First start-up of the year a no-go.

[Cuda 69]

Went out to the garage today to start the SG for the first time this year.Temp was about 40F and raining.Battery is all charged up,due to being on a tender.Took the cover off(hello) and turned the petcocks on to prime,listened for the bowls to fill,which they did.Pulled choke out and hit the starter,the bike turned over but wouldn't start.(yes,it was firing) Turned the petcocks over to on,and put the choke in half way (I could smell gas).Hit the starter again,and gas started coming out the air filter housing.The bike backfired and smoke started coming out the filter housing. I shut off the gas,and pulled the filter.It was burnt a little,with a small amount of gas in the bottom of the filter housing.So,I guess I shouldn't have drained the fuel bowl by running the bike out of gas,(assuming the floats are stuck).When I put it to bed for the winter,I usually leave the petcocks on and leave the bowls full,I know,if they leak,it's gonna fill the oil pan.I have never had any problems starting it that way though,and definetly never had the stuck bowls.Oh well,I took the filter out,was slightly burnt(I have a new one)and I'm letting the carbs air out.I did tap on the fuel bowls,hopefully they let loose.When I get the time to try again,should I try starting without the filter on? I don't know if the floats let loose,because when I turned it the second time,no fuel came out that I could see,but it backfired,that's when I stopped trying. There is only about three or four table spoons of fuel on the floor,and I cranked it quite a bit.I guess I should check the oil.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Flooded

It is flooded, the "prim' will do that is "ANY" needles are stuck. Drain the carbs and turn to "off" start the bike, it will die fast. Turn the fuel to "ON" and crank with choke to full, shuld start after a few tries You will want to change the oil and do the pingel install to fix

[BA80]

If it stopped flooding when you tapped on the bowls go ahead and hold the throttle wide open while you crank it and that should clear the cylinders and it will catch and sputter a bit while they clear out.

It's not unusual for the floats to be a little sticky after sitting for a while. Run a can of Seafoam through it when you start riding again and that'll help with the gumming in the bowls.

If it just started flooding when you attempted the initial spring startup your oil should be OK. It takes a while for the fuel to leak past the rings. Fresh oil after sitting is a good idea anyway though.

[bikerphil]

I would take off the lower airbox and filter and get the gas out and let the filter dry off, maybe re-oil if it's a K&N, then turn your fuel to prime to make sure the floats aren't still sticking. Put a rag under there just in case. Next time after hibernation, begin tapping the bowls immediately after first turning on the taps.

[Cuda 69]

thanks guys, I will try again tomm. afternoon.I always change the oil at the beginning of the season,no matter how many mi. I have on it since last oil change.Should I start it with the oil filter off,in case it floods again?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

+1

I would take off the lower airbox and filter and get the gas out and let the filter dry off, maybe re-oil if it's a K&N, then turn your fuel to prime to make sure the floats aren't still sticking. Put a rag under there just in case. Next time after hibernation, begin tapping the bowls immediately after first turning on the taps.

I depth, my drain the carbs / air box is to make sure you don't get a spark and burn your bike to the ground (It happened to me on one of mine) I don't have / need a "prim" on my bike and if anything is leaking, it will show up Once running on "run" the vibration gets stuff loose IMHO

[BA80]

Should I start it with the oil filter off,in case it floods again?

I hope that's a type O and you meant the air filter.

[Cuda 69]

already took the lower box and filter out to dry out,and Greg,i'm not 100% it's not leaking after hitting on the bowls.gas was burning in the airbox,so was more important to get the airbox apart than check for leaks,buy I will check that tomm. That was a TYPO...sorry.I will never use prime again,I never used it before,so lesson learned.

[BA80]

You NEED to use prime after the bike sits to fill the carbs or the damn thing won't start. The gas won't get to the carbs otherwise.

OEM has specials and probably has the octy's removed. On is just like running on prime all the time that way. I had to run my SG on prime for the whole trip to The Lost Rally in Minnesota the last time I went because my octy went TU. I never even turned it off and never had a problem.

Fresh fuel and a little Seafoam should clear it up.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Prim

You NEED to use prime after the bike sits to fill the carbs or the damn thing won't start. The gas won't get to the carbs otherwise.

OEM has specials and probably has the octy's removed. On is just like running on prime all the time that way. I had to run my SG on prime for the whole trip to The Lost Rally in Minnesota the last time I went because my octy went TU. I never even turned it off and never had a problem.

Fresh fuel and a little Seafoam should clear it up.

No, I had octy with "prim" and caused flooding. now I have Pingel with vacuum close also, but just like with the octy on "ON", you can suck on the vacuum line to get gas into the carbs without having them overflow like "prim" CAN do. JIMHO

[BA80]

Well, that's a bit confusing for some folks.

If your carbs are right then they WON'T flood on prime. With vacuum to the valves it's the same as prime anyway.

Fact of physics.

[Cuda 69]

ok,now im getting two different answers,do I drain the floats and put on prime,or I know the floats are filled now,do I put on prime,or ON,and try starting again.or just put on prime and make sure there's no leaks,and if no leaks,turn to on and try starting.I'd like to to get some sort of sequence to firing this puppy up without burning my garage with all contents down.

[Cuda 69]

I think the reason my floats stuck,is because I completely drained the carbs before storage,which I usually never do.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Well, that's a bit confusing for some folks.

If your carbs are right then they WON'T flood on prime. With vacuum to the valves it's the same as prime anyway.

Fact of physics.

Yes, the same except "TIME". If you suck on the vacuum to let "SOME" gas get into the carbs to get the bike started and then let the system take it's corse, that is different then opening a free flow of gas pulled by gravity till something fails / leaks, it happens, beleive me

[BA80]

Best bet is put it on prime and check to see if there are leaks before trying to start it. If you have to pull the bottom of the air cleaner off. It's not that big of a deal.

If it's leaking tap on the bowls to try and stop it. Simple.

I don't drain my carbs when I park my bike simply because it never sits more than 2 - 4 weeks. Personally unless it's going to sit 6 months or more I see no reason to drain the bowls.

I haven't touched my carbs on my SG in 3 - 4 years and they still run fine. They will try to flood sometimes after sitting a while but not bad. I also have 79 carbs on there with brass on brass float valves and they don't seal as good as the Viton tipped float needles.