Motorcycle Repair: Carb & Gas Tank problem after storage, fuel stabilizer, tank problem

Question
Hi,
I have a 1988 HawkGT (Honda Vtwin 650cc water cooled bike) thats been stored for 4 yrs in a garage. Although fuel stabilizer and cleaner were put in the tank and the carb bowls drained before storage, now it will only start, run roughly and keep running on full choke (even when warm).  
-Am I correct in thinking that probably the tank and carbs have gotten gummed up anyway ?  
-Should I Kreem the tank ?
-How is it best to clean out the carbs ?
Thanks for any helpful advice...
Regards - Blair Clarkson, Toronto


Answer
Blair... try draining the carbs again. If the fuel tank wasn't full when it went into storage the air space in the tank can condense and make water that works its way down the fuel system and into the carbs.

Other possibilites are that the petcock diaphragm is fouled up/leaking, which restricts fuel flow and makes an air leak all at once.

Drain the fuel tank completely. The stabilizer wont' work forever and the fuel may have just lost its volatility now, so it is more like paint thinner than gasoline. The fuel may have congealed inside, too, so a good cleanout may be in order. KREEM and other fuel tank treatments are to seal them from rusting. You need to determine if the tank has formed rust inside or not. Otherwise it is a waste of time and money.

Take the seat and tank off, drain the tank and remove the petcock so you can look up inside the tank to determine the condition of the insides, then take appropriate action.

Yamaha makes a carb cleaner that you mix with gasoline and fill the carbs with, while they are in place. Let it sit overnight and then drain again. DO NOT run the bike with the carb cleaner solution. Directions are on the bottle. IF that doesn't work then the carbs will have to come off for a good cleaning.

While you have the tank off, check the spark plugs (4 of them). Probably a good time to replace them anyway. When you get new ones, plug them into the wires and lay them against the head so you can observe that they are all getting spark before you reinstall them. Check the ends of the plug wires for corrosion.

Bill Silver