454 LTD - Get her to run right

[@T0tenkampf]

nice, can't wait to get started on my son's 454

[@IIAKOYMedia]

just found one in a ditch, about a day ago and it looks like it's worth saving, so definitely appreciate the video

[@Grunchy005]

Did you turn the petcock to PRIME after the tank was put back on? You need to do that, for a minute or so, to fill up the fuel bowls after servicing, and then it'll have gas in the carbs to fire up. Don't leave it on PRIME for too long, make sure to switch to ON. Any slight leak in either carburetor needle valve and your gas tank will slowly drain into the engine. When switched to ON the petcock stops flowing when there's no vacuum from a running engine. I just got a 454 that had been parked since 2010 and it runs excellent, the reason is because I drained all the old gas from the tank and the fuel bowls before refilling with fresh gas. Runs just fine! I drove it 1000 km back and forth to Montana, it broke the old tachometer cable, cost me $13 for a new one.

[@UtahSleeper]

@@Grunchy005 I probably didn't. Still a lot to learn. Thanks for the info.

[@Grunchy005]

@@UtahSleeper Yeah and the reason I know this to be a fact: my ‘82 Honda Nighthawk had 3 position petcock: ON, OFF, RES. But all my bikes since then don’t have OFF position anymore, that position is instead marked PRI. Well, ON is actually OFF now because it won’t flow without engine vacuum. PRI is actually ON: flow unconditionally until the carb needle valves all shut. Dammit, parked my Suzuki last winter in position PRI (hoping for OFF) but PRI is on, and I had slight seepage in carburetor #1. Now my tank is completely empty and the engine case is full of gasoline. Which is a massive nuisance because the gas dissolves all the oil in all the bearings. I drained the crankcase, now I have to take off the valve cover, pour oil over all the top end cams and chain, and turn the motor slowly with a socket. Dammit! Anyway never turn the petcock to PRI unless you definitely need to refill carb float bowls, because you had emptied them.

[@girthafied]

I got a pretty good deal on an 85 454 ltd. But it’s turning over but not starting. Sorta sounds like yours but a little more scratchy. Any idea?

[@UtahSleeper]

My first thing would be to start with verify you are getting fuel and spark. Most of my issues were caused by the carbs needing a rebuild and actual fuel getting to them. If the bike can start/idle on starter fluid then I would look at the carbs.

[@girthafied]

@@UtahSleeper I found my issue I feel like an idiot. The right side ignition coil wasn’t plugged in with the 2 terminals under the tank so right cylinder wasn’t being used due to no spark. Man is this bike fast.