What's wrong with my motorcycle?

Question

I recently purchased a used 1981 Yamaha Maxim 550 motorcycle. It was in fantastic condition for its age and was running and starting great. A few days ago I put off filling up on gas thinking I had enough, but I didn't. I switched over to my reserve tank and went and got gas. After filling up, I switched back to my primary tank. That evening the bike began to leak gasoline both from near the carburetor and the exhaust. I tried to start it up but it took 5 minutes with the choke all the way open and the throttle totally on to even get a sputter. I finally got it to start but it wouldn't idle. I changed the spark plugs but I still have the same problem: it is very difficult to start. Any help?

Answer 1

That's a great bike, but they all had bad problems with carbs leaking gas. You probably have some crud holding a float needle open. You need to clean the carbs and put some real gas filters in the fuel lines. It was hard to start because gas had poured into the intake from the leaky carb.

You also need to change the oil a couple of times. you might have gas in the crankcase.

Take the petcocks apart and make sure the rubber things aren't deteriorated.

Always shut the petcocks off at night. You'll never get those float needles perfect.

Answer 2

you got gunk in your carbs probably because the screen is missing or damaged in your tank and the carb is dumping gas into the engine BAD news. If you had gas coming out the exhaust it is probably in the oil to. check it for gas smell rebuild the carbs and check the petcock by s******g it out. good luck

Answer 3

Anyone silly enough to by a ricer over 15 years old, is buying a money pit.

Answer 4

CHANGE YOUR OIL!! Immediately, if not sooner.

Sounds like you got some crud from the bottom of the tank stuck in the float valve(s). Liquid gasoline coming out the exhaust means it was major flooded. Lucky it didn't hydrolock, luckier still if you still have bearings in there.

Wasted my 82 Vision like that. Stuck float, gas in oil.

Wasn't but a minute or two, and the bearings were in the oil filter.

Answer 5

reserve is bottom of tank and by switching to reserve cuz all garage to go in the carb and got the float bowl stuck.

after you get carb all clean out put a fuel filter in place.

Answer 6

Check your carbarator because the float is pry stuck eather on the gasket or you got some dirt in it. so clean it out realy good and you usualy want to change the gasket every time you take it apart because it stretches out and gets in the way.

Answer 7

I have an 82 Vision with a prime setting on the pit c**k. If it is the prime position, it allows a free flow of gas. It is used to fill the carbs if the bike hasn't been started for some time. On my bike, "ON" is straight down.

Answer 8

youve got dirt in the float bowls,take the bottom of the carbs off,and spray the s**t out of them with carb cleaner

Answer 9

from the sounds of it youve got some c**p stuck in carbs reserve is there for emergencies only so for a guess once youd switched to reserve dirt which has gathered in bottom of tank has got into the carbs take carbs off take off float bowls and blow through with airline refit should be ok

Answer 10

How old is the fuel in your secondary tank.Has it sit for many weeks or months ?If yes heres the possible problem.Gasoline will turn to a brown syrup like mixture after it sits for 3 or 4 months or more.If this is the case this brown syrup is clugging the jets in the carburetor and likely is now in the bottom of the float bowl inside the carburetor and also in the bottom of the secondary fuel tank.Replacing the fuel    wilh not remove the brown syrup mixture.You must find the drain valve in your owners manual drain all the fuel from the carburetor and fuel tank.Then purchase 1 gallon new fuel into your gas can ,then add a liquid called C-foam,Add the correct amount for 1 gallon of fuel,you will find this at your local auto store..Now pure the gallon of fuel into your fuel tank.Let it sit for an hour,this will give the c-foam time to melt the brown syrup that is resting in the bottom of your carburetor and fuel tank.Then start the cycle.The exaust will be kind of smokey intell all the c-foam is burned off.This is normal.You can also confirm this problem removing the air filter and spraying starting fluid or wd 40 in the intake of the carburetor.If the engine will start and run for a few seconds.This confirms your ignition is working fine and there is a lack of fuel do to the brown syrup mixture blocking the fuel flow to the carburetor.You may choose to add some c-foam to your fuel in your primary fuel tank,if this brown syrup has formed in the bottom of the tank this will also be removed by the c-foam. The c-foam melts the brown syrup mixture.

The fuel leak you mentioned could be something as simple as a fuel line leak or a leaking fuel selection valve.Close inspection of this area should reveal the problem.Flash light inspection Only.No electrical lamps near this leaking fuel problem. Best of luck!