Thanks Hans, that got me off one rabbit trail....and I was very glad to not think about opening up the motor again. So here is the rest of the story on my experience, perhaps some of it will give you people a smile. I started again with the electrical wires set as they should be, and it fired up. That was a relief, seemed to run good so put insurance on it Wednesday. I drove it down to Yamaha to get one of their $15. (bargain) oil filters. It did not run right the whole way there, lacking power I noticed, and wanted to stall. Got there and it died when I let off the gas. Got the filter, back on the bike and it would not fire. Not a good feeling. I messed with the petcock a bit, kept trying and eventually it fired and ran (1200rpm) at 1/4 throttle!....then it took off sort of and I headed home.
Took the bypass route, pulled off to Massey and was going to go under the overpass towards Pine Center.....well it died just past the stop sign! So I pulled over to the center meridian. Again it would not start. This time stress level is much higher as all of PG drives by on each side plus the cars turning left. I know I was a blessing to at least 2 Harley riders who went by, haven't I smiled when I see hogs by the side of the road? My turn to be humble, haha. I know not to burn a starter/battery down when nothing is happening even though my desire to have it start is about 11 out of 10 at this point. No real danger here so I take out my tools and pull off the gas line, surely the motor is not getting fuel as it ran fine earlier when I started out, now will not fire at all. I blow into the line and it seems plugged. The carbs must be out of fuel I figure with a plugged line. I am going nowhere. The bike has been there at least 15 min. by now, but it feels much longer than that.....
I look over the situation....I have to move this bike. Traffic coming up the hill is not so thick so I decide to push the bike into the two oncoming lanes and ride it close to the sidewalk down to the massich place parking lot. That worked out well and I was relieved to have a place to work on it with out the 'under a magnifying glass' feeling. I then walked home and had supper. Quite a nice day to do that actually. My wife drove by me on our street looking quite puzzled as I had my jacket and helmet in hand....Honey I'm home I quipped.
Later I got my tools and went back to the bike. I had left the petcock on PRI. I put a fuel filter on it about 20 years ago and I was hoping it was plugged. Pull it and fuel flows out of it, not that. Put it back together and try the bike. It fires right up. Somehow the carbs are full of gas and ready to go. I figure that even if the line seemed plugged enough time went by for the carbs to fill up. Get my helmet, wife, and she follows me home, just glad it is in my garage again. I am tired of it for now. Give it a rest, ride the Fazer instead.
So today I pull the carbs to check into that fuel line. I once dreaded this job, but now with all the practice I've been getting I am quite good at it. Carbs look good, take all the bowls off and everything looks as it should and I blow into the fuel line easily when floats are down. That is good and bad...what is the problem? Is electrical dying when hot? I hope not, I hate electrical problems. I am putting the tank back on and God in his mercy allows the vacuum hose to fall off...it broke actually, no doubt it had a big crack in it while still in place. Don't they make anything to last anymore? I know that hose is only 29 years old. The same vintage fuel line is still good, I just looked at it. So I splurged and got a brand new 65 cent vacuum line. Put it back together, go for a test drive. Runs like new. Moral of the story...do change those vac. lines after 25 years. Could have started and ran on the first try perhaps? I am still a bit confused why it did not start that second time....the carbs should have been full of fuel as I could not blow into them....I don't care, it runs great now......
