You guy's w/ carbed Monster's..do you have issues yearly?

[118811]

I have a 98' M900 with FCR 41's.
I have owned the the bike for 3 years...and without fail every 9-12 months I have clogged, stuck float or something which requires my mechanic to take the FCR's apart
clean, blowout etc.
Just wondering if this a common issue....it's getting old!!

[koko64]

Are you getting blockages or unseated floats and flooding? I have found with both the stock and FCR carbs that I get unseated floats two or three times a year.  By that I mean gunk between the float needle and valve causing flooding. I believe it to be additives in the higher octane fuels I use (hi comp) causing wax or varnish deposits.

A tap to the side of a float bowl at idle while parked or turning the fuel tap off for 20 seconds then back on while riding cures it. I have also taken the float bowl drain nut off and drained fuel into a spray can lid a few times over the years on bikes with the fuel tap open to "wash the float needle".

If your carbs are getting really clagged that often requiring dissassembly I would be concerned about your tank innards, fuel supply quality or effectiveness of your fuel
filter. Some gas station tanks are cleaner than others and I have found one brand of gas (here in Oz) to clag open my float needles every time I use it to a greater degree than the other brands. Motorcycle riders avoid that brand of fuel on common knowledge.

[118811]

Exactly!!

The last time 6/11.
I installed new screen, tank & lines.
I use the bike for commuting, about 350 miles weekly & always use 92 oct
Gas.

Real pain!!

[koko64]

A fuel engineer explained to me that modern fuels are made for high pressure injection systems. They have detergents that help clean injectors but that those very additives can build up in low pressure carb systems and do the opposite. 45psi Vs 3psi.
The premium fuels may have more additives so if you are running stock compression it would be worth trying to use the regular gas. Some guys in the States find that their bikes dont run as well with premium. Its worth experimenting with brands as a local brand down here has higher octane that causes rough running even in injected bikes and makes my carb overflow hose run like a tap/faucet. Premium is a waste of money with 9:1 compression. I have to use the high octane or the bike will ping with 11-1 compression.

A manual fuel tap helps if the bike floods on the go. I turn it off till the carbs get low then open it to slam the floats shut..

Dont give up on those FCRs!

[118811]

Koko64
Thanks for the education... On gas & carbed Monsters;
I appreciate it!!!
I am going to get more comfortable tinkering on this bike
So I can hopefully avoid down time like I am in currently.
Thanks

[DesmoTull]

+1...  Good info here.

I've noticed that at my local Gulf station (Massachusetts), that my bike runs worse on premium.  Never thought about additives for FI injectors!

[MadDuck]

I have a 98' M900 with FCR 41's.
I have owned the the bike for 3 years...and without fail every 9-12 months I have clogged, stuck float or something which requires my mechanic to take the FCR's apart
clean, blowout etc.
Just wondering if this a common issue....it's getting old!!

This sounds more like some kind of dirt or debris getting stuck between the float needle and the needle seat.  But, just for grins, what brand of gas ( not necessarily octane ) are you using?

[pslinux]

You might be able to try Seafoam through the gas every 6mo or so.  Might be able to clean out some of the build up before its gets to be a problem.

[118811]

This sounds more like some kind of dirt or debris getting stuck between the float needle and the needle seat.  But, just for grins, what brand of gas ( not necessarily octane ) are you using?

Chevron 92 usually, always 92 though.

The cylinder's were "hydro-locked" as my mechanic suggested.  Drained the oil and gas that has seeped in to the cylinder's via the stuck open FCR's

[ducpainter]

Chevron 92 usually, always 92 though.

The cylinder's were "hydro-locked" as my mechanic suggested.  Drained the oil and gas that has seeped in to the cylinder's via the stuck open FCR's

You need to change to a manual petcock to positively shut off the fuel.

I typically have a little issue in the spring after storage, but it resolves itself on the first ride.

Stock carbs fwiw.

[koko64]

Chevron 92 usually, always 92 though.

The cylinder's were "hydro-locked" as my mechanic suggested.  Drained the oil and gas that has seeped in to the cylinder's via the stuck open FCR's

Had the same thing with Mikuni CVs and FCRs. Hurts to waste a fresh oil change. I learned to turn the tap off each night.

[118811]

Had the same thing with Mikuni CVs and FCRs. Hurts to waste a fresh oil change. I learned to turn the tap off each night.

That's the only positive...it is time for new oil & filter!!

[motoxmann]

I've noticed that at my local Gulf station (Massachusetts), that my bike runs worse on premium.  Never thought about additives for FI injectors!

you might want to do an ignition timing check, it may or may not be off. our bikes are set up (ignition included) to run on premium, even though it totally isnt necessary with 9.0:1 compression. you might find the timing is a bit retarded. If it IS retarded, setting it back to stock will actually give you a bump in power as well.

[motoxmann]

You need to change to a manual petcock to positively shut off the fuel.

x2
I recently removed my vacuum petcock completely after discovering it didnt work worth a crap. I'll be installing a manual petcock asap

[118811]

x2
I recently removed my vacuum petcock completely after discovering it didnt work worth a crap. I'll be installing a manual petcock asap

Yes.... I plan to that too
Do have a particular one in mind?