Well I have been away at a class for work all week. Finally picked up a new Yuasa battery. The more I look at this bike the more I want to track down the guy I bought it from and slap him! He left the drain hose off his battery causing acid to get all over the mount and rust/eat it. Yum.

New battery charged and installed...and bike won't start. Boo. Starter turns over fine and there is gas in the floats... I'm assuming next step is to get a repair manual and take down the carbs for a good cleaning? I'm kind of terrified of doing this but can't afford to pay the local Ducati dealer (nearest dealership/shop at a mere 20 miles away) $55/hr + parts to do it so I guess I'll be jumping in. Keep an eye out for updates and pitiful newb questions from me the next few weeks. 

Did the bike run before you replaced the battery?  If not, it would be a good idea to do a compression check before taking the carbs apart.  Not to scare you but I've had a real nightmare with my bike:  New battery, new carbs (stripped out the old ones trying to clean them), de-rusted the tank and it still wouldn't start.  I took the engine apart and found a bent valve and cracked guide.  Hopefully you won't have the same kind of trouble but check the engine's health first and foremost.

-M

Yes it did, the only reason I haven't checked compression and spark is it was running (but rough and needing choke) when I bought it 1-2 weeks ago and seller admitted it was sitting for a year before that (so really probably sitting for 2+ years...)

Quote from: Tyro on May 12, 2006, 07:24:23 AM
Yes it did, the only reason I haven't checked compression and spark is it was running (but rough and needing choke) when I bought it 1-2 weeks ago and seller admitted it was sitting for a year before that (so really probably sitting for 2+ years...)

If that's the case, then there's probably tons of bad gas all in the carbs. Hopefully all you need is a good, thourough cleaning 

replace the gas and ddrain the carbs... take the carbs off and clean the bowls out, the mains and pilots, clean the immulsion tube... you know what... check this link out http://www.angelfire.com/mt2/mikesgs500/rejetting/

i'd replace all the o-rings in the carbs while you're at it.... make sure not to lose the little o rings that are under the nipples on the top of the carbs (black plastic top).