Carb Cleaning (in situ lazy method):
You might consider this item:
Randakk's
GL1000 Carb Rebuild Video
If you think your carbs need cleaning, try this first. Yamaha
makes a product aptly called "Carburetor Cleaner"…comes in a
large plastic bottle (not aerosol). I’ve had very good luck
resurrecting dirty carbs WITHOUT disassembly using this product.
When it works, this method saves time, effort and expense. Best
of all, you don’t need new rubber components as you do when the
carbs are taken apart.
Yamaha Carb Cleaner
In my experience, this method is much more
effective than running Sea Foam or similar "in-fuel"
products. "In-fuel" cleaners will only help on very mild
carb problems.
Chronic overuse of "in-fuel" cleaners or
using them in excessive concentration can damage internal
carb rubber components. This is especially true on GL1100s -
the location of the 4 air cut-off valves and accelerator pump
makes them very vulnerable. They are quite expensive to
replace!
Worse, the excessive use of "in fuel"
cleaners like Sea Foam risks loosening up lots of crud in
your fuel tank, another whole can of worms!
The Yamaha product is harmless to carb
components (and of course your fuel tank!) when used as
directed.
Yamaha dealers sell tons of this stuff. If your dealer says
he's never heard of this product, consider finding another
dealer then give him this part number:
#ACC-CARBC-LE-QT
or
#ACC-CARBC-LE-NR
Follow the directions carefully and PERFORM THIS WORK
OUTDOORS DUE TO FUMES AND FIRE HAZARDS. The product is intended
to be diluted with gasoline (1:3 ratio). First, drain all your
carb bowls completely. Remove the fuel line to the carb plenum
at the point where it leaves the fuel pump.
Extend this line if necessary and attach a small funnel.
Carefully and slowly pour the diluted cleaner mixture in through
the funnel. It will take approximately 180cc to fill all 4
bowls. It may be necessary to gently tap the carb bowls with a
plastic mallet to get the floats to release if they’re stuck in
the closed position.
If you’ve added 200cc of mixture and it seems that you could
add more DON"T…you probably have a float stuck in the open
position.
Place a fuel line from the fuel pump to a suitable catch
container. Now, with the kill switch set to "OFF" operate the
starter for 5 seconds with throttle wide open. This will draw
some of the mixture into the carb circuits.
After 2 hours, drain the bowls and refill using fresh
gasoline through the funnel. Reconnect your fuel line and go for
a test ride. If you still have carb problems, the directions say
you should repeat as above except leave the mixture in
overnight. I’ve repeated this cycle up to 4 times before finally
getting good results. This was on a bike that sat for 4 years
with fuel in the bowls!
Generally, I will augment this process by removing the idle
mixture screws and squirting aerosol carb cleaner through these
circuits. I use a plastic attachment on the end of the red
"straw" that permits a fairly effective "seal" so that I get
pressure to help force the action. Also, I always make other
external checks to make sure the choke shafts are free and that
I have no sticking throttle slides.
Important: the Yamaha "Carburetor Cleaner" is intended for
use in carbs only per the instructions on the bottle. Never add
this product to the fuel in your fuel tank! It you do, you may
regret it very much as it can loosen all manner of crud which
will quickly clog your main fuel filter and float valve inlet
screens.
If you use this product and determine that you still have
carb issues which require disassembly, you’re still ahead as
your carbs will require much less work to clean once they’re
apart.
Courtesy of
Randakk's
Cycle Shakk who made this tips possible for this website,
thank you, Randakk
