Make sure your idle is set a 900 RPM. If it is, what is the PMS set at? If the idle is correct, the popping is usually a lean condition at idle. Try them at 2.5 to 3 turns and check it out.

Hi Mick!

Sorry to be such a pain in the @ss, but mine's been kicked for months now, and I'm almost there, but the seasons getting shorter and I haven't ridden further than around the block yet!

The carb situation has me baffled, but I think I'm creating more problems than I'm clearing up.

The bike RUNS now, and quite smoothly when underway. The problem is, at idle she pops from the front cylinder, idels down after a couple of minutes then eventually stalls out unless I have just a touch of choke going on.

I can't sync the carbs, because they are miles apart and crazy jumpy. Also, I am unsure (but guessing) that the PMS screws MUST be turned out the same # of turns? If I do that, the front cylinder stops firing. The rear carb is 2.5 turns out and with the front 3.25 out is when the bike runs the best. pretty smooth with minimal popping. Under throttle she's fine, but when I back off, she pops and gives me the feeling she wants to drop dead and toss me over the bars.

The carbs have been cleaned "4" times (2 by me, 1 by (pros?) and again by me, the tank was flushed and the fuel pump and filter are new.

I realize this is an old ache, but I sure appreciate your help!!

The carbs MUST be synched. That's probably 90% of your problem. You can't set the PMS until they are synched. It's a very simple process. Do a bench synch to get them close....then a vacuum synch once the carbs are back on the bike. All the info you need to do it is in the KB.

SwaMan (swa3) said:

I can't sync the carbs, because they are miles apart and crazy jumpy.

Make sure you put pilot jets in the sync hoses, this dampens the "jumping" by limiting how fast

air can pass through the hoses.

I'll make your carbs right, if you are still having problems. Just mailed a pair back to NC, he had the same problems, he took it to a professional mechanic. LOL

HYA MICK!

GOOD NEWS!......I finally resolved the "failure to launch" issue with the old V Star! After screwing with the carbs for months and months, I finally found that the "pro" that had them last, did nothing for me. I started from square 1, and was able to find a very serious vacuum leak  due to the 22 year old carb boots being cracked like the bottom of a dry lake!

I replaced them, and was able to fine tune my bench sink to the point of having a great running bike again!

I still have some popping on decel, but having a little fluid from my homemade manometer sucked into the engine revealed that the front exhaust header gasket was shot.  Have them on order, and looking forward to getting a couple of good rides in before the snow flies here in NY.

Quick question though: there was N-O gasket of any form on the front exhaust/header pipe union. And I mean NONE. The connection is even different, as in the rear connection has a collar for the gasket to hug, while the front has a flat surface on both the pipe and the cylinder head. The gaskets come in identical pairs, but I'm confused as to whether I should put one in the front, or is some sort of sealant used? I'm quite certain that I should have found SOMETHING there upon disassembly. Almost to the point of being able to leave you alone, and forever grateful for all the help you have provided throughout this long and painful summer! You are a patient man, my friend.

There should be a gasket on the front as well as the rear.

Exactly what I was thinking, however, there was not and the pipes have not been off at the jugs since I bought the bike......new. I recently read a thread somewhere, in which the author made the same statement as I, and everyone came back with " there HAD to be one" "you must have lost it" "that's impossible" etc. Well, I 'm here to tell ya, the flange faces are as smooth as a baby's bottom, and there is no indication whatever that there was ever a gasket in there. I have put 153K miles on this bike and the exhaust leak is a recent development.

Now back to the question: if there ARE to be two gaskets, are they the same, or is there some difference? I see them in the schematics of parts books and manuals. They are each PRICED differently (the front one being more costly) but look the same to me.

I just don't get it.

If I remember correctly there are 2 on the rear and they are different from each other. 1 for the elbow to the head and 1 for the exhaust to the elbow. 1 of the 2 are the same as the front I just don't remember which.

I don't want to be THAT WISE A** but how were the oil and filter changes accomplished; I don't see an ORK or perhaps my eyes are failing me too. Could the dealer have lost the gasket in the drain pan at first service.