vstar1100 starting problem

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[Aurelio]

I searched the STAR national page and found this link. Seems the problem has plagued several vs1100 owners. Check it out:

http://www.startouring.org/forum/default.aspx?f=30&m=67437

[Jeff & Kelli M]

Does this mean we need to take the bike for a long ride on a hot day and try some of there ideas?

[Aurelio]

I'm gonna' try one of the suggestions they mentioned. I called ASK and ordered an under the tank heat shield. I'll install it once it's in and take her out for a ride. We'll see.....  

[Rob S]

I had the same problem with my 1100 (anyone remember the first state picnic) Early fix was to remove the fuel cap for a minute before you even sat on the bike but after a while that stopped working. Found out later it was the nylon needle valves that were worn causing fuel to leak past them when the tank got hot from the sun causing it to preasurise the tank. Replaced them with stainless steel ones and no problems anymore. Even the stainless ones can wear over time the nylon ones installed by the factory just get eaten by the fuel additives realy quick. I think I remember reading somewhere that yamaha got wise to the nylon needle valve problem and went to stainless ones in either 06 or 07.

[Aurelio]

From the National page I read someone had insulated the underside of their tank with thermal insulation and it had solved this problem. I called ASK here in Columbus, and they sold me an 18"x18" thermal sheet for $25. Today I took the tank off, drained the fuel into a gas container, cleaned the under side of the tank with all purpose cleaner, and applied it. The sheet was a perfect square, about 1/16th of an inch thick, adhesive on one side and shiny heat resistant material on the other. I measured and cut different sizes and strips to apply to the whole underside of the tank. It took me a little bit to cut and apply it all but I had enough for the whole job, have a 1x3 strip left over. From pulling the tank and draining the gas, applying the insulation, to re-installing the tank and re-fueling was about 3.5 hr job.

Over the next few days I'll ride it to test this. We'll see.......

[Aurelio]

Just to follow up, the bike has been starting well since I lined the tank bottom with the thermal insulation. I went on the PA trip, never had a problem starting it. Looks like this is a cheap and quick solution to this problem.