Getting Viragos to Start Up Quick (And the importance of the often overlooked Carb Breather Filters)

[@RedMo46]

Ya know Ive been trying to figure out why my bike hesitates/ dies on a quick blip of the throttle (like it was lean-spiking) on the low end but revs higher up just fine, but missing a little response. ill definitely have to check them little filters out when i can. Id never have figured it out myself. Thank you for being so freakin awesome

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks ! It would definitely be worth while to check to be sure they are clear (and even the small metal pipes that run along the frame on the 1st Gens). Around here, Mud Daubers love to fill those two metal pipes up with dirt and spiders if the bike sits for a few months which will really throw you off the next time you fire it up lol. Hopefully that’s all it is 👍. Thanks again and all the best ! Steve

[@DavidCampbell-c8o]

God its just great to listen to an watch someone who knows exactly what they are talking about. Straight to the point an no un-necessary bs. Keep up the good work Steve an thanks for doing all your posts.

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks man and glad the videos help some along the way 👍. Yep, I think I’ve been messing with these old bikes too long now as sometimes I forget they are +40 years old bikes, but I still expect them to perform like they just rolled out of the showroom lol ! There have been times in the past that I was ready to dig a big hole and bury several of them in the back yard though when they got grumpy 🤣🤣. Thanks again and all the best !

[@Harry-vh5en]

Steve Please tell me exactly how i can get those breather filters you make I absolutely have to have at least 2 to get my virago going I need a 45 degree and a straight for my 87 virago xv 700 Please help me friend Tell me how to get these right away Thanks And thanks for you helpful knowledge Steve

[@Harry-vh5en]

Also do you know where the other end hooks up from the carbs it's not on the frame on mine seems to either go to the air filter side or the emissions side Thanks

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man ! I’ve ordered the materials to make some more which should arrive in the next couple of weeks. Once I get some made, I will put them out on eBay under my Steve’s DIYs selling page and will also add a link in the description of this video so folks can find them if interested. Thanks and all the best ! Steve

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey again, I added another video to the channel that shows how they connect up to the frame for the 1st Gens and also out to the left side pod on the 2nd Gen bikes. Yours should be similar to one of these styles. Here’s a link to the other video that’s out on the channel: Virago Upper Carb Breather Filter Replacement - You might have not even known they were filters kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoPaeKt4hq2hd7c . Thanks and all the best !

[@specialse]

Your on a roll this week end !!!!! the second time this week end you have answered a question thats been giving me trouble for decades ....... on my standard SE i always thought that the dust and rust debris was some how coming out of the welded on air tubes in the same way the rust on the air filter was coming out of the frame ( very small amount ) my standard SE does have the throttle up issues and dirt in the bowls , never occurred to me that there was filters in those elbows ( DDUUU ) that could degrade and get into the carb . your reaching geniuses level in the XV game . id like to buy some moded items if you ever make them to sell . Have standard SE , rigid frame SE chopper and 2 TR1,s 😄

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks man 👍. Yep, these little filters don’t even show up on the parts diagrams as a “filter” as even Yamaha just called them hoses or tubes. I don’t think very many folks even know a filter is in there. I still remember how I figured out there was foam in them many years ago…I had taken the carbs off to clean them as they had stopped up again with fine black particles and I too thought it was coming from the frame. During the carb cleaning, I blew into the rubber hoses with the filter pod in them as usual to be sure they were clear, but for some reason I also sucked air back through it after blowing air through…I got a throat full of the rotted foam and coughed that crap up for hours after 🤣🤣🤣. Suddenly I knew where all of that black particulate was coming from lol ! If you’d like, shoot me an email (it’s at the beginning of the video)…I had a couple extras from these first ones I made. Thanks for the compliment and all the best !

[@joef6858]

Great explanation Steve. I have been enjoying my 1st gen this summer and it’s running well with the many tips you have shared in your videos. But my filters are long gone. Can you share what this filter element material is? All the best to you.

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks man and glad the videos have helped some along the way 👍. For the foam filter material I’ve been using over the years by cutting them open and re-gluing the little housings as well as what I now put in the replaceable ones, it is the UNI brand 40 PPI Red foam that comes in a 3/8” thick sheet. It’s like a 12” x 16” sheet of it so one sheet will make a ton of little filter disks. Hope this helps and all the best !

[@joef6858]

@@StevesDIYs thx Steve for your quick response.

[@danielsimec2178]

Hey Steve, is there a link to your repop filter housings on your ebay store ??

[@StevesDIYs]

@danielsimec2178 hey man ! I don’t have them out on an eBay listing yet as I only have a couple left of each kind from the components I ordered to make the first ones…I need to get more materials ordered before listing them. Is your bike a 1st Gen or 2nd Gen? The 1st Gen uses one straight and one 90 degree while the 2nd Gen uses two straights. Or if you’d like, you can email just me (my email is at the beginning of the video).

