New 99 Spirit 1100, Need Some Maintenance Advice

[harrychurch]

I know I'm posting this in the wrong forum, but I haven't gotten my 'three posts' yet, so this is where I gotta post it =D

I picked up a used 99 VT1100 (Spirit). She rides pretty rough, and unless I've got her fully choked, she won't stay running (even fully choked, I have to feather the throttle a bit to keep her started.) I believe (from the smell) that the previous owner let her sit with a partially full tank over the winter, and I had to ride her about 75 miles home before I got new gas in her.

I've changed out her plugs (they were pretty much solid black) and changed the engine oil. Due to an agreement with my wife, I am no longer allowed to 'mess with' stuff I don't fully understand, so that's the limit of what I'm doing with the bike

In about a month or so, I'll be taking her to the shop for a full work-up ($450 at our local shop). Is there anything else that you guys can reccomend I do to her to make her a little bit happier? I've got service manuals on the way, and again, if it's not too complicated, I'd like to do as much as I can myself before I take it to the shop. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[old dad]

bump due move from introductions

[egold54]

I just got mine back from having the carbs redone and the coolant changed. Total cost 282.00 from a local mechanic. The dealer wanted 350.00 but you never know what there going to throw in there to bump the cost up. 450.00 sounds like a lot. I might change the fuel filter run some sea foam or star tron enzyme treatment. I have used both at times. The enzymes in star tron is suppose to take care of the ethanol buildup.

[harrychurch]

I've got a bottle of STP 'Fuel System Cleanser' in her tank right now. Someone else also suggested the Sea Foam, so I'll give that a shot. Is there any danger to running so many additives? IE, if I run the sea foam and the Star Tron on the next full tank, right after running the cleanser this tank?

[egold54]

Do not run both at the same time. I ran a bottle of star Tron according to the directions then ran 3-4 tanks clean fuel then ran sea foam. That was last year and now that the carbs are done I'll probably run sea foam every few tanks. To me the bike ran better with sea foam but the guy that I talked to last year about doing my carbs swears by star tron so I used both. Made a difference for me last year with the popping. Had the carbs done and got it back today, it's like ridding a different bike, smoother more power and just sounds so much better. He told me the one of the pilot jets was completely gummed up. Good luck and get some estimates 282.00 was with coolant and tax.

[gdb069]

[QUOTE=egold54;1346260]...To me the bike ran better with sea foam but the guy that I talked to last year about doing my carbs swears by star tron so I used both. Made a difference for me last year with the popping. Had the carbs done and got it back today, ...QUOTE]

EGOLD: So are you saying neither the Star tron nor the Sea foam really worked since you carbs gummed?

HARRY: You might want to see if there is a motorcycle maintenance course nearby. The cost would save you that much each year and maintenance is simple once you know how / have a few tools / and a manual.

One thing you could try is a Brake Fluid Flush that doesn't require any special tools. There are a few posts here that tells how.

Coolant is also pretty simple and other than brake pads thats about it for sceduled maintenance.
G.

[egold54]

When I got the bike last year it was popping badly at idle and decel. using star tron and sea foam with a few clean tanks between help a lot. It wasn't until I turn the a/f screw out that the popping was totally gone. The bike was also running lean. This spring I set the choke to full help get it started after winterizing. The choke must of gotten stuck it was idling high after even turning the idle down did not help. It was a good time to get the carbs done.

I was told today when I got the bike back 1 pilot screw was totally gummed up and they were slightly out of sync.

Sea foam, star tron did help but I believe you need to start using some kind of carb cleaner from the start. From now on I'll use it every 3-4 tanks.

[gat803]

Originally Posted by egold54

Sea foam, star tron did help but I believe you need to start using some kind of carb cleaner from the start. From now on I'll use it every 3-4 tanks.

Hogwash.
An engine that is run long and often isn't likely to spunk up the fuel system. Adding carb cleaner to every 4 tanks of gas does nothing but waste money. Carbs get gummed up by old gas setting stagnant in them, not by fresh gas flowing thru them.

[egold54]

perhaps that was it. I bought the bike last july with 14,000 it's going to turn 20,000 over the weekend.

[drew81333]

I was having similar issues (also from letting it sit for a long time) ended up pulling the carbs off, cleaning them, replaced the jets (bought online pretty cheap) put them back on and bike has ran beautifully ever since. The manuals were really helpful with doing the work. First time for me ever working with two carbs, but was pretty straight forward.