2007 Key West fuel flow problem

[condopresident]

Hi guys. Picked up a 2007 Key West with a hair over 3k miles for a couple hundred bucks about a week ago. The guy I bought it from was selling it cheap because it needed a battery, a brake cylinder, and the carbs cleaned. It wasn't running, but I wanted to learn to wrench on bikes and this was the perfect project. (I've learned more in the last week than I thought I would!)

So, I investigated the brake cylinder first. Piston was stuck in, but I freed it and it works great now. I bought a battery and a trickle charger, charged it all the way up and popped it in. Now the starter turns over, but the bike won't fire. Tried kick starting it, won't fire either.

After a few days of going over everything, I'm at the carb. I've checked the fuel lines, and I've tested the petcock which seems to work fine. With the fuel lines off the carb, I can suck gently on the negative pressure hose and fuel flows fine. With the fuel line back on the carb, I can't make it flow.

I took the carb off twice, cleaned it up, checked for blockage, and put it back. Still doesn't seem to want to flow. Now, this is my first experience with carburetor cleaning, but I did a lot of research beforehand, and I took my time. Still, I must've done something wrong.

I made note of where the idle/mixture screws were as well, but there's a good chance the guy I bought the scooter from had tinkered with them and that they aren't how they should be.

Any suggestions? If it helps, the bike sat for about two to three months. The gas appears to be fresh as well.

Thanks!

[harry]

With the fuel lines off the carb, I can suck gently on the negative pressure hose and fuel flows fine. With the fuel line back on the carb, I can't make it flow.

I made note of where the idle/mixture screws were as well, but there's a good chance the guy I bought the scooter from had tinkered with them and that they aren't how they should be.

ok so if the pitcock works when you suck on it but doesn't when connected to
 the carb   you might have the hose connected to the wrong tap....

to check start by disconnecting the fuel line and crank the motor over
see if the fuel flows.
 the correct vac tap is the one at the rear of the carb near the intake manifold.
the fuel line goes to the center for the carb next to the tower where the slide
or  t.cable is attached.

as for the  mix settings start with the air screw turned out about 1 turn or so,
for the idle screw 2 & 1/4 turns out.
when it starts and warms up readjust the mix screw to where the motor runs best
then set the idle screw to about 1700 rpm or when the rear wheel just starts to move.
 let the motor cool ,  like the next morning and try to start again  if your
right on  it will start within a few cranks  if not readjust .

also never hurts to replace the plug every 1500 miles or once every other season

oilyhans

[condopresident]

Thanks Harry. I think I've got it hooked up correctly, and I'm attaching a (slightly rubbish) photo. I'm holding the vacuum line next to the tap I had it attached to, by the way.

Going to try your suggestion about disconnecting the fuel and seeing if it will flow with the vacuum line on.

Oh, the spark plug didn't look too bad when I bought it, but I went ahead and replaced it yesterday anyway (and gapped it to about 0.6-0.7). The plug cap is brand new as well.

[condopresident]

Quick question... When I removed the four hoses from the petcock, I think I re-connected them right, but I'm doubting myself with the two hoses from the gas tank into the petcock. I've got the hose that runs from the top of the tank going into the line that runs parallel to the fuel line into the carb. The hose from the bottom of the tank is hooked to the diagonal entrance to the petcock, below that. Should they be reversed, or is that right?

(Sorry if that's a bit confusing. I can attach a photo if need be.)

[harry]

a 4 pipe fuel shut off?
 ok  look carefully  at the pitcock
usually the bent pipe (90 degrees) is the vac line
 there should be one pipe that says "in"  that comes from the bottom of the tank
one says "vent" that should go to the top of the tank
 and one says "out" goes to the carb...

 oilyhans

[condopresident]

Hi Harry,

Double-checked the petcock. I had it hooked up correctly after all.

I took your advise and pulled the fuel line from the carb, placed it in a container and tried to crank the bike. Fuel filter filled right up. I put the fuel line back to the carb, removed the vac line and tried to gently suck on it again, and got nothing.

Guessing I'll need to address the carb again, huh?

[condopresident]

Just wanted to post a quick update.

Took the carb apart for the third time, and realized I wasn't thorough enough the first two times. Figured out how to remove the float pin and took that out, soaked everything overnight, blew it out completely with compressed air and put it back together. Discovered the gasket on the gas cap was wonky and torn, so I drained the tank and added new fuel. Found a few really tiny cracks in the fuel hoses where they connect to the filter and the carb, so I trimmed them back slightly. Put it all together, and bam. She cranked right up.

Recharged the battery this morning and fired her up again, let her warm up and adjusted the carb. As soon as I get all the plastic back in place, I'll go for a short ride and get the old girl dialed in a little better.

Thanks so much for the help. I had a pretty limited budget to play with, and I'm genuinely pleased that I spent only a couple hundred on a dead scooter instead of the whole budget on a running one. Now if something goes wrong in the future, I'll have a good idea what to look for since I've spent the last twelve days with my head in the engine.

Cheers!

[harry]

alrighty then!  i love it when a plan comes together!

oilyhans