20 Most Recent 1986 Honda VT 500 C Shadow Questions & Answers

first thing to do is to check fuel level. you mentioned about 290 miles since you owned it but no fillups. did you get gas from same store? not unusual to pickup trash or water in fuel from conv. stores. with that out of the way, look at your plugs and see what they look like. black and sooty would be fuel fouled and very white or very light tan would be lean. if plugs and fuel are eliminated, it could be the result of a stator coil starting to go south. these will require special tools to diagnose.

No this model did not come with a fuel pump. Actually the VT 700 Series was the only Honda from 1986 that contained a fuel pump.

Try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfMEYG8NvM

There is something wrong with float operation. Take the carbs of (not too difficult), drain the fuel first, open the bottom bowl and check the float and fuel stopper.

It should not make that different, could be the water in the 93 gas.