Motorcycle Repair: 1996 virago xv1100 wont idle, yamaha virago 1100, straight pipes

Question
I just got a 1996 yamaha virago 1100 from a freind who owns a pawn shop he had it in pawn for over a year and a half we drained the tank lines carbs ect and re filled with hi test gas and added seafoam fuel system cleaner also cleaned carbs did't tear them all the way down though. the bike runs great but won't idle or start or run with choke on what could be wrong and what are the carb settings for this model it has straight pipes of unknown make not factory,unknown if it has been re jetted

Answer
Hi Aaron,

Unfortunately it is very hard to get these carbs
clean without soaking them in Yamaha carb cleaner.
The jets and passageways will not clean out on their
own but Seafoam is a good start.

The idle jets usually need to be physically
cleaned with smooth wire like a fine guitar
string or they must be replaced.

After sitting so long the carbs will have dried
fuel varnish thoughout. If you do not want to clean
them or remove them for whatever reasons I suggest
filling the float bowls with Yamaha carb cleaner
and letting the carbs sit overnight.

Seafoam may help but often the small idle jets
need physical cleaning.

There is some chance that the carb mounting rubbers
could be leaking vacuum. They can dry out or
even crack which can allow air instead of
fuel to enter the engine.

I would turn the idle screws out a few turns to start
and adjust them individually for the highest idle speed.

Use regular fuel as it has a faster burning rate than
premium fuels. Premium fuel is designed to burn slower
to prevent engine knock or pinging.

Jetting must only be done once it is running
better and warmed up.
Read the spark plug color and if they are
a light color increase the main jet size
until plugs read light brown on a fast run.

I think you just have more carb and jet cleaning
to do but there are rare times when ignition
connectors and battery condition can affect
the electronic ignition.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel getting to the carbs as well.

Blow out the carbs with compressed air and be careful
not to damage any rubber parts.

Good luck!
Wayne S.
------------------------------------------