Hi. First post here. Looking for advice / solution to my problem.
Bike is 2000 road star silverado. 10,000 miles. I bought from original owner approx 6 years ago. Rode the bike sparingly first 2-3 years then it sat for the last 3. When I bought the bike it had cobra pipes and a k&n air filter, the triangle kind. Other than that the bike is mechanically stock. I am now attempting to get it running and ready for sale.
First, the starter would not engage and from reading here I deduced it was the 'dreaded starter spin problem'. I followed the guide and fixed the issue. By the way, I am definitely not a mechanic but I can read and follow directions while having some mechanical ability.
So, after that I could get bike to start but only run a few seconds with choke all the way out then it would die. After fooling with that I went out and got some sea foam spray and also liquid. I put fresh gas in with a little sea foam, and took off air cleaner and sprayed into carb. After a while I could finally get the bike to start and run at idle for 15 minutes. Going to the next step I would give it throttle and it would die, so I figure carb is gummed and more sea foam could help, so I gave it more. The next day I'm back to square one and now can't even get it to start without simultaniously spraying sea foam into carb. As soon as I stop spraying bike dies, so it seems not getting any gas? I replaced fuel filter but no help there.
This where I dont know where to go next and need some advice. I'm thinking I need to remove carb and let it soak in sea foam for a day, but Im not sure. Maybe I need to rebuild carb but cant find a kit anywhere, and as I said im not truly mechanical and i wouldnt know what parts to order, and to be honest i dont smile at the idea of taking apart and rebuilding a carb unless i have to. Someone told me the o-rings are probably dried out and need to be replaced so i need to rebuild carb...?
I think it probably has to do with the carb but what confuses me is why could i get it to run at idle for 15 minutes one day and the next it wont even start?
A couple of years ago I would have brought it to a dealer for repair but to be honest business is very slow and dont have the money for that, in fact thats why the bike will be for sale plus I didnt ride much as it was.
I'd really like some advice from you experienced guys and a direction to go in otherwise i'm on a wild goose chase.
Thanks for reading

First off, where are you? If you were close, I'd just do it for you.

Second, your carb needs a good cleaning, but not necessarily any kind of kit. A disassembly, and a good spraying through every orifice will usually do the job.

They're really quite simple, and I'll bet you could do it... just take it slow and easy.

from MI. check for air leaks. the intake manifolds will crack over time and cause air to enter the system causing the bike to run extreemly lean. also there is a nipple that comes out the top of it. if there is a hose coming out of it follow that to make sure its not cracked or loose. if its caped off then make sure the cap is in good shape and tight as well. also the flanges where the intake bolts to the heads can leak there as well. starter fluid on the flanges while the bike is running will help tell you if you have a leak just make sure it dont get into the aircleaner to give you a false reading thats a easy starting point that ends up being alot of folks issue and its cheap to look into

Questcap wrote:
First off, where are you? If you were close, I'd just do it for you.

Second, your carb needs a good cleaning, but not necessarily any kind of kit. A disassembly, and a good spraying through every orifice will usually do the job.

They're really quite simple, and I'll bet you could do it... just take it slow and easy.

This is good news. Thanks for the offer
Thx

smokescreens wrote:
from MI. check for air leaks. the intake manifolds will crack over time and cause air to enter the system causing the bike to run extreemly lean. also there is a nipple that comes out the top of it. if there is a hose coming out of it follow that to make sure its not cracked or loose. if its caped off then make sure the cap is in good shape and tight as well. also the flanges where the intake bolts to the heads can leak there as well. starter fluid on the flanges while the bike is running will help tell you if you have a leak just make sure it dont get into the aircleaner to give you a false reading thats a easy starting point that ends up being alot of folks issue and its cheap to look into
I will take a look at a couple of things but, I cant check intake bolts while bike is running because It wont run now.
Also, about the cracking and hoses, the bike was running and idling for 15 - 20 minutes so i would think those wont be the issue?
Im trying to find out why it idled one day and after more sea foam and trying to get it running better it wont run at all. What happened? I'm guessing a piece of junk is in the carb.
TOmorrow I am going to remove the carb and clean it. This is what someone said I should do, let me know if you think otherwise.
1. take out carb
2. let it soak in gas (not sea foam) for an hour or so.
3. take it apart and blow it out with compressed air, soak a little more and blow out again
4. put it back together.
?
Thx

Pull the carb and take it all apart, remember where all the jets go, and be careful not to mess up the float setting. Spray carb cleaner in all the passages then blow out with canned air. Make sure all just are clean and clear replace everything and re-install the carb. Crank it up and run it. BTW from Texas to bad you have sell it.

Curt wrote:
Pull the carb and take it all apart, remember where all the jets go, and be careful not to mess up the float setting. Spray carb cleaner in all the passages then blow out with canned air. Make sure all just are clean and clear replace everything and re-install the carb. Crank it up and run it. BTW from Texas to bad you have sell it.

Thank you Curt, and I do feel welcome You guys are outstanding.
I do hate to sell it, but when things turn around at some point I will have to find another

I will get into it tomorrow. Right now it sounds simple but fear of the unknown is why I am trying to gather as much info as I can to see what I am in for. I am imagining taking apart the carb and 45 different springs, needles, floats etc go flying all over the place. Trying not to mess up the float setting is chinese to me, so maybe i'll figure that out when I get to look inside, unless you can give me a little more info on that.
I will let you guys know how I make out.
A sincere thanks to you guys for taking the time to educate me, I wish I could contribute back in some way.
thx, Ed...

Seafoam is a sometimes kinda maybe carb cleaner, and a great fuel stabilizer. It is not, a "Carb Cleaner" like Gumout" or some of the others. Seafoam won't get into a passageway and cut out a hard difficult clog.
You need to be able to blast out the passageways through the jets, when it gets really bad, as when the bike has been sitting for extended periods, and can't be resuscitated.
Did you by any chance just happen to turn the gas off at the petcock right before it wouldn't start at all with out spraying seafoam in the carb??....just asking I know what I'm capable of.
I think your right, in that it just needs a good cleaning.
The needle and seat may even be stuck shut, in the same way that it can be stuck open. You might be able to unstick it, by tapping on the float bowl with a screwdriver handle to see if it will loosen up. Don't get carried away, but some smart taps might get you going.

SKWEARpeg wrote:
Seafoam is a sometimes kinda maybe carb cleaner, and a great fuel stabilizer. It is not, a "Carb Cleaner" like Gumout" or some of the others. Seafoam won't get into a passageway and cut out a hard difficult clog.
You need to be able to blast out the passageways through the jets, when it gets really bad, as when the bike has been sitting for extended periods, and can't be resuscitated.
Did you by any chance just happen to turn the gas off at the petcock right before it wouldn't start at all with out spraying seafoam in the carb??....just asking I know what I'm capable of.
I think your right, in that it just needs a good cleaning.
The needle and seat may even be stuck shut, in the same way that it can be stuck open. You might be able to unstick it, by tapping on the float bowl with a screwdriver handle to see if it will loosen up. Don't get carried away, but some smart taps might get you going.

Some more great info, thanks.
I dont remember if i shut off fuel or not, in any case i think a good cleaning is what it needs. I will go get some gumout to use for that.
Thx

Hey,Zohan... from beautifl N/E Georgia.
After sitting for that extended period, the carb on your '00 will definately need a good clean-out. There are several real good atricles in the tech section of the forum. Take the time to do your homework & don't get in a hurry. You're not building a rocket motor. It's a simple procedure. Plan your work, work your plan.