I would be interested in getting more information about this.

I have owned the roadstar for about 3 years now. The bike has had reoccuring cracking issue / flooding issue after you get the engine good and warm, say on a day ride, then stop to eat. When I would come out and try to start the bike it would be flooded. I had the bike to the dealer many times for this. Every component to the starting system electrically has either been rebuilt or replaced. Yet, it still had the flooding problem I described. It doesn't do it all the time, but usually when I go on a little trip. This last time I was at the Power Sports Dinner ride, and the Service Manager so how it flooded after we had eaten and was ready to leave. So I took it in one more time. They checked the carb, said it was fine. they ran a dry and a web compression test, then per Yamaha Corp Technician a Leak down test. Here is some info from the mechanic:

" Engine solely air cooled - insufficient air flow being allowed past deflectors, heat builds up under fuel tank and boils fuel in tank and carb, causing gas to be forced into intake and engine (hot soak fouling) 5/3 compression and cyl leakdown testing indicates that engine has been damaged by heat build-up. valves/seals and rings all seem to have been affected. "

Thanks for your interest and suggestions. I will most likely look for a salvaged engine.
Rob

Hi and thanks for your interest. I included a little more history in a reply to another if you want to check it out.
Rob

I had lexan lowers on the front of my engine crash bars, which left about a 6 inch opening in the center. I thought that opening would be sufficient air flow. Apparantely not, the dealer is saying the flooding problem is caused by excess heat buildup under the tank, Hot Soak Fouling. compression testing and cyl leak down testing both signal valves/seals and rings have been affected/damaged.

Readings: Compression Check
Front: 114 dry, 134 wet
Rear: 124 dry, 135 wet

Cyl leakdown exceded 20% on hot engine

My next bike will be water cooled.
Thanks to all for your suggestions.
Rob

What is "Hot Soak Fouling"? Still curious where the air was escaping from during the leak down test.

If you take the valve covers off and there's no oil coked on the heads then the problem isn't overheating.

if it's running hot maybe it's too lean.
I would check the float needle for wear.(leaking fuel past and into the piston chamber) sounds like carbon build up on the valves. (for the leak down) Just my 0.02

Carbon deposits on the valves seem like a good explanation for poor leak down results. I know it is a painting take it to another mechanic, but that's what I would do. It just does not sound right to me.

Do you live in an extremely hot climate? When you rode with the lexan covers on, how much heat was coming from the motor? Was it super hot?

I've heard of several roadies with over 100k and no major engine work. Plus harleys are air cooled too, so I'm not about to say a roadie took a dump first just cause of overheating I can't give my dad that win...
I would definatly get a second opinion. Sounds to me like the dealer you're going to either has no idea what's going on or is just tired of dealing with you so selling you an engine "should" take care of all your problems. Take it somewhere else and let someone else look at it before you give up on it. Just my.o2

KPAX wrote:
Carbon deposits on the valves seem like a good explanation for poor leak down results. I know it is a painting take it to another mechanic, but that's what I would do. It just does not sound right to me.

Do you live in an extremely hot climate? When you rode with the lexan covers on, how much heat was coming from the motor? Was it super hot?

I was having problems with mine a while back same type smytomes I gotta hold of Curt called him and talked to him a little about the SVS did the recommend treatment did the Seafoam deepcreep stuff in the carb removed the exhaust pipes and flooded the inside of the valve chambers with the deep creep stuff let it sit over night put it back together and the rest is history. Its worth a shot and be sure to readjust the float in your carb mine was way to high causing flooding and running to rich causing the problem. Mine an 03 1600

A lot of people have solved the boiling gas problem, by ditching the fuel pump, and going pumpless. With the fuel pump gone, the fuel isn't trapped in the area between the jugs any more. With the fuel pump in place, the only way the gas can go when the gas starts looking for a way out, is thru the carb.

As has been mentioned, second opinions would be a good idea. The SVS thing has bothered plenty of Roadie owners.