I just purchased a 1985 Vmax the starter clutch was bad when i bought it. Replaced the starter clutch and can make the bike start if i spray starter fluid in it but will not idle and will only stay running if i keep the rpms around 4-6 k was able to run it around my block without it dying but had to stay on the fuel to keep it going. I was told the carbs had been adjusted and were synced up before it sat for a few months and the fuel was bad when I got it. Tonight I pulled all the carbs and cleaned all the jets and put it back together but still have the same problem.

Please any Ideas would be appreciated!!!!!

Check diaphragms on the plungers , fuel filter , fuel pump presure , rust inside gas tank Good luck ....

I'd have to agree with Scoop, I would check the fuel filter & see if it's got any crud in it.

One of the diaphrams acted like it was kind of in a bind when i put them all back together but seem to have good action now. I keep hearing about having to drill some plug out to get to the idle jets but dont understand which plug so dont want to just go drilling things out. Would them not being synced together anymore have anything to do with it? I would figure it would still try to run without them being synced.

I will take the fuel system apart again tonight. It almost acts fuel starved but like I said runs at high RPM's All the coils plugs and wires are brand new.

Thanks for the ideas I will pull it apart and see what that does.

GravenLeoric, are you aware of this website:
www.vmaxoutlaw.com/main.html
Go to the V-Max Tech & Info section, there's a whole section on carbs & adjustments, lot of helpful tech tips. Good luck!

I have looked but didnt really find anything to match my problem. But thanks!

Definitely adjust the idle mixture screws. They are located at the base of the carburetor and are usually under a brass plug that needs to be drilled out.

I have had two gen 1 Vmaxes (1986, 2005) and each had the same problem with these screws. The factory settings result in a rich condition if ANY debris gets into the passages behind these screws. After sitting for the winter, it would run as you describe.

The procedure I used to correct my problems were to (i) screw the idle mixture screw down to the seated poistion, counting the number of turns, then (ii) back them out to the same factory set position, but add another 0.5 to 1 turn. This fixed my idleing problems and also the fowling of plugs.

This procedure also has the side benefit of "cleaning" any debris in the passage that these crews fit into.

Go here to download the service manual for your bike. Pictures are worth a thousand words! Good luck!

www.vmaxoutlaw.com/tech/index.html

Also, I assume you know about the choke lever under the left side scoop. You'll need to choke the bike at startup. I usually need about 1/2 choke to get, and keep it started.

If you look at the carb diagrams on Vmax Outlaw which jet is it calling the "idle jet"

Go to page 223 out of 405 from the downloaded file. It's labeled as "pilot screw" on the diagram. It's part number 10 on this diagram.