Author Topic: Another loss of power story  (Read 1009 times)

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Offline Steel CB650C

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Another loss of power story
« on: August 12, 2012, 03:29:35 PM »
Hello All

I am the proud owner of a 1981 CB650C with 19500k and garage kept its entire life its almost all original except a 4 into 1, straight handle bars and a shoei faring. The bike ran well when I bought it 6 weeks ago as it was still being ridden regularly I took it for a 60k ride home city and highway and got her up to 140K quite impressive for $950.00.

When I brought her in for a safety it only needed 2 throttle cables and 1 bulb with paper $220.00 the shop also noted the master cylinder was no longer correct for the bike with the straight bars and could fix for $120.00 it sounded right as I would have to put the bike on a 65deg angle just to open the cap.

They also said I should have the carbs cleaned and set up for $311.00 so I said ok.

So I said go ahead with everything the previous owner even paid half for the safety (honest) So I had the bike for a week before it went in and I rode it almost every day what fun. Then the bike went to the shop they had it for 2 weeks and returned it with out the $120.00 repair as they did not have parts yet.

When I took it for its first ride it seemed great it sounded better it seemed faster and even lighter that is until I pushed it a little I took her on the highway and lost all power at 105k or 5500 rpm. So the bike went back to the shop the next day.

After 2 weeks and many tests I still dont have a bike they assure me everything has been tested gas cap, air, spark, gas and the carbs again it was suggested the cdi module had failed under load (by the way I only had problems with the bike under load same as the shop). Turns out its not the CDI but a short in the wiring before the CDI so they say. They are now telling me #1 and #3 are not firing (side note all pipes are the same colour)

I am now not so sure of the abilities of my bike shop.

Any thoughts or someone near Toronto that can fix this.

Help
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Offline superseven

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2012, 06:00:32 PM »
This is a tough one. I typically do not rely on shops to work on my bike as I never know what the intentions are.

That being said, are you familiar with this shop?

Do you trust them?

What would you say your mechanical abilities are?

Just reading some concerns I have are:

Why did they suggest the carb clean and setup?  Was there a area of complaint or concern on your part?

Did you ask about the master Cylinder?  Or request that the bars be returned to stock?

Or were these all items that were pointed out to you as issues?

As for the problem at hand, very difficult to tell.  I am curious if they did any jetting, etc. I am also curious if they played with the timing.  I think alot more information is necessary about where the bike was originally setup to where it is now is needed.

Best of luck.  Hopefully someone familiar with the model you have can chime in with suggestions.
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Offline scunny

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2012, 02:00:07 AM »
1&4 share the same coil and ignitor. 2&3 share the other coil and ignitor. are all pipes getting hot. is the ignition advance free to turn.
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Offline dave500

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2012, 02:43:18 AM »
they dont have a cdi ignition,have the plug caps been checked for resistance?

Offline trueblue

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2012, 04:16:06 AM »
The 650 as stated before doesn't have CDI, it only has a very basic electronic ignition, think of it as an electronic set of points.  It will either work or not.  The easiest thing to check first is your advance unit, hook a strobe type timing light up to the bike and and make sure your ignition is reaching full advance, off the top of my head I think this occurs by around 2500rpm.  But if I had to guess at the most likely cause, I would say the shop has stuffed up majorly on the carb clean and the carb slides aren't opening properly.  The 81 650 is fitted with CV carbs and the slides aren't connected to the throttle like the earlier PD type carbs, they are opened by vacuum.  The throttle only opens a butterfly between the slides and the engine.  Now, if they somehow managed to screw things up so bad that these slides aren't opening then the bike effectively has a smaller carb on it, this will make it pull like a tractor low down in the rev range but it will be strangled at higher revs.  If the shop can't handle a simple carb overhaul I would not take my bike there.
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Offline Steel CB650C

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2012, 03:41:47 PM »
Hi All

Thanks for the advise I will be taking my bike back and fixing it myself I might need some help with the carbs though. Does anyone live around Oshawa?
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Offline Steel CB650C

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Re: Another loss of power story
« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2012, 04:23:08 PM »
Can someone send me a diagram of the firing order even if its hand drawn if possible try to show it on the bike. Thanks
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