What's wrong with my motorcycle?

The Older Gentleman escribió:

Not an option where I live.

I have the plugs out, and apart from one looking a bit black, they seem ok,
unfortunately. It would have been nice to have something to blame it on.
Perhaps I'll stick some new ones in anyway while the bike's in bits.

http://paulc.es/tmp/plugs1.jpg

I wonder if there's a carb renovation firm around here...

 

Erm, a view into the end from an angle would be rather more use tha a
view of the sides & threads.

This view does imply that the spark gaps are a bit big for most bikes,
mind, unless they're tiny plugs.

 

Pip Luscher escribió:

The one that's a bit black is black inside as well.

Not much better, but http://paulc.es/tmp/plugs2.jpg

They are tiny plugs, and the gaps are ok.

Next question: Can I test the plugs by flashing 12v across one of the coils?
Or will that bugger them?

 

Mark Olson escribió:

I know what you mean. Just that the bike is currently scattered all around
the patio and I was hoping to put it back together just in case it rains
(highly unlikely) or (more likely) I forget how it all goes back together. I
think the (one and only) bike shop is shut from Sat lunchtime onwards.

Ah well, I'll just shovel all the bits into a box until Monday.

 

Might work. I was thinking that after six months in baking Spanish heat,
that crap will be well caked on.

Worth a try, though.

How many jets do you think he can lose?

 

Mark Olson escribió:

Just been and ordered some new ones. But not those fancy platinum ones,
'cause they're like 15/16 euros each, whereas the boggo ones are about 10.
Won't get them until Mon afternoon, so I guess I'll spend that time ruining
the carbs.

 

The Older Gentleman escribió:

Will have a look on Monday. Or of course, I could just take the carbs up to
the local bike mechanic and trust him to clean them.

It always runs rough after the summer layoff, but has normally sorted itself
out once warmed up for the first time. Mind you, it's has always run rough
at tickover when cold, and knocks and rattles to buggery ever since I've had
the bike, which is 10 years.

We've got no carpets.

 

Is the right answer.

 

Mark Olson escribió:

Keen to get it on the road at the mo, so will manage with the plastic ones
for now, but thanks for the advice. As it turns out, getting the plugs out
of mine isn't such a task as I've made it. The manual says something like
"One way to get at the plugs is strip all the fairings off" and then details
how this is done, followed by "but the easiest way is to remove the tank",
which took me all of 5 minutes, having already reduced the bike to a million
bits of plastic and bolts.

 

Yeah, I reckon. Certainly the electrode edges are quite sharp, so not
eroded through age or whatever.

The gaps just looked disproportionately big.

 

Greetings,
it would appear that this may, at this stage, be of the "trying to
put the shit back in the horse" category of info, what with you having
disassembled your steed, but.....

and notwithstanding the various suggestions already made, on
reasonable basis re carbs etc, i will say this.......

i have a FI (ergo no carbs ) 03 bird wot i have put 55k on in 365
day use and your precise symptoms happen to mine without fail when
ambient temp is below ~8 C.
So
1) what was ambient/engine temp at time of your endeavour? (i know u
reside at latitudes removed from me, but there exist seasons there
too, im sure)

2) did u persist in coaxing it to run, even on 3, untill it had
nearly attained normal operating temp? and did terrifying lunching
noises/lumpy running persist at this point?

The terrifying rattle/rumble of death noise occurs wit my cold oil/
engine and part worn clutch (but by no means near end of life), which
can even stall engine, when its trying to do its FI/ECU controlled
warm up. solution: hold clutch in till it hits 40 c. - sweet hum of
contentment. blackbird clutches rattle like **** when cold.

The fuelling on FI one is controlled during warm up by wax items wot
remain solid below x temp, and theorectically melt and normal throttle
body control resumes. i cant recall wot mr honda calls this system. In
any event its not great. I, with MK I right hand, I hold throttle for
30 sec to ensure 1000 rpm is maintained, then continue to hold clutch
in (as above) till magic number shows on temp gauge. Runs like swiss
(japanese) watch thereafter.

Mine has been serviced by book. has iridium plugs replaced as per
manual etc. I feel less than inclined to 'go at' wax thingies, clutch
holding is easier.

Mine may indeed have some problem, but not at normal temperatures.
Thus i feel my approach is simpler and lower cost.

Yer black plug may be but a loose plug lead or a vibed out plug [1]

[1] many's the man that is less than inclined to torque plugs to full
torque, due to thread strippage terrors, in face of minor corrosion.
Blackbird magic vibes (3.2-4k rpm, due to cam chain tensioner
shittieness, can vibe out a 'just about' tightened plug [2]

[2] I have learned

 

But we've seen your film!

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

eamo escribió:

Seasons we have. Only 2 though. It would have been around 15C probably. I've
not seen it below that yet this year.

I did and they did.

Heh. Clutch doesn't work well. If I leave the bike stood for more than a few
days, it sticks solid.

But I couldn't pursuade it to run on 4.

New plugs and cleaned carbs will be the order of Monday.

 

Paul Carmichael escribió:

Except not being Popeye means I can't get the bastard carbs off!

 

<adds malc to red nosed bastards list>

 

ah. i see.

ah. oh dearie me, there methinks, the behaviour of yours diverges from
mine. As you were, may the fettling coninue...

Ewww. An issue.

ah. yes. not good then.

In conclusion; Yer bike is indeed dying.

Bon Chance.

 

*proffers tinned spinach*

 

Grimly Curmudgeon escribió:

It was said to contain a good dose of iron. I heard recently that it
contains as much iron as any other green grub.

Last night we had spinach with roast pork, boiled spuds and carrots. I cook
the spinach in a wok with butter. Lovely. If it's not overcooked, it doesn't
stick to your teeth.

 

Ok, so I haven't started it since April. Come to start it just now, and it

Shit in the carbs


I wouldn't do that. If you end up taking to a mechanic he won't touch it
until you hose it all off!

 

escribió:

Done that. Paid the mechanic to clean the carbs. He says they were well
gummed up. Put them back on, along with new plugs.

Worse than ever. Hunting like hell. Will just about run on full choke for a
few minutes, then dies. Leave it for a while and it starts and sounds fine.
Then starts chugging and the gearbox threatens to explode as the engine
grinds to a halt.

So, tank back off, I suppose, and check hoses etc? Or could it be something
to do with the vacuum part of the system?