I have a '99 Magna with 44k miles on it, Cobra slash cut drag pipes, and a Cobra Jet Kit, courtesy of the previous owner. The bike has always run fantastic and I have kept up with all the usual maintenance.
This morning when I started the bike (ambient temp here in Round Rock was about 52 degrees), it sounded really muffled and then died when I tried to throttle up. Started it again, reached down and felt that the exhaust coming out from the top left pipe was strong, but the exhaust coming from the other pipe and the two on the right felt really weak, like it was only running on one cylinder. And although it only idled for a minute or so, the top pipe on the left felt pretty warm for only having idled for such a short time, and the other three were cool to the touch.
Could any of y'all please give me some ideas as to what might be wrong and point me in the right direction?? I'm not a mechanic, or even a very good "parts changer", but I'm not afraid to give it a try.
BTW - I've only recently discovered this forum and am really thankful to have found such a great source of information.
Really, really dumb question but I have to ask you if the petcock is fully open and you do have gas in the tank right? The ONLY reason I ask is because a friend of mine took his Suzuki Marauder into the shop because it wouldn't start and they called him and said there was no gas in the tank. True story :-?
At 52 degrees you probably would need the choke on to get it to start. It's the black knob below the left side false air cleaner. Pull that out all the way and try it again. With it pulled out fully it should idle higher than normal.
Start with the simple stuff first because the Magna engine is built like a tank and if ridden semi regularly at least it just rarely breaks down.
Sounds like a gas issue to me too. I started mine up a few weeks ago after not running it all winter. I cranked it a while then it coughed and sputtered until finally starting. When it did start, it coughed and sputtered on a few cylinders for a couple minutes before it finally came out of it. That's one issue with carbs, they like to be warm and like to be used often. Use the choke for no more than 30 seconds when started and then just try to maintain an idle of maybe 2K rpm with the throttle until it warms up. Sometime twisting the throttle a few times to get the rpms up will break things loose too so that it will idle right. Let us know if it decides to come out of its hissy fit
Sounds like the idle jets are clogged up pick your poison but I like Seafoam add a healthy dose and run that thru she should clear right up.
Yup - had the choke all the way out and petcock on. I may be a noob mechanic, but I'm not a noob rider. ;-)
The bike is ridden frequently and, up until now, has run like a sewing machine. And we always fill it with good quality, high-octane gasoline.
I just asked my son what happened this morning (he was the one who initially had difficulties getting it to start). He said the bike ran rough and was slightly shaking (which indicates to me that one or more cylinders may not have been firing). He also noticed that it sounded muