Topic: Carbtune issues

[scottly]

It sounds like you may have started with running issues well beyond syncing the carbs, like possible air leaks, tight valves etc. Chill out for a while, then start over and get the bike running reasonably well before fine tuning. Just my thoughts....  

[Bob Wessner]

dont quote me on this... but i thought i might have read some where on here that the plastic adapters are complete #$%* and should be replaced

I have a Carbtune, and if I had a slew of bikes needing maintenance, etc. and the Carbtune were being used often, replacing the plastic adapters might be a good idea, but for occasional use they fine. This should not be your problem unless they are not sealing as they should for some reason, perhaps cross-threaded??

I'm also shooting in the dark.

[IAmCitizenMe]

dont quote me on this... but i thought i might have read some where on here that the plastic adapters are complete #$%* and should be replaced

I have a Carbtune, and if I had a slew of bikes needing maintenance, etc. and the Carbtune were being used often, replacing the plastic adapters might be a good idea, but for occasional use they fine. This should not be your problem unless they are not sealing as they should for some reason, perhaps cross-threaded??

I'm also shooting in the dark.

I checked the threads. It's threading nice 'n' tight. The dern bike runs fine other than the dern popping on the #1 carb. I want to punch a kitten.

[Bob Wessner]

Don't do that. You'll just end up being harassed by PETA.

[Duke McDukiedook]

You have a vacuum leak somewhere.

[IAmCitizenMe]

Don't do that. You'll just end up being harassed by PETA.

And Bucky

[scottly]

You have a vacuum leak somewhere.

1+
Do you know how to check for leaks?
Also, you might do a compression test, to rule out tight valves and such.
(just trying to protect the kitten 

[domer]

something is leaking air some where for sure. maybe the pesky manifold o-rings? but would something like that do it?i mean cause the carbtune to not register? just brain stormin...

[IAmCitizenMe]

something is leaking air some where for sure. maybe the pesky manifold o-rings? but would something like that do it?i mean cause the carbtune to not register? just brain stormin...

I'm thinking it has to come from behind the air chamber. Would an air filter that isn't properly seated do it? From what I can tell my air filter is seated fine. It's pretty new. I thought that maybe the connection between the box and chamber was loose. No dice...

I need a break.

[Brian G]

Don't want to see this thread get lost in the depths until we see an answer!

Just to reiterate and notwithstanding the spitting/popping from #1; if none of the cylinders are showing a vacuum on the carbtune, then the problem/leak must be common to all. I'd suggest not getting too distracted by something that can only affect one cylinder.

(Which isn't to disagree with 69modelj; if the tune-up regime is carried out, it certainly eliminates a number of possible causes)

Regards,

[MRieck]

The carbs are clean, petcock screen is clean. Gaps, timing, spark, all checks out fine. Before I hooked up the Carbtune the only problem I had was some backfiring through #1 due to some old rubber couplers which have since been replaced. So I hooked up the Carbtune and it all went south and now it won't start.

I had put the tank up on a shelf and ran a longer fuel hose. Other than that and attaching the Carbtune, I didn't adjust or change anything.

Forgive me but we are grasping here. Are you sure you installed the adapters to the correct spot on the carb. Again, no offense just grasping here at how it could have gone from running to not running at all? I saw a guy attach the adapters to the air screw holes once rather than the sync ports.

Man, I hope you're right, even if it does make it glaringly obvious the degree of my newbie-ous-ness.
This appears to be the only place to attach the adapters. And they fit perfectly.

Are those insulators completely seated on the manifolds?

[Brian G]

By Cracky - you might have something there! It looks as if the entire carb rack should be moved forward several millimeters!

[Frostyboy]

Just to reiterate and notwithstanding the spitting/popping from #1; if none of the cylinders are showing a vacuum on the carbtune, then the problem/leak must be common to all.

I've read & read this thread & have to agree with Brian G.
Whatever has happened here is common to all 4.
This is a long shot, but has anything happened with your exhaust system during all of this. You haven't plugged the outlet have you?
Has somebody stuffed a potato up your tailpipe?
A blocked exhaust will produce all the symptoms that mysteriously appeared here.
How about you drop the muffler off & try again?
This sounds so much like a few cars I've encountered with melted down cat converters/blocked mufflers.

[Nikkisixx]

Yeah, it looks like your rack is not seated:

[IAmCitizenMe]

Yeah, it looks like your rack is not seated:

Crack kills.

I took a rubber mallet and a piece of wood and tried forcing them in more and they wouldn't budge. I drove it around last night after it got too late to be revving the engine in the neighborhood, and the popping was getting real bad. So I pulled off into a gas station and started fiddling with the position of the carbs--trying to wiggle them closer to the manifold. I couldn't do much damage. I'm going to get my camera and take some pictures and maybe a video and see if we can't get to the bottom of this.

