Motorcycle Repair: not runing properly, air fuel mixture, rear cylinder

Question
hi mark I just picked up a 1985 xv1 (1000 or 11oo?) virago the person before me and a few others could not get it running properly. It starts with good compretion with choke full will run at idle running only on rear cylinder .front cylinderis cold and thats only running for a few secons getting spark but the spak is white and it makes a loud clunking noise can't pin point it.thay also cut three white wires down by the staiter don't know if I matched them up or not but it still runs the same someone told me it could be the (igniter). I hope you can help thanks  

Answer
Hi Bruce,

I'm not sure what the question is.

1) The clunking sounds heard when starting is common with the Virago. It sounds as if the lower end is coming apart. The starter motor and start clutch is causing the sounds.

You can find the fix in the form of a shim kit and available on Ebay. Perfroming an internet search to see other resources on the subject.


2) I suspect fuel left in the flaot bowls during storage has varnished. Pilot jets and fuel passageways may be obstructed. Symptoms of this common problem: the engine  starts and idles with choke, but stalls off choke. The engine may not even start in some cases.


3) Cool front cylinder may be from the carb being varnished. If so, the carb may not be providing the cylinder with an air-fuel mixture for combustion.

The problem may be electrical, too. I would need to perform a few checks to verify.

I return tech information files via email. There was no email address with question as requested.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively