Hot starts and carburetor issues

[kiki_clay]

Good afternoon all,
I own a 1984 VT500c which has had consistent carburetor issues since shortly after I bought it. After the solenoid melted in September 2009, it sat for 2 months as I couldn't afford to fix it, until my dad offered to take it to the mechanic's. After that happened, I had trouble with quick acceleration, as the bike would hesitate for a second or two and then roar off, as well as trouble maintaining highway speeds (it would sputter and hesitate, then come back). Also, hot starts were nearly impossible unless I waited for 20 minutes or so after I turned off the bike (making quick gas fill ups very frustrating). After another trip to the mechanic's in Feb 2010 where they fixed the ignition coils, sealed the air snorkel and (box?), and cleaned and tuned the carburetors, most of those problems were resolved. No hesitation, beautiful highway performance, and hot starts weren't a problem.

Now, over 10,000km later (it's my main vehicle, and I also rode to Oregon from BC several times this summer), I'm almost back to where I started. The bike hesitates for the first 10 minutes or so of riding when you try to accelerate quickly unless the choke is on, and hot starts are extremely difficult. I am feeling a little paranoid I might be burning out the starter system with all the attempts I am making to start it after I stop for gas. I am dreading the possibility of stalling, because starting it back up quickly will not happen.

Has anyone else had this issue with their bikes? Will another simple carburetor clean and synch fix the issue? Or should I spend a little more money and just have them rebuilt? (300$ quote) It's getting colder and I'm worried that it is more likely something will go wrong with the bike so I'm willing to spend the money to make sure it works, as it is my main vehicle and I need it to get to work. Thank you!

[tubes_rock]

Sounds to me like your carbs slides might be a sticky, or the carb barrels might be a bit out of round. Seen both of those situations on various bikes and the symptoms are a lot like what you're describing.

A hot start is done without the choke, right?

Your bike snarling and burping for the first 10 minutes of a start-from-cold ride is perfectly normal. Your bike is not fuel injected and does not have an automatic choke. It's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. Annoying as it is, that's the way it works. I tend to ride the first 3 or 4 miles everyday with the choke 1/2 on. Don't forget to turn it off though!

--Justin

[bigblue]

I have the hot start issue too with my 85 VT500C...are you saying this is a carb problem or ignition coil?