I'm almost 100% sure my valves are good. But right now, I want to solve the mystery of the no-response Carbtune.

[domer]

i used just i tiny bit of wd-40 on the intake to help slide the carbs all the way on... this very well could be your problem, or part of it...

[cookindaddy]

I'm reading this too since I am waiting for my Carb Tune to arrive.

You say that you changed the carb rubbers? How did it run after that? Did it run ok then or is that the stage you are at now? They are not on backwards are they? The thicker walled end goes to the engine. They might seem to fit the other way around (I've done that) but they would leak air.

[IAmCitizenMe]

You say that you changed the carb rubbers? How did it run after that? Did it run ok then or is that the stage you are at now? They are not on backwards are they? The thicker walled end goes to the engine. They might seem to fit the other way around (I've done that) but they would leak air.

It backfired real bad through the #1 carb before I replaced the couplers. After, it wasn't nearly as bad, but still present.

I sprayed some WD-40 around the boots and pulled the carbs onto the manifold with a ratchet strap. Good news? The popping has stopped out of the #1 carb. Bad news? Now it backfires like the devil out of the left exhaust and the Carbtune still does not register below 4,000 rpm. I am running pretty low on ideas.

[Frostyboy]

Those screw you are removing to fit the sync tool, are they simply plugs, or have they got a tapered point & a spring on em?

[MRieck]

You say that you changed the carb rubbers? How did it run after that? Did it run ok then or is that the stage you are at now? They are not on backwards are they? The thicker walled end goes to the engine. They might seem to fit the other way around (I've done that) but they would leak air.

It backfired real bad through the #1 carb before I replaced the couplers. After, it wasn't nearly as bad, but still present.

I sprayed some WD-40 around the boots and pulled the carbs onto the manifold with a ratchet strap. Good news? The popping has stopped out of the #1 carb. Bad news? Now it backfires like the devil out of the left exhaust and the Carbtune still does not register below 4,000 rpm. I am running pretty low on ideas.

Are you using new insulators? They are not seated. It is not your valves, carbs, weather, bad luck etc..... they are not on right. Use a heat gun on them, put the front wheel against a wall and push. that ratcheting strap does not pull evenly. Those carbs are not seated properly.

[IAmCitizenMe]

You say that you changed the carb rubbers? How did it run after that? Did it run ok then or is that the stage you are at now? They are not on backwards are they? The thicker walled end goes to the engine. They might seem to fit the other way around (I've done that) but they would leak air.

It backfired real bad through the #1 carb before I replaced the couplers. After, it wasn't nearly as bad, but still present.

I sprayed some WD-40 around the boots and pulled the carbs onto the manifold with a ratchet strap. Good news? The popping has stopped out of the #1 carb. Bad news? Now it backfires like the devil out of the left exhaust and the Carbtune still does not register below 4,000 rpm. I am running pretty low on ideas.

Are you using new insulators? They are not seated. It is not your valves, carbs, weather, bad luck etc..... they are not on right. Use a heat gun on them, put the front wheel against a wall and push. that ratcheting strap does not pull evenly. Those carbs are not seated properly.

I don't see how I could get them on any better. And regardless of them being seated properly, the Carbtune is still not registering. I should be getting SOME kind of reading, right?

[MRieck]

You say that you changed the carb rubbers? How did it run after that? Did it run ok then or is that the stage you are at now? They are not on backwards are they? The thicker walled end goes to the engine. They might seem to fit the other way around (I've done that) but they would leak air.

It backfired real bad through the #1 carb before I replaced the couplers. After, it wasn't nearly as bad, but still present.

I sprayed some WD-40 around the boots and pulled the carbs onto the manifold with a ratchet strap. Good news? The popping has stopped out of the #1 carb. Bad news? Now it backfires like the devil out of the left exhaust and the Carbtune still does not register below 4,000 rpm. I am running pretty low on ideas.

Are you using new insulators? They are not seated. It is not your valves, carbs, weather, bad luck etc..... they are not on right. Use a heat gun on them, put the front wheel against a wall and push. that ratcheting strap does not pull evenly. Those carbs are not seated properly.

I don't see how I could get them on any better. And regardless of them being seated properly, the Carbtune is still not registering. I should be getting SOME kind of reading, right?

No...not with big vacuum leaks. You will not get a reading. For the second time....are those insulators new.

[IAmCitizenMe]

No... they're not new.

[MRieck]

No... they're not new.

It figures. Go get new ones and try again.

[MRieck]

 I don't mean to be a total dick but your problem is obvious to me.