I have a 1993 NC30 that just doesn't want to start

I haven't had it long and I know (now) that I should have drained the fuel off as I was told the bike had sat for some time. Nevertheless the bike seemed to start very well and so I used it to go to & from the MOT station. I noticed a lot of stuttering / hesitation if I gunned it - so kept things nice & steady.

Next time I went to use the bike it started fine but stoopid me went inside the house to put his gear on leaving the bike on full choke running outside. Came back out and put the choke away and gave it a little rev and it died. Could only restart with full choke and the minute I touched the throttle it quit.

I've checked with each spark plug out against the frame and they are sparking but it seems quite weak (not sure if they should be or not).

If I squirt carb cleaner in the bike starts and runs for a second before quitting.

Help!

id clean your carbs. flush out tank too. old gas varnishes and leaves shit to clog up fuel lines,carbs,jet etc.

with the tank off and fuel in the tank when I open the fuel tap should fuel come out of the hose? I get nothing? Wondering if the fuel tap is the culprit.....

ps. apologies I realise now this should have gone in the 'V4 Workshop' section. doh!

Bite the bullet, get cleaning!

the tap should be closed unless you suck on the vacuum spigot - the outer smaller on one the tap.

It is a good thing that it does not leak

just before I get the rubber gloves out .....

as well as the thick short rubber pipe there is a clear thinner plastic pipe that comes off the fuel tap....the end of this pipe is all blackened and not connected to anything? Should this connect somewhere?

Check the battery first, if that's bad replace it and then check the charging system.

gothicsanta wrote:just before I get the rubber gloves out .....

as well as the thick short rubber pipe there is a clear thinner plastic pipe that comes off the fuel tap....the end of this pipe is all blackened and not connected to anything? Should this connect somewhere?

Yes..this is your vacuum tube, that opens the fuel tap...

It connects to a little brass dooberry on the no3 cylinder - rear right. Get your smallest hands out the tookbox and you can do it without taking much off the bike...

Without that, you get no fuel

A hard plastic pipe sounds like it has perished and is knackered anyways, so contact Rick Oliver on here and get a lovely new tube to sort it out.

I'd clean carbs and fuel tap out, then recharge the battery fully if it's a good new one otherwise replace it as a old battery can cause a weak spark when turning the bike over on the starter as it will be trying to use most of the juice in the battery for the starter and you won't get alot left for the plugs!
But you will definetly need the vacum hose attached as it needs this in order to suck fuel out of the tank!

These pipes do go brittle with heat and age, theres a chance you pulled it off when removing the fuel tank, either that or it came off on its own, which would explain why you have no fuel.

If you have tap turned on and suck on that hose fuel will come out the main hose.

Since you have the tank off anyway worth stripping and cleaning the carbs to isolate them too, just work on each one individually and you should be fine.