Can't start up, HELP

[Romax]

hi everyone,
I need help figure out what's wrong with my bike, 2002 Shadow 750 ACE. It's sit in my garage for 2-3 months between rides and never had any trouble until now, it won't start. I had drained the float bowls and it fills up so I know I'm getting fuel. I had sprinkled little gasoline under spark plugs and it fired up right away only to stall quickly. I had tried the starting fluid in air intake and again, fires up nicely, good idle but stalls . What could it be and how exactly does the choke works on this bike. I had the choke cables unscrewed completely thinking they might be stuck or something and that didn't do anything. I do not know exactly how the carb/choke works ... if you completely remove the choke cables, doesn't it mean you basically have the choke fully open, which is good for cold start, right?
Anyway, any suggestion helps,
thank you
Romax

[Scrapdog2grand]

What do you mean by removed the choke cables?
are they removed from the carbs now?
they allow more air and fuel into the engine for the increased idle as well.
if they are removed completly you are most likely getting to much air, and no additional fuel.
put them back in and use the choke. maybe give it a little throttle.

[oconeedan]

A choke reduces the air allowed to flow in the carbs, which then makes the carbs draw more fuel.
My GUESS, is that you put the same crappy ethanol fuel in that we all have to use, and it does not sit well for months. It's OK if you run your bike enough to need fuel every week or two. But the ethanol poisoned gas does not do well sitting for months.
You may have to have the carbs cleaned.
If this is what caused it, a good fuel stabilizer would have prevented this. (Stabil marine, Star-tron)
Dan

[dernp]

Sounds like you are in for a thorough carb cleaning. As Dan said, ethanol fuel is poison and if you are letting your bike sit for a couple of months at a time, then you will need to stabilize the fuel.

[Romax]

yeah, carb cleaning might be necessary... I was looking for a shortcut but I guess there aren't any. Well, that's a next weekend project.

the choke cables are back in, I was playing with it and it made no difference.
THX

[blueiedgod]

If the true cause is ethanol separation indeed, you may be able to get her running again by either removing the fuel from the tank and putting new fuel in. Or, just shake the bike very well to mix the fuel well, so that whatever separated out from the fuel is again equally mixed, and try starting.

If I remember correctly, ethanol will settle on the bottom and gas will float on top, meaning that you are feeding your bike mostly ethanol, and that is why it does not start.