1982 virago 920

[wolverinepty]

I got this 920 virago from a friend who had it stored for 3 years. I fixed an oil leak, gas leak, changed the spark plugs, replaced all the fuel lines, cleaned the carbs. I can get the engine to turn but it won't start. Will the engine start without the carbs being sync'ed? Any advice on why it won't start? Any help is helpful for me. Thanks - Paul

[yamaguzzi]

yes it will start without being synced,,,but there are a few other equally important features that must be in sync...first is a completely charged battery, the vgo requires its electrical system to be top notch to work,, remove and check the condition of your spark,grounded against the cylinder...bosch 4037 is what i use but many are liking the autolite ap63,,,if there is any flooding  going on ,a weak sparkplug just wont step up to the task,,,if your spark is strong then you can figure the wires and coils are good,,,the vgo has  resistors built in to the caps, and sometimes they go bad,,,next is fuel flow,,the petcock make sure shes flowing,,,carb vents on top sometimes get clogged especially if they have sat for a while,,nesting insects  etc..i shot of starting fluid is always a last resort but sometimes necessary,,good luck keep us posted yg

[wolverinepty]

the fuel flows well from the tank to the carbs, but what is "bosch 4037 is what i use but many are liking the autolite ap63"? thanks - Paul

[yamaguzzi]

sorry, thats a reference to spark plug brands and #s...take care,,had a good day yesterday, put about 40 miles on..

[wolverinepty]

thats good man, anyways i've been trying to start the bike with direct circuit cause the starter button wasn't complete after reassembly. so i checked the spark and there is no spark. I don't know if the starter button would complete the circuit or what. i tried looking at the wiring diagram and couldn't make heads or tails of it. i have found a loose wire... yes i am a novice. i can't find its connecting wire. this could be the problem, but i'm at a loss with those wiring diagrams

[yamaguzzi]

okay, when you turn on the key....lights come on,,horn works..........
are you striking an arc across the solenoid???  it cranks but doesnt start....no spark....just trying to figure where you are getting juice.....does the 82 have the cycom speedo and gauge display,digital?

[wolverinepty ()]

during reassembly the starter button had some sort of disconnect, i was attempting starting with direct current from battery to starter. yes the speedo is digital. i was also talking to someone else and thinking that the lack of spark was comming from the disconnect. he was trying to track done the wiring for the starter button. didn't have much luck tracking it down

[wolverinepty]

during reassembly i found a wire that i counldnt find the other connecting wire for. the wire is to the top left rear of the battery about 2 inches in length from its grouping. its a single wire coming from a group of wires that come from the handbar/digital gage box. before i disassembled it to fix the oil leak and gas leak i had some action when pushing the starter button.  sorry but i don't know anything about an arc accross the solenoid.

[bstig60]

If you have a loose Red/White wire you must find out where it goes. Red/White is the wire which supplies power through the main fuse to the rest of the bike including the ignition fuse. Suggest you use a volt meter to check for 12 volts at the ignition fuse, coils, etc., following the wiring diagram in your manual. When you check your fuses you should check for continuity with a meter, not just visually. With he old typ fuse, looks can be deceiving.......

[wolverinepty]

alright, i found a problem, the starter cut-off relay was bad, i tested the connection by running a wire from the starter button to the blown relay and i got the engine to crank but i still get no spark. thanks for your help, also thanks bstig60

[ryler]

Is your battery connected to the battery sensor?

[wolverinepty]

no, i found out about 2 days that, that was the loose wire. but i do not know how to connect it. thanks for the reply

[wolverinepty]

ok i finally got spark, i bypassed the power from the starting circuit cutoff relay and the cutoff relay and giving power from the battery to the igniter.  I can get it to start, but as soon as i let go of the start button it dies. thanks for the help earlier. any help is good help thanks.

[wolverinepty]

I finally can get it started and it runs at idle, but as soon as i touch the throttle it dies. any suggestions?

[yamaguzzi]

lets start with basic carb settings,,idle mixture/pilot air screw located under neath between the carb body and cylinder, may be covered with a soft metal cap, drill cap, place a nail set in the hole and pry out or screw a sheet metal screw in and prize out,, begin at 2 1/2 turns out,,,front carb will stay close but rear carb may need to go 4 or even 5 turns,,the jet size differences and heat factor are why.. anyway, next the vacuum leak,,any tube that carries air check to make sure they are without holes and are tight, make sure spark plugs are clean and capable..make sure choke is off keep in touch yg

[yamaguzzi]

http://www.drpiston.com/ this may help too