Speed Limit increase

[bangorme]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Until a few weeks ago, my '96 Virago XV1100 had been sitting in my garage since 2011, like yours, waiting for a part that I couldn't locate until now. Yep, I left it with gas in it, and I was a little worried but after installing the part (and filling a new battery with acid and charging it) when I hit the switch it fired right up...despite the fact that I had left 1 plug wire off- I was going to pull the plugs and dump a little Lucas oil treatment in the cylinders on the recommendation of my racing fiend friend across the street (2 500+ HP '55 chevies), but I had gotten distracted in the course of that, and too excited when I got the part installed and forgot all about *that* part. It sounded even better after I realized what a bonehead I'd been, and put the other plug wire back on. I've run a few tankfulls of 91 octane thru it and it doesn't seem to have been too badly gummed up. The carbs could probably use a re-build anyway though...maybe I'll get to it this Winter .

It depends too upon the complexity of the carbs. The Yamaha dealership admitted that the ethanol destroyed the carbs.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by bangorme

It depends too upon the complexity of the carbs. The Yamaha dealership admitted that the ethanol destroyed the carbs.

It certainly dissolved the carb gaskets on my Goldwing. The last time I fired it up, it sprayed gas out both sides, soaking both of my legs. If the exhaust pipes had been hot, there would have been a toasted, ...

I was able to find someone who wanted to buy it and to replace the gaskets.

Now the next time that those gasket start dissolving, I do hope the fool is not riding it as it begins spraying fuel.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Until a few weeks ago, my '96 Virago XV1100 had been sitting in my garage since 2011, like yours, waiting for a part that I couldn't locate until now. Yep, I left it with gas in it, and I was a little worried but after installing the part (and filling a new battery with acid and charging it) when I hit the switch it fired right up...despite the fact that I had left 1 plug wire off- I was going to pull the plugs and dump a little Lucas oil treatment in the cylinders on the recommendation of my racing fiend friend across the street (2 500+ HP '55 chevies), but I had gotten distracted in the course of that, and too excited when I got the part installed and forgot all about *that* part. It sounded even better after I realized what a bonehead I'd been, and put the other plug wire back on. I've run a few tankfulls of 91 octane thru it and it doesn't seem to have been too badly gummed up. The carbs could probably use a re-build anyway though...maybe I'll get to it this Winter .

you get that fixed,, i'll trade you my '82 virago 800 and a goat for your motorcycle

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by bangorme

It depends too upon the complexity of the carbs. The Yamaha dealership admitted that the ethanol destroyed the carbs.

I certainly wasn't negating your experience, just expressing my surprise that my carbs have [apparently] not been affected as badly as I thought they would be.

Originally Posted by Submariner

It certainly dissolved the carb gaskets on my Goldwing. The last time I fired it up, it sprayed gas out both sides, soaking both of my legs. If the exhaust pipes had been hot, there would have been a toasted, ...

I was able to find someone who wanted to buy it and to replace the gaskets.

Now the next time that those gasket start dissolving, I do hope the fool is not riding it as it begins spraying fuel.

The gaskets aren't that bad a job to fix, it's the needle valves and seats that are the bigger problem....and, of course, re-synching the carbs afterward.

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

you get that fixed,, i'll trade you my '82 virago 800 and a goat for your motorcycle

LOL, not a chance. My wife would like to trade up from her XV550 but I'm not giving up mine to do it...and she wouldn't go for the goat. Not to mention that I would rather not deal with some of the problems of the early models. I hope to be able to ride my machine for the rest of my life...or, at least, until I can't ride anymore (which could be the same thing).