The wife and I were returning from a 500 mile day, stopped for a quick bite to eat and when we got on our way the bike would not accelerate very well at all in any gears. I tried getting the rpm's up to 7,000 before shifting and it still wouldn't accelerate very well.
The bike runs great and all the fluid levels check out, there is no brake dragging going on, no weird noises, and the air filter is clean.
Could somebody help me out with this dilemma? Thanks!
I had a similar experience on a ride one.. my friend and I were out for a ride.. He was riding a nighthawk.. I started loosing power.. I ended up having to clean out my carbs.. He never had a problem even though we filled up out to the same pump..
I would suspect some trash in the carbs.. Try some SeaFoam 1st..
Thanks for the reply but it starts and runs perfectly fine. We filled up at the same pump about 100 miles before this occured. I'll try some SeaFoam anyways just because.
I'm not familiar with the V-45 but sounds like some kind of timing issue or vaccum leak maybe....
Yeah, I like that avitar.
Quote from: Capt. Howard on June 27, 2009, 08:55:31 PM
I'm not familiar with the V-45 but sounds like some kind of timing issue or vaccum leak maybe....
A vacuum leak can definitely do that. I had a car that gave me fits with similar symptoms until I finally found the loose vacuum hose after a couple of months of limping around town with it.
A vacuum leak sounds like a possible culprit. I had a vehicle with a cruise control that would only work when the temp was above 40 degrees and it turned out to be a rotted vacuum hose.
Thanks for the refresher course in vacuum issues!
Does the '93 model have a vacuum system? I paged through my Clymer and found nothing about vacuum check. However there is something for Cali. models which this is not.
If somebody could point me to the right page that would be most helpful.
Thanks!
Quote from: RudeDog on June 28, 2009, 10:37:32 AM
Does the '93 model have a vacuum system? I paged through my Clymer and found nothing about vacuum check. However there is something for Cali. models which this is not.
If somebody could point me to the right page that would be most helpful.
Thanks!
If you have a 3rd generation Magna, your petcock is vacuum actuated when not in the OFF position, and there is a hose which runs from the engine to operate the diaphragm. If it is loose or has holes in it, the bike will be fuel starved, but the more I think about it, I don't think poor vacuum is the problem; I don't think it would come on suddenly like that. Pardon the kneejerk response. :oops:
But to make sure we are on the right page to start with; we need to nail down your bike's model year, since there was no 1993 model year (but some '94s were built in 1993). Does it look like this
(http://i44.tinypic.com/15yekcw.jpg) 1987-1988
or like this
(http://i41.tinypic.com/2vcupkz.jpg) 1994-2003
If it is like the one in the second image, there are a couple of easy things to check before you have to resort to real work, which I wouldn't wish on anybody :shock: :lol::
1) Are the battery terminals clean and the terminal connections tight?
2) Battery voltage OK at 3000 rpm? Should be 14-15.5 V.
3) Battery charging current OK? Should see up to 500 mA at 3000 rpm.
4) Spark plugs look OK?
This is it 'cept black...
(http://p1.bikepics.com/pics/2006%5C06%5C23%5Cbikepics-617596-full.jpg)
New battery at the start of the season, terminals clean. It's charging and all 4 plugs are a nice tan color.
That's why this sucker has me stumped. Everything checks out except for the lack of acceleration.
That would be a first gen V-45 (82 to 86) and one or more of the slider diaphragms could be cracked, ran into the same problem with my cousin's V-45. I'm sure it could be other things too, but his cranked good and ran smooth but had no power.
Yuck, carbs suck to work on, at least from my point of view.
Thanks for contributing Charles, I'll have to look into that also.
QuoteYuck, carbs suck to work on
I think for me it's more the dread of getting started, seems like everything you do to a motorcycle starts with removing the seat and the gas tank. And it never fails I've usually just filled the tank. Anyway hope it's nothing serious..
Quote from: Charles S Otwell on June 29, 2009, 09:19:21 AM
I think for me it's more the dread of getting started, seems like everything you do to a motorcycle starts with removing the seat and the gas tank. And it never fails I've usually just filled the tank. Anyway hope it's nothing serious..
I found in my auto parts box a length of fuel line that fits the petcock on the tank just great. It is long enough to lead to a gas can sitting on the ground next to the bike. I usually need gas for the lawnmower anyway, and keep several containers in the "combustibles" shed on my place to avoid extra trips to town.
I make it a habit to fill the tank just before I ride home, to minimize condensation while the bike is parked, so "usually right after I fill the tank" is practically a given in my case.
Not your ordinary way to bring gas for the lawnmower, but hey... :smile: