I have done a lot of reading about the 454 LTD. I acquired a 1986 454 LTD from my uncle who did not have much back story on it. It had been sitting for many years and he said that I could just have it, so why not?! Through reading lots of posts from EAGLE and Blaine and everyone on here I was able to accomplish getting it fired up!
Completed - Flushed fluids Adjusted Valves Tore down and cleaned carbs Deleted Emissions pieces Put pod filters on New fuel lines Cleaned start button Deleted kickstand switch Single seat conversion
Problem currently is I can only start the bike with the petcock turned to prime and I have to hold the throttle the whole time. It will not idle, doesn't even try. I adjusted the idle screws 2.5 turns out. After the bike runs under throttle for a while the pod filters fill up with gas and leak out. I am sure this has something to do with carb adjusting, but figured I would try and get some thoughts here.
-I read about the floats may be bad......to check for gas in them as well as correct adjustment. -Something to do with re-jetting..which I read all too much
Any help or info is appreciated!!! Sort of a beginner with motorcycles to some degree, so be easy please
First you need to find out why it doesnt start unless in "prime"....Is vacuum hooked to petcock? Fuel should flow in the "Run " position when the bike is running.
If at first you do succeed,try not to look surprised.
Also, the pods filling with gas indicates flooding, due to the floats set too high, or the float needles are not sealing for some other reason...I suspect the floats are set too high.
Keep in mind my pet thing.....a good valve adjustment...these engines "Love" a good valve adjustment about every 5,000 miles.
First you need to find out why it doesnt start unless in "prime"....Is vacuum hooked to petcock? Fuel should flow in the "Run " position when the bike is running.
Vacuum is hooked up to petcock properly. Vacuum leak maybe? Is that possible? I don't have a clamp around the lines on the petcock.
Also, the pods filling with gas indicates flooding, due to the floats set too high, or the float needles are not sealing for some other reason...I suspect the floats are set too high.
As for floats being set too high, I took them apart today to see if anything is a miss. I have no way at my house to measure the float level. The one float needle was definitely a bit sticky, so I took some carb cleaner to that. Put it all back together and fired it up. Took a minute. Easier for me to start it with the choke off and the prime on. Took a video. I am on the throttle the whole time. As soon as I let it go, it dies. Any thoughts?!
Last Edit: Jun 28, 2015 18:23:03 GMT -6 by 6pounder
Sounds like you starving for fuel.Have you checked for good fuel flo from the Petcock? Is the clear hose on the upper "T" open & unkinked? If the vacuum hos is tight on petcock you dont need a clamp.
If at first you do succeed,try not to look surprised.
Sounds like you starving for fuel.Have you checked for good fuel flo from the Petcock? Is the clear hose on the upper "T" open & unkinked? If the vacuum hos is tight on petcock you dont need a clamp.
Hmmmm I have not checked good fuel flow from the petcock. The clear hose on the "T" is open and unkinked. Fuel flows from that when i have it running sometimes. Should I take the carbs back apart and re-clean them? I did a pretty thorough job the first time. I just want to ride the darn thing!!!
I had that issue when i put the fuel line on the upper and the overflow on the lower. Needs to be clear overflow line on the upper and supply line on the lower T
Also, an easy way to check if the fuel petcock is working is to undue the fuel line at the petcock, have it in the on position and just apply vacuum by lightly sucking like a straw on the vacuum line. There should be open gas flow when you apply vacuum.
An idea for your floats, which is the easier way I found. You can use a piece of clear tubing and hook it to the drain valve on the bottom of the carbs. When you open the valve with the bike running, with the tube looped and resting against the carb, open the drain and the level of gas should be +/- 1mm of the float chamber seam with the carb. As long as your petcock is feeding fuel and the supply line is hooked up right. From the video it sounds like it's flooding pretty seriously. To adjust the level, you can remove the chamber with a 90 degree phillips without removing the carbs from the bike. The way it sits on the bike, bend the tab on the float up, toward the carb to lower the amount of fuel in the chamber and down to raise it. Do 1 carb, get it right, then move to the next.
Took my carbs apart again and adjusted my floats. I also took apart the petcock and cleaned it out. It seems as though its working, I tried basically sucking on the vacuum part and it worked. It will still only start on the prime setting and my throttle cables will not return. They are very stiff and won't return to no throttle. Do I need a new return cable? Getting irritated now....
