Hey guys – I’m new to this forum – nice to be here and all that. I figure there might be a few Yamaha Virago 250 owners in here… I am just trying to find out if I am the only one having this problem. I have an ’07, got it in ’08 with only 50 miles on it. It ran perfect when I got it. Cold weather came and the bike got parked, but I had not run the carbs dry so I guess it got clogged up – the bike wouldn’t start or if it did it ran like crap, spewed smoke and quit. I ended up having to have the carb cleaned or rebuilt – whatever, it was expensive. Then a year later (beginning of this year) I allowed the bike to sit for a few weeks and it clogged up again. I put it in the shop for a complete service – over $300. The bike was running like NEW. It only has 1,200 miles on it. It’s in perfect condition. But I’ll be damned if – after I had to be on the road for a couple of weeks, I decide to go for a ride and CLOGGED AGAIN. It ran for a bit – really bad with smoke coming out and then I see gas pouring out of the air filter. I shut it off and I guess now I have to take it back to the shop. I can’t imagine spending another $150 or more just because the bike sat for TWO weeks.
I read in a post on here something about needing to put a fuel filter in-line between the tank and carb. Is this what is causing my problem? Now that the bike is running like it’s “clogged up” again, and I looking at another carb rebuild?
I love this bike. But I am so disappointed with this repeated clogging. I’ve had bikes in the past and I know they could sit for 2 weeks without needing a $150+ trip to the Yamaha shop to get them restarted.
Does anyone know about this issue and have advice for me? I appreciate you reading my post and replying. Thanks!