Cleaning Out The Virago Carbs

[@stephanniehunley4083]

This gives a newbie hope, the way you explain everything. I'm going to give it a shot on my Route 66. It's been sitting quite some time and report is the carb is all full of grease. Thank you so much 😊

[@J-JsGarage]

What is behind the big Allen bolt plug on the external of the carb? I think mine is missing what is supposed to be behind it.. thanks

[@David-yh5po]

I have a 99 that needs to be cleaned up and your video hopefully will help me to get it done.

[@petefarr2547]

Thanks bk... Excellent Suggestions. That seems more likely than anything else I've heard.... much appreciated!

[@AVTreasures]

Hey Steve! The Carbs are in great shape, they cleaned up nice!! Good job!

[@yourbeekeeper]

Thank you Ray, I am very happy at how well they cleaned up.

[@hemi455]

Hmmm you didn't remove the horizontal 10mm OD steel tubes to access the jets under them... I found one of mine was 100% clogged with green gunk. These tubes are held in place with a spring under the 5mm hex recess cap on the outside of the carb.

[@yourbeekeeper]

hemi455 I didn't have to disassemble the carbs? I didn't know that... Oh well, They really needed a good cleaning and inspecion. Thanks.

[@hemi455]

+yourbeekeeper No, sir, I was mentioning that you *neglected to remove* the steel tubes seen by your right index finger at about 3:04. Large hex recess on outside of carb secures these tubes. Under that tube are two air jets... which may well be clogged. Also, many folks find that their carb chamber air filters- the black plastic canisters in line with the 10mm or so rubber lines- no longer contain filtering foam but rather foam particles which then get drawn into the carb and cause trouble: viragotechforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=51633&sid=59ce549fb79f782baf4c59305daf6e57&start=20

[@WargamesGuru]

brilliant thanks !

[@BryanM362]

Funny Dude! Great comments throughout the video!

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey, thanks!

[@nightdipper5178]

It doesn't look like the Choke circuit was cleaned. There is a very small NON-removable jet just below the brass pickup tube, almost impossible to see. If clogged the choke would not work. The choke mechanism shaft has a bushing on it, if it gets stuck the choke will not completely close even though it looks closed externally (Plunger down). The choke on each carb can be disassembled and cleaned without splitting the carbs. The choke is an enrichment circuit not a butterfly choke. This is applicable to the Hatichi Carb.

[@cj15941]

If you're anything like me you must LOOOVVVEEEEEE cleaning carbs! Man, that shot of B-12 that always comes right under the safety glasses? Oo wee DOGGY!!! LMAO Can't wait to see how she does!! I always worry about those stupid paper gasket when trying to reuse them. Hopefully they don't mark their territory! Carbs look damn clean though,, that's for sure! Thanks for the vid, Mr. Bee!

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey Buddy! They sure cleaned up nice for sure... I actually enjoy rebuilding carbs... lol

[@thothheartmaat2833]

how do you get the starter clutch to work?

[@yourbeekeeper]

The starter on this engine doesn't have a clutch, it has a bendix type of spring that pops the starter gear into the flywheel to engage it while starting then retracts when you let off the start button. I didn't have to do any work to it, but I did take it apart to inspect it.

[@57WillysCJ]

Nice work. Remember using that old carb acid cleaner crap when I worked on boat motors. Nasty stuff that will eat through anything if you leave it to long.

[@yourbeekeeper]

You definately have to keep an eye on your soak time... and wear good thick solvent proof gloves...

[@Olivier9984]

Can I soak the whole carb into a slimy carborator solution for a few days without clogging it up ? my stuff is Kleen-flo carborator and parts cleaner

[@Olivier9984]

80$ CAD it cost me.

[@yourbeekeeper]

I don't have issues soaking an entire carb body in cleaner.

[@sadkeannu]

Hey man, I took my carbs apart and put the back together and the bike won't start now. Won't turn over. Sounds like it wants to but it just won't catch. What have I done? Yamaha Virago 1990 xv535

[@yourbeekeeper]

All things being the same on the bike, and assuming it ran to some degree before you pulled the carbs, I would focus on the carbs as the issue. I assume you confirmed you have good spark.

[@petefarr2547]

Hi BK,... thanks for the vid. I got excited for you watching and would like to hear the bike running!..... I have a 2000 yamaha 250 virago and was smelling a very rich mixture. I started to lean out the mix screw 1/8 of a turn at a time and took ride. Kept doing this until screw bottomed out and no change in rich smell or performance of the byke. How is this possible? (starting point was about 1 and 1/2 turns out)

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey Pete, I would look for vacuum leaks, check for bad carb gaskets, cracks in vacuum hoses and the intake boot. There could also be a failure in the carb that is creating a vacuum leak, excessively worn seats, seals or parts...less likely, but possible. To try to isolate the issue, With the engine running you can spray carb cleaner, wd-40 or other chem cleaner around the carb, intake boot and vacuum lines and see if there a change in the running condition. Best of luck with your repair and let me know how it goes.

