1986 Yamaha Maxim 700 runs then dies…

Hey Everyone, As the title suggests I have a 86’ Maxim 700 that I purchased from a colleague that retired and moved away for a “project” bike. My friend is helping me with my bike and trying to get her on the road. So far a new exhaust was installed, the fuel tank was removed and cleaned out and the carburetor was removed, cleaned and rebuilt with the carb kit that I found on this site. This past week I put a new battery in my Maxim and we tried her. My buddy has a carb sync tool and 4 carbs were synced and bike seems to run like a dream, but here’s where everything goes downhill. Bike starts, idles away and I leave to give her a run… everything is running as it should but then I slow to go into a turn, pull in the clutch, and as soon as the rpm’s drop the bike will shut down and WILL NOT start. Bike will crank over but will not start, let the bike cool off and she’ll start but idles rough and by the time I can get her back to the garage(about a km away) she shuts off again and won’t start until the carbs are synced again. This has happened 3 times now and it’s practically the same every time. So frustrated as I want to get her running as the weather has been beautiful but no luck. Thanks in advance for any possible help and sorry for the long winded message.

Darren

 

When you clean them carbs you really have to clean them carbs. My first project XJ took me six times to clean the carbs the correct way. So, not saying you didn't do a good job, but carbs for me are the number one reason why our bikes don't run well. Starting to refresh our bikes, the fuel system, carbs and tanks are normally not in good shape. I fuel filter in-line with the carbs should also be used.

The "church of clean" is in the forum, read through it and really get those small jets at the bottom of the floats all cleaned out. Make sure the emulsion tubes were taken out and cleaned with a brush and all them little holes are supper clean. What tends to happen is just like you said. The bike runs great at first, and then some of the other gas junk gets soaked and then starts to move around in the tank or in the carb. That junk is then plugging the jets or is collecting in the bottom of the float bowl.

This is all just a guess, good luck with the troubleshooting and let us know how it is going.

 

Check the floal levels.

 

Have enough gas in the gas tank? If not enough, did you switch to reserve? Make sure that you have a full tank— simple things first.
1. What height are your floats set at?
2. did you hook the petcock vacuum line back up?
3. What happens if you put it on PRI?
4. What happens if you leave the gas cap loose?