Ignition troubles?

Len Averyt · August 31, 2009, 07:32:35 AM

OK this is kind of a long story....
Shortly after getting back from moot mag 7, i "seemed" to notice that my bikes engine was running rough.
I didn't think much about it and the milage per gallon was good 52MPG or so so i put it out of my mind.
Over the last few weeks, I have only been able to ride it a few times to work and the miscellaneous trip to the dollar store or so.
During these rides, the bikes engine is very pronounced. what I'm trying to say is i can definitely tell that is running. I don't need a tach to tell me.
At side road speeds 25-45 MPH running about 4K i can feel the vibration fairly bad and there is a lot of bumping / surging that almost feels like riding on a rough road. but I can clutch up an roll down the road smooth. let the clutch off and its back. I know that the carb jetting can cause some of this on a factory 3 gen but this is different. Ive ridden this bike for 3 years and close to 20K and i can "feel" its different.
So end of long story...
I have been running seafoam through it with no change.
The bike has 34K on it and as far as I know its never had plugs or wires changed or the like.
Could it be that the valves need adjusting?

hootmon · August 31, 2009, 08:11:55 AM

Let's keep it simple, 1st.. How is the power with the bike?? When you hit the throttle, does it take off, or sorta sputter and shake?
You can pull the plugs and see if one looks different than the others.. This could lead you to if there is a cylinder issue.. If you find a bad plug (dark, sooty, etc), then swap it with a good looking plug and see if the problem migrates, if it does, it's the plug, if not, it's something with that cylinder/carb

Any chance you have a bad spot in the chain??? A tight spot could cause surging/noises..

Len Averyt · August 31, 2009, 09:35:16 AM

Quote from: hootmon on August 31, 2009, 08:11:55 AM
How is the power with the bike?? When you hit the throttle, does it take off, or sorta sputter and shake?

It doesn't seam as quick as it used to be. But then again I'm so used to riding it i may be desensitized to its "normal"

QuoteAny chance you have a bad spot in the chain??? A tight spot could cause surging/noises..

Its a fairly new chain. less than 8K on it. A chain wouldn't explain the smooth coasting and jerky under power would it?

Greg Cothern · August 31, 2009, 02:29:41 PM

Clutch maybe?

Curtis_Valk · August 31, 2009, 06:37:51 PM

I'm with Hoot, keep it simple. Throw a set of spark plugs at it and then go from there. You know I'm usually not an advocate of changing spark plugs unless something is amiss. Well, something is amiss.

When I bought her she had 2500 miles on her and the original tires, so I'm pretty sure she is original. Keep us posted.

Curtis

magnagregcan · August 31, 2009, 06:43:34 PM

Change the plugs. Check your manual: you're over-due!

Len Averyt · September 01, 2009, 07:49:43 AM

Quote from: Greg Cothern on August 31, 2009, 02:29:41 PM
Clutch maybe?

I hope not.. would that make the engine feel like its running out of ballance?
Yesterday on my ride home I stopped at a light and i couldn't see clearly out the side mirrors for the vibration with my hands off the handlebars.

lragan · September 01, 2009, 09:17:29 AM

Len, I hope you get time to sort this out soon. That much vibration cannot be good for Maggie's innards!

"Whole lotta shakin' goin' on!!"

L J VFR · September 01, 2009, 12:29:08 PM

I agree, it sounds like time to change spark plugs!

Len Averyt · September 01, 2009, 09:33:12 PM

Yea I'm going to pick up a set of 4 plugs.
Everywhere I look they recommend NGK CR9EH9

The NGK website shows the following for my bike
CR8EHIX-9 iridium type
CR8EH-9 standard type

Jerry G Turner · September 02, 2009, 04:35:19 AM

I just replaced mine and the cr8eh9 is what I used that is what was in there when I took the old ones out, they are high priced plugs about 8 dollars a piece.

Capt. Howard · September 02, 2009, 01:40:55 PM

Quote from: Jerry G Turner on September 02, 2009, 04:35:19 AM
I just replaced mine and the cr8eh9 is what I used that is what was in there when I took the old ones out, they are high priced plugs about 8 dollars a piece.

DON"T PAY THAT MUCH...PLEASE...Go to your local parts house,O'Riley/Auto Zone,ect.....less than $4.00each....yep..you may have to order on one day and pick up the next but it well worth the trip...

Len Averyt · September 02, 2009, 01:56:30 PM

QuoteDON"T PAY THAT MUCH...PLEASE...Go to your local parts house,O'Riley/Auto Zone,ect.....less than $4.00each....yep..you may have to order on one day and pick up the next but it well worth the trip...

I just got back from Cycle gear and paid $9 each.
I looked at autozone's web site and they didn't stock them and didn't have any pricing.
I found another site that had them for $5 each but with shipping it was going to cost about the same as Cycle gear plus I would have to wait. I guess its worth the extra $16 bucks to have them in hand and can change them tonight.

Len Averyt · September 02, 2009, 06:38:03 PM

Just finished installing them. took her for a 30Mile spin.
Running a whole lot better. I can see out of my mirrors at idle again.
I don't know if its all of it but it was a lot of it.

I have a pic of the plugs. Left to right 1-4

What concerns me is the pasty reddish junk on the threads and barrel of the plug.
Looks like varnish.

They were fairly easy to replace. the back ones were the easyest.
The front ones required pulling the radiator loose from the mounts with everything else attached.

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roboto65 · September 02, 2009, 07:34:47 PM

I look at it this way the build up or varnish is affecting your ground to your plug hows that sound thats my idea and sticking to it LOL