[@GarysnewYT]

Hello There Steve, Would it be possible or even necessary to use / install your special machined filter units on a EFI carburetor on another motorcycle to protect the carburetor ?

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man, I’ve not really looked at the EFI type carbs, but if they have air inlets to supply air to any of the porting, a filter wouldn’t hurt for sure.

[@juaniitocast]

Dear Sir, good evening, coming from Guatemala, is there any page where I can follow you other than KZbin? I have a question, have you had any problems with the cardan shaft or cardan joints? On my 1983 Virago 750 there is a noise that has me disappointed every time I go through streets other than highways, there is a rattling noise from the bottom, it sounds bad, I have already checked most of the suspension and everything is fine, but I have a doubt, is it from the inside of the box where the cardan shaft comes out. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, greetings

[@StevesDIYs]

Hello, I do have a Steve’s DIYs Facebook page, but it s mainly used to show information for questions that are asked…it does have Facebook Messenger active for folks to ask questions as well. For the Cardan joint making noise, if the bike has higher mileage on it, sometimes the flexible joint can go bad and would need to be replaced. It is not very difficult to do, but requires that the rear wheel and swing arm be removed to access the drive shaft and cardan joint. The only way to really know if it is needing to be replaced is to remove the swing arm so it can e inspected. Hope this helps a little and all the best, Steve

[@juaniitocast]

@@StevesDIYs Thank you very much for your help, my friend. I have inspected it as you have told me and the cardan joint does have some wear, but inside the gearbox it feels like there is also a misalignment. Is this normal? I have already checked most of the rear part for the noise that is already bothering me when riding the motorcycle. Thank you very much for your help. If there is anything I can ask you via messenger, have a nice night or day, whatever. Regards!!!

[@StevesDIYs]

@juaniitocast hey again, glad to have helped some 👍. For the shaft that exits the motor gear box, it should not have any noticeable movement as it has a very larger bearings that supports the shaft inside the motor. You may hear some gear noise if the shaft is turned one way and then the reverse, but the shaft should not have any side to side movement. The long shaft that goes to the rear hub should be able to move around which is normal. Thanks again and all the best ! Steve.

[@juaniitocast]

@@StevesDIYs Hi Steve, thanks for your help, it’s really nice to have your help, everything you’ve explained to me previously is correct, the shaft that comes out of the gearbox acts just as you’ve explained, everything is in order as you indicate and I have to replace the cardan joint. What a joy to have a good mentor with this type of motorcycles, I would love to have someone like you close by in this country with that knowledge, unfortunately that’s not the case, there are almost few of us who love these motorcycles here in Guatemala, I really appreciate your help, I specialize in the electrical side of vehicles and machines and these steel horses! Greetings, friend Esteve! Sincerely, Juan Manuel Castillo from Guatemala.

[@MicahCampbell-b5w]

So if 1 of the 2 carbs filter entries are plugged, could it cause an intermittent popping back cylinder

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey again, if the breathers are restricted, it prevents the slides from lifting correctly in the carbs which could lean them out and make it pop back in the carbs. Of course, it could be several other things like the fuel float height being off or the carbs not sync’d very close also. Very hard to tell what is causing the popping, so each potential item needs to be eliminated.

[@russellburns9480]

Will I need to resync the carbs with your new filters installed?

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man, it didn’t seem to change anything on my bobber when I put the ones I made on, but I had already cut the original ones open and put a new disk of filter media in them a couple of years ago. It might possibly change the vacuum the carbs are pulling if the old ones were really dirty or only had what’s left of the screens still in them but I don’t think it would be significant. New breather filters might change the air fuel mix needle setting slightly however if the carb was tuned with no restriction (like only having the screens left in them) or if they were full of big pieces of debris and were restricting the air. For mine, I just swapped them out and then if I notice any difference in how the bike runs, I’ll have a look at the sync and the air/fuel needle setting…so far it didn’t change anything on how the bikes ride after changing them.

[@Harry-vh5en]

Steve can you help me Please I did see your reply to my comment on breather filter materials needed to rebuild mine but when I bought this bike so one breather canister is missing and it's been hard to find one Any ideas where I can find one or fabricate something Thanks Steve 😊

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey again, the last NOS (New Old Stock) original ones I bought had rotten foam in them even though they had never been on a bike so by now, I think most all of them will be bad. I’m actually setting up to make some replacement ones that have a replaceable filter element that will be available soon out on my Stevesdiys eBay account. I’ll add a link to the listings to the description of this and the other video once they are listed.

[@Harry-vh5en]

@@StevesDIYs yes Steve I watched your video on the N O S that was rotten I appreciate the link Because I surely caint find any around anywhere If I just had another stick canister I would try make one myself with the material list you provided But no luck I desperately need to get one vet soon To be with my sister who is struggling right now I have to leave here in Maryland and go be with her On October 3rd And I have to take my virago XV 700 Have to try do something soon My car is down for the moment for taking long trips right now Thanks Steve I'll see what I can do Good night friend