Engine died just after startup. (2004 Deuce, 11K miles, Carburated) Got rolling a few hundred feet and it stopped like being starved for fuel. Thinking it was the fuel strainer I removed the fuel valve and cleaned the strainer. Had some junk on it but after getting everything back together I tried starting it again and no luck. With air cleaner off I can see a jet of fuel when I twist the throttle. It turns over strong. Any ideas on what to check?

I have put about 400 trouble-free miles on it so far this year and never any issues. Ran strong right up to when it quit.

What should I check next?

 

Here's what I have checked since prior post:
1. squirt starting fluid into carb (air cleaner removed) and it fired up and ran until burning starting fluid.

2. Disconnected fuel line from carb and attached auxiliary fuel tank. Still did not fire.

3. Attached short peice of hose to carb intake (fuel line from tank fuel valve still removed) and filled the hose (about 4 inch hose) with starting fluid. Still did not file.

For #2 and #3 I squirt starting fluid into the air intake as a helper but as it burned off the engine stalled again and would not start.

I previously removed the fuel valve and strainer and cleaned them. Fron the type of hose clamps it seems that this is factory installed, e.g. not messed with before. I notided goopy stuff like thread sealer that was used a little too liberally as there was an accumulation of the stuff. Wonder if that is something that might have carried into the carb.

Could float be stuck? Should I take a wood handle and rap the carb to try and free it? That might only solve it temporarily if the float is stuck, I guess.

Anyway, short of pulling the carb, any quick-fix ideas? I did check that fuel flows from fuel valve when turned to on position. I drained tank this way. However, I thought it would need vacuum to flow. Again, bypassed full valve with aux tank connected to carb and still no luck.

 

my guess would be some of the "junk" that was in your valve dislodged and is now stuck in your carb somewhere. #2 and 3 ruled out anything outside of the carb since you were sure you had fuel up to the carb. Unless you get lucky and it dislodges, sounds like you'll be pullin the carb

 

Thanks Panther65, I think you are right, I have to pull the carb. Something must have gotten sucked into the float bowl and clogged a jet or passage somewhere. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

Took the carb apart. The P.O. (or his dealer) had the carb apart to rejet, I guess, and sealed the bowl with some kind of sealer over the oring. This junk must have dislogged and caused the float to stick closing-off the fuel flow inlet. I replaced the inlet needle and changed the rubber parts from a CV-Performance kit after cleaning everything with carb cleaner. Runs like a champ now.

BTW, with the longshot pipes and K&N air filter added by the p.o. I was told it was rejetted. Not sure about the pilot but the main is the standard #190. I adjusted the air mixture a little richer (about 2 to 2-1/4 turns out). After a full warm-up I ran it at full throttle in 3rd up to about 65 and backed off 1/4 turn of the throttle. No surging or stumbling. Not as good as a dyno test, I'm sure, but seems to run fine. Definitely more noticable at speed. Must have been starving for fuel a little before I cleaned everything including the carb, fuel valve and filter.