[@hanktharipper10]

how you doing man.um I got an 88 Virago 750 with the Mikuni carb on it I already put a rebuilt kit on both carbs from what I was told I looked it up they said that the only jet screw that needs to be set to a specific specs is the pilot jet which is underneath inside the bowl right below the main jet screw. and it still doesn't want to start it kind of takes over for a minute already adjusted the the pilot air screw that's on the outside of the car next to the throttle butterfly check the fuel to petcock I'm just lost man I could do all the work I got the manual for it I just need to know if any other Jets screw need to be set at a certain specs please help.

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey Hank, I am not an expert a Mikuni carbs. I am a hot rodder that plays around with motorcycles. If I had the machine in front of me I could more than likely get it set right, but I can't help you this way. Sorry, hope you get it sorted out.

[@slimjim119]

cool looks great getting closer to hear it run

[@yourbeekeeper]

I will get a current video up tonight. Thanks for watching Jim.

[@burninpwder76]

the green crud may be from the ethanol laced gas we have today. run 93 octane or rv gas in your equipment. I work in a small engine shop and i have seen a lot of carbs destroyed by cheap gas. the ethanol won't stay mixed with gasoline and most stuff draws from the bottom of the tank so you get almost pure ethanol. especially not good for 2 stroke engines.

[@yourbeekeeper]

This engine has not seen fresh gas since 2001. It almost smelled like a two stroke mix... it's strange to me. New gas is definately destructive.

[@yngvardharjo3704]

whu u dont start the bike?

[@yourbeekeeper]

Not on this video, I have others uploaded with it running.

[@nicholassmerk]

I meant to ask the other day, why are you using a motorcycle engine rather than a large lawnmower engine (like a kohler magnum twin).

[@yourbeekeeper]

I have several reasons which I will talk about in a future video, but primarily I want to be able to keep the engine in a good power band while still being able to vary the blade speed through the gears of the transmission. This mill will be able to handle up to a 36" or larger log, so I need to be able to handle a variety of log sizes and a variety of species.

[@CeaserOreo]

Great video, but wear rubber gloves with chemicals, my uncle was always using dips and cleaners and I helped him a lot, he got CLL and they said it was due to exposure to these things!

[@krazy45cat]

Great Job on the carbs , it will not be long now :)

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey Gerry, It's a good runner... stay tuned.

[@jfenn89]

Good to see someone else has working hands like mine lol.

[@yourbeekeeper]

Yeah, I could sand wood with my bare hands. hahahaha

[@josephnewburgh8531]

Women luv working man paws!

[@scottsinfl]

Look's like 2 stroke oil in those carb's didnt you say it was a 4 stroke?

[@yourbeekeeper]

It most definately is a 4-stroke. It smelled like two stroke oil...strange. It has not been run since 2001, so I can't blame the new gas.

[@scottsinfl]

You know if it was the new gas them diaphragm's would be junk for sure.

[@yourbeekeeper]

scottsinfl definately.

[@FinnMacCool869]

Cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner works best

[@dzlfreek]

That green crud is from all the additives in the gas that dissolve the brass, at least that's my theory. Gasoline today has very little gasoline in it, and has a 60 day half life.

[@yourbeekeeper]

Today's gas is junk!!! However, this engine has not seen gas since around 2001 so I don't think that's the issue...

[@RooneysSears01]

Great job YBK! I think that engine needs to find its way into one of those Montgomery Wards tractors! lol just kiddin I know you need to get that sawmill going before all your subscribers start eating at the Chumbucket Mr. Krabs...... oh wait wrong show! lol you know what I mean.

[@yourbeekeeper]

Hey Rooney! I have a second 440cc 2-stroke snomobile engine in the shop that I am itching to put on something completely useless....

[@igorpautov7380]

Это Hitachi?

[@wtbm123]

nice

[@yourbeekeeper]

hahaha,you changed it up and it didn't get marked spam. lol.

[@Mopardude]

I think that green stuff is Ethanol gas breaking down.

[@yourbeekeeper]

The engine has not seen fresh gas since 2001. Strange.

[@Mopardude]

yourbeekeeper Ethanol has been around since the mid 90's about 2000 is when they got hot and heavy with it.

[@yourbeekeeper]

Mopardude I did not know that... I'm not a big fan of it for sure. Thanks for the into.

[@Mopardude]

You watch 805Roadking's channel? He uses that newer ethanol gas to degrease parts, seems to work amazing for that! LOL

[@yourbeekeeper]

Mopardude I have watched some of his vids... I love what they do to the old Briggs Engines.

[@DanielTheNerd]

Thumbs for the green Vulcan blood comment

[@yourbeekeeper]

hahaha... great catch and Thanks!

[@borna9842]

The needles for floats come with screens on em and you took em off… get new ones or you will be doing this all the time

[@CeaserOreo]

I spoke too soon, sorry.

[@BugsWisely]

comment

[@2LateIWon]

nice

[@yourbeekeeper]

Thank you Sir!