My 99 venture 500 cannot go over 55 miles an hour. It is eating oil and gas. Pulled plugs the clutch side shows rich while the other normal. Is this a simple cable adjustment or needle adjustment in the carbs. Wouldliketo get it back on the trail this weekend.
Is the choke stuck on on one carb? I've had carbs go out of sync on my old vmax because the set screw on the rail connecting carbs come loose in the carb not connected closest to the throttle cable. Sled still seemed to run fine up to 30 but not much more. Otherwise I'd start by cleaning them.
Just cleaned carbs twice will check the choke.Thanks
drew24
New member
Also check to make sure there is no restriction (except what is supposed to be there) on the air box. I tried to put foam over the air box on my 96 600 twin because the foam in the hood was gone. It ran good until it got wound up. Had to stay close to the gas station. Took 200 miles before it hit me it was the foam causing it to choke out. Put brand new plugs in and 100 miles later 1 still looked literally brand new and the other was very rich.
The foam on the air box did come off the hood , is it better to go without or try and repair
drew24
New member
Without the foam it should run leaner. I have been running my vmax without it and has been fine so far but I don't put many miles on it. Are you running it without the foam and it is still rich. It sounds like the same type of problem I had when I put the foam over the air box. I also had the choke cable sticking on it when I first got it. It would not let the choke seat all the way. That was before I tried the foam over the air box. If there is not something restricting the airflow to the carbs then it is probably something in the carbs.
I am putting the foam on the top of the box and closing the hood. My son said it runs ok then bad. I cleaned carbs because choke cable was sticking. Sounds very similar. Will try tomorrow morning. Hopefully this will do the trick. Thanks
drew24
New member
Also not a bad idea to check fuel lines at the fuel pump. They can get hard and not seal like they should. Could be leaking and not pumping all the fuel in the carb(if it is bad enough). Also learned that the hard way on the same vmax.
drew24
New member
Does it only run ok at low rpms then bad in the upper range? That is exactly what mine was like with the foam on it. Ran great at low speed until it needed more air than the foam would let it get. Does the 99 have the foam on top of the box from the factory? The 96 was supposed to be inside the hood. I am betting on choke cables.
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The foam is on top. Yes it runs fine at low rpm then it's bogs going to the higher range
drew24
New member
Has it been like this? Has it been ridden much this year then all of the sudden it was acting up? Maybe clean the foam. I have noticed usually these problems end up being something simple. When you figure it out you tell yourself man I should have known.lol
Has been sitting for over a year. It doesn't get much attention. That's why I was hoping it may be something simple.
drew24
New member
You might of already but maybe check the air box for mouse nest or something or stiff choke cable not letting the plunger seat all the way. Please post when you figure it out. Might come in handy someday.
OK took carbs off and cleaned them again, synchronized the choke plungers hooked it back up and realized it is only running on one cylinder. How do I check the ignition coil?
drew24
New member
You can check if it has spark by taking the plugs out and setting it on the head to ground it and pull it over with ignition on. Or with it running you can pull the plug cap off(use gloves so you don't get shocked) and you can hear the spark jumping from cap to plug. If it is not getting spark you could try to replace the plug cap. Cant remember the part number though. Doesn't hurt to change them once in a while anyway. You could check exhaust to make sure it is not plugged. Don't know how it was stored but mice like to make nests in the exhaust. Did you check airbox for blockage?
Not the coil took a working one of the V max and it is still only firing one cylinder. Could it be reeds? It is getting sparked. Pulled the fuel pump and cleaned getting fuel . Will check exhaust. I pull the right side plug and no difference in engine, pull left side engine dies.
Air box is clear