Author Topic: Seafoam question on new bike purchase  (Read 1144 times)

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Offline kck3

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Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« on: March 05, 2010, 08:15:11 PM »
Im going to be picking up a 1981 cb750f tomorrow.  Rode it tonight all checked out-had a question about seafoam.  I looked in the tank and the gas appears to be low so would adding a entire bottle of seafoam be bad for the bike?  Or is it better to add it to a full tank?  I would like to run a higher seafoam to gas mix, but would that hurt anything?  Let me know if you have run a heavy seafoam mixture and your results.

Offline kslrr

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2010, 09:17:40 PM »
Follow the Seafoam instructions with regards to SF to gas ratio.  Too much SF is not good.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2010, 09:22:40 PM by kslrr »
Now  1972 CB350FX (experimental v2.0)
        1981 CB650c Custom with '79 engine (wifes)
        1981 CB650 engine
        2004 HD XL883C Custom
        1977 Yamaha XS750D (in progress)
Then 1972 CL175
        1964 Yamaha YGS-1T
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Saml01

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2010, 08:37:34 PM »
A third of the bottle treats up to like 10 gallons, I would NOT pour the whole bottle in the gas tank.

Offline kpier883

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2010, 08:51:29 PM »
I agree.  Follow the directions and if possible use the whole tank up and re-fill with pure gasoline.  I do not think letting the seafoam/gas mix sit for long periods of time in your bike is advisable. 

In the fall of 2009 I purchased a 1980 CBX whose last tag was 2001.  It would not idle but ran ok at higher rpm.  I filled the tank with new gas and the recommended amount of seafoam then rode for about an hour.  The bike sat for several hours then I rode it back another hour using up most of the tank of gas.  About 30 minutes into the second hour I stopped at a redlight and the bike was idling pretty good.  It continued to get better, and I have since run several tanks without SF and it is still running good, probably better with each tank.  While this may not be typical, it was my experience and I am a believer. 

I have to think that the PO properly stored the bike using Stabil or draining the bowls, because I don't think if it was really gunked up that it would have cleaned out so easily.  Hopefully you will have a similar experience.

I will at some point pull the carbs to check float height, accelerator pump and choke settings, but for now I can ride.
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82 KZ1000 K2 (LTD)
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Offline climbingaz

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2010, 09:13:27 PM »
All the guys over on the ZRX board will tell you one full can of SF for a full tank of gas.  Supposedly if your problem hasn't dissappeared after three tanks of gas with SF, you're gonna need to break the carbs apart for a good cleaning.  Just my two cents.

Offline kck3

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2010, 09:18:06 PM »
Thats what i was wondering-if anyone had done the one full bottle with a full tank of gas.  Just wanted to hear of someone doing it with good results-I know it isnt a miracle worker and the carbs should be cleaned-just dont want to harm the bike.

Offline Uncle Ernie

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2010, 06:32:00 AM »
You'll know if you have too much in there because your bike won't even run.

Why do you want to do this, BTW?  You understand that the idle circuit is different from mid- and high- range- right?  If it's not idling, just use as much as possible to let the bike idle (hopefully with a fan in front).  Running on the freeway won't clean an idle jet.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2010, 05:43:05 PM »
I ran about 90% Seafoam to gas ratio through a line into the carbs from funnel. Won;t idle like that and smoked like hell. Sure blew some crap out of the motor. Did no harm.
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Offline mrbreeze

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Re: Seafoam question on new bike purchase
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2010, 09:35:19 PM »
I use 1/3 can to a full tank.I can park it like that in Oct-Nov and take short putts all the way till Mar-Apr. Usually May-Oct. is when I do most of my riding. I will use the other 2/3 can thru that period. Remember...............clean carbs are HAPPY carbs!!!!!!
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