I've got an '85 V-Max 540 that takes a TON of pulls to get started, and once started it really runs like a dog for a minute or so. But after it gets warmed up it runs fairly decent with the exception of it not wanting to idle down occasionally from around 4000 rpm.

Spark is really good on the machine. However, I'm thinking that the problem may be cured with taking the carbs off, cleaning them and replacing the jets.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated :D :D

Snow-Drift

Spray some Carb Choke Cleaner into the carbs and see if that does the trick! If not check for some nests in the airbox

Well I took the carbs off, took them all apart, cleaned them and put them back on. They looked quite clean. Replaced all of the fuel lines coming out of the pumps and changed the spark plugs. Put it all back together and the same thing, it wouldn't start. So I put the slightest amount of starting fluid in it and it fired right off. It seemed to race again. So, I decided I should finally mess with the air adjustment screws. (I counted where they were before I took the carbs apart to clean them). Well I turned them all the way in and backed them out about 1-1.5 turns. That helped tremendously! They had been backed out over 4-5 turns. So, the idle speed came down to 1500 rpm and when you give it throttle it returns real nice, no more high idle speeds. Well I went to start it today and got it started with FULL ON choke, after about 8-10 pulls, no starting fluid. Anyway, it seems that I have a slight over richening problem as the plugs are slightly "wet fouled". The engine was rebuilt not too long ago and the guy I got the sled from had BR8ES plugs and I replaced them with a colder plug, BR9ES. I'm thinking I should drop back down maybe even go to a BR7ES. Any thoughts on plugs or could somebody walk me through a quik course in carb settings? I'm thinking it's one or the other or even a combination of both. I'm learning as I go, but I'm learning a lot :D :D

Thanks.
Snow-Drift

I don't recommend using 7's. Try playing with the airscrew settings a little more approx. 1/8 turn at a time. You may need to change pilot jet size if this does not help. Does it start good warm? Also, I have seen bad sparkplug caps cause problems. Resistance of cap (off the leads - cap only) should be approx. 5K ohms. New NGK caps are cheap. Trim leads back to fresh wire (1/4 to 1/2 "), just make sure it still reaches the plug before you cut.

It starts first pull when it is warm. I'm going to have to check into the caps because my Dad thinks I've got some problems with those just from looking at them. Plug gaps are good, and plugs are new.

Hey, I see you are from McCall! My Dad has property up there in Paddy Flat, bought it clear back in about '78 or '79 :)

Snow-Drift