- Joined
- Apr 28, 2008
- Messages
- 191
Took my bike out for a good shakedown after some of the niggling problems I've been having.
About an hour into the ride and 45 miles from home, the bike seemed to be missing occasionally under power (about 60 mph in 3rd). Still responded well with a good handful of throttle, but I decided to turn around and head back home. When I pulled the clutch in the engine died. I put it in second and attempted to roll start it, thinking the plugs had fouled. It backfired as the bike slowed to a halt on the side of the road and would not restart.
The guy who lived across the street was pretty cool and gave me a few beers while I waited for my pickup. Got the bike home, still thinking the plugs were fouled.
Pulled the left plug and it was pretty sooty. I had a valve guide seal come loose on that side awhile ago and I wonder if it isn't loose again. The right side was nice and tan though, which I thought was strange as I've started and idled the bike on one cylinder plenty of times while carb balancing.
Checked the battery voltage and that was good, with minimal drop when loading it with the lights and ignition.
Tried another kickstart in my garage just for kicks before hitting the sack for the night. Bike backfired (it almost *never* does that). Gave it one more kick for good measure and same result but slightly more violent with smoke coming out the air filter. Sparx Ignition FWIW.
So where do I go from here? I have done quite a bit of fiddling with the carbs since the last good run, and though I have had several short trips, this has been the last serious run (over 30 mins) since then. Seems weird that the ignition/timing would have gummed up all of the sudden in close sequence after that, making me wonder if a needle hasn't dropped or something...
Cheers,
- HJ
About an hour into the ride and 45 miles from home, the bike seemed to be missing occasionally under power (about 60 mph in 3rd). Still responded well with a good handful of throttle, but I decided to turn around and head back home. When I pulled the clutch in the engine died. I put it in second and attempted to roll start it, thinking the plugs had fouled. It backfired as the bike slowed to a halt on the side of the road and would not restart.
The guy who lived across the street was pretty cool and gave me a few beers while I waited for my pickup. Got the bike home, still thinking the plugs were fouled.
Pulled the left plug and it was pretty sooty. I had a valve guide seal come loose on that side awhile ago and I wonder if it isn't loose again. The right side was nice and tan though, which I thought was strange as I've started and idled the bike on one cylinder plenty of times while carb balancing.
Checked the battery voltage and that was good, with minimal drop when loading it with the lights and ignition.
Tried another kickstart in my garage just for kicks before hitting the sack for the night. Bike backfired (it almost *never* does that). Gave it one more kick for good measure and same result but slightly more violent with smoke coming out the air filter. Sparx Ignition FWIW.
So where do I go from here? I have done quite a bit of fiddling with the carbs since the last good run, and though I have had several short trips, this has been the last serious run (over 30 mins) since then. Seems weird that the ignition/timing would have gummed up all of the sudden in close sequence after that, making me wonder if a needle hasn't dropped or something...
Cheers,
- HJ