowls and theres a lot of play between the floats and the fuel fill valve. Anyone know how to adjust that? Im thinking I could bend it with pliers but idk if that might break something. This is my first carb rebuild

 

The float levels have to be carefully and precisely adjusted;

see: http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf

You do make the adjustments by "acting on" the tang; but "bending" is too harsh. Think "tweak" or "nudge."

 

Great guide thanks