Topic: My bike RUNS! But it needs some work, running on two cylinders I think :(

[Dave-and-his-550]

I think I think, perhaps I screwed something up with the carbs or something got stuck in my fuel line for the #3 and 4 carbs.

I checked the fuel drain plugs on the bowls, 1 and 2 dripped with fuel, but 3 and 4 were bone dry I unscrewed them completely and they weren't in the slightest wet with fuel!

This would also explain why my bike wasn't running on cylinder 3 and 4! I'll have to pull off the fuel line somehow (It's hard to reach in there and pull that sucker off, its on so tight!)

Maybe I'll take a shop-vac to it with a smaller extension, or maybe stick in a long flexible rod, something must be stuck in that fuel line!

[MJL]

I haven't had a chance to check the float bowls, or any of the other fuel mixture variables as it is raining out now.

But I do remember, that when I checked each plug for spark, three were kind of a weak purple spark, and #2 was a brighter spark. So maybe my coils are bad?

I went outside and snapped some pictures of them, they are pretty rusty at the leads (I'm guessing)



Theres gotta be a way to test em right?

Start by cleaning them, a bad connection can reduce voltage and make a weak spark.  Also, when I was fighting a lack of power in my 650 I had the coils tested at the local Honda dealer.  They had a rig that mimicked the points and plugs and tested my stuff up to 10,000 rpm.

[Reavis_99]

Dave,
         I just went through everything on my bike and I think I have found what is causing the same thing to your bike as is happening to mine. ( firing plugs 1-2 but not 3-4)  My idle jets or "slow jets" were clogged.  I had cleaned my carbs but not as good as what I thought.  I hope this helps.

[Hush]

If you are getting gas to two cylinders but not all, have you done something different with two of the carbs?
I managed to put all my floats in upside down and off course no gas got to the cylinders.
Could you have done that to two of your carbs?
You must have done something between changing those old spark plugs for the new ones?
If the bike ran before (even poorly) it was better than what you have now so you need to keep thinking about just what you did.
Did you yank on the plug leads instead of pulling from the plug caps, this will pull the leads out of the caps and even tho they look OK the wires will not be touching and spark will be lost.
I'm still thinking it is something in the fuel delivery side of things like are you sure you have enough gas in the tank right now?

[Reavis_99]

Dave it is the fix,  All you need to do is take out your slow jets and clean them.  I did it this weekend and sure enough as soon as I put them back in the carbs all four cylinders started running perfectly.  Make sure you take carb cleaner and shoot through them. They also just unscrew out of the carbs with a regular screw driver you cant mess it up.  Mine were bad enough I had to let them soak in carb cleaner for 24 hours and then I shot carb cleaner through them.  This should fix you up.  Good luck let me know if I can help anymore.

[trprbill]

From what I see of your plugs they look rich. Floats set ok?

[Dave-and-his-550]

If you are getting gas to two cylinders but not all, have you done something different with two of the carbs?
I managed to put all my floats in upside down and off course no gas got to the cylinders.
Could you have done that to two of your carbs?
You must have done something between changing those old spark plugs for the new ones?
If the bike ran before (even poorly) it was better than what you have now so you need to keep thinking about just what you did.
Did you yank on the plug leads instead of pulling from the plug caps, this will pull the leads out of the caps and even tho they look OK the wires will not be touching and spark will be lost.
I'm still thinking it is something in the fuel delivery side of things like are you sure you have enough gas in the tank right now?

I'm certain each plug is getting spark as I did the test TwoTired mentioned. I thought about not enough fuel in the tank, but I got like 3+gallons in there. I really think its a poor spark because of coils, and no fuel in #3 and 4. I just got home from the weekend.

I'm going to take a look at that fuel line, and pop off the bowls and see whats up and also check the fuel line between the tank and my inline fuel filter (I can't imagine it would be plugged up beyond the filter?)

Dave it is the fix,  All you need to do is take out your slow jets and clean them.  I did it this weekend and sure enough as soon as I put them back in the carbs all four cylinders started running perfectly.  Make sure you take carb cleaner and shoot through them. They also just unscrew out of the carbs with a regular screw driver you cant mess it up.  Mine were bad enough I had to let them soak in carb cleaner for 24 hours and then I shot carb cleaner through them.  This should fix you up.  Good luck let me know if I can help anymore.

Thanks for the tips Reavis! I replied to your PM before I read this thread giving YOU tips on how to fix your problem, and it looks like you don't need em anymore! 

I do know almost for certain my carbs are clean as a whistle. My first project on this bike was cleaning the carbs, and hell did they need it!

From this:


To this:




I also inspected the carbs one more time the moment before I put em back on my bike. Although, if #3 and 4 are dry, they could be corroded again due to a lot of rain we've been having

...I'll check anyway.

From what I see of your plugs they look rich. Floats set ok?

Yep, floats are set at 22mm. The plugs you're lookin at are the old ones. I installed new ones

Edit: It's been confirmed. There was junk plugging up my fuel line and it's been eradicated 

[Dave-and-his-550]

Shes alive!!!! And runnin on all four! Now the game of fine tuning will begin...Thanks for all the advice my fellow SOHC'ers 

Cheers,

Dave

[Klark Kent]

woot- ride the ass off it.

[alltherightpills]

Isn't bringing them back from the dead one of the greatest feelings in the world?

[Dave-and-his-550]

Isn't bringing them back from the dead one of the greatest feelings in the world?

I was riding around on two cylinders thinking "God this really sucks!" then, when I got the fuel line fixed, the new plugs installed and the ignition timed right, I was riding around laughing with joy feeling the power of all four under my ass. Unfortunetly I ate a couple bugs for lunch

You're in Iowa City? I'm in Fairfield

[alltherightpills]

Hey, a couple of bugs just means you got a little extra protein

How's life with all of the Maharishis? 

[Dave-and-his-550]

How's life with all of the Maharishis? 

I've certainly gotten my fill of Indian food