[skelbert]

So, i've begun to fix my bike, yet i'm having troubles with my engine actually starting. It cranks, and i've started and driven it before, but barely.
Whenever I start it, it'll crank, and sound like it is almost ready to start up, yet never get there. On occasion, after 5-6 minutes of trying, it gives in and starts up.

My second problem occurs after I get it running. I believe the idle is not properly set, thus it will shut off unless the bike is warm (so, I have to keep it rev'd up to keep it on), but, after a minute or two of being on, it makes weird noises (like half of the engine is cutting out, and after giving it more gas, it comes in, then out again. This could be a problem, in the way that the bike is rarely driven currently (soon to change if I can get it running) and oil isn't getting to half the engine. But, after that, the bike will shut itself off slowly, no matter how much gas I give it.
If any of you guys have any ideas as to why this might be occuring, please clue me in.
Thanks for your troubles. If you have any questions to ask (if I wasn't clear on anything, forgive me, as I am not a mechanic of any sorts.) Please do, i'll try and answer to the best of my abilities.
Thanks again.
-scott

[Gaunty42]

I had similar problems with my VFR 750. I had crashed it and it was in my garage for nearly a year before I rebuilt it. It sounds like a classic clogged jet. Get some carb cleaner and give it a good clean and try again. If that doesn't work you may need to service the carbs properly and get the jets cleaned.

[skelbert]

Just an update. I didn't do any work on the carbs, but I replaced the two boxes (one of which controls the spark plugs/tach), which actually solved my problems for the most part. The bike idle's perfectly, starts up just fine, and has no problems. I guess the box was just fried.

But now, after driving it, another problem has arisen. I can shift into any gear and possibly neutral if the bike is rolling foward. Once I've stopped, I can barely shift up to second, and getting into neutral is next to impossible. Like I said, I can only get into neutral when I'm rolling foward to a stop, or if I turn the bike off.
Any thoughts?

[Gaunty42]

I would check the clutch plates as well as the clutch fluid. If it's not either of those then I am stumped.

[Six_Shooter]

Originally Posted by Gaunty42

I would check the clutch plates as well as the clutch fluid. If it's not either of those then I am stumped.

I was thinking clutch myself.

[Tucker]

I just acquired an 84' vf700f in April that had been completely disassembled which had been sitting in that condition since 92'. once I got it back together, it was behaving exactly as yours. after many sleepless nights I finally gave in a swapped the carb with my 83' vf750. after 15 years of not running, it started up on the first try. the only difference in the carbs was the introduction of an emissions vacuum system for burning off excess fumes from the gas tank in the 84' - a system which for all practical purposes is not vital to engine performance. so I highly recommend cleaning your carb - its not really as hard as it may seem, just requires alot of patience. but before you do that, you may try taking off the air box and starting the engine with b-12 carb cleaner - see if that knocks out any junk out of the jets. if that dosent work, take the carb out. a trick to this is keeping all the carbs attached to the air chamber. loosen all boots and take off any cables leaving carb. then take a pry bar and rap it in a rag or pad it so anything that touches the engine is soft. on the rear of the carb assembly, look for a small protrusion on the carb which is right next to the boot - this is where you are going to pry the carb out against the engine head. it will come out with little effort. if it dosent - loosen the boots as much as you can with a screwdriver. do not use excessive force!!! just work back and forth between the rear right and left carb untill that side pops out, the rest is easy. when cleaning - label everything carefully, draw a picture, and do not mix up parts between carbs. when ready to reinstall - soak boots in boiling water for 10 minutes and then work fast while rubber is still soft - this part sucks. have fun!!! any questions just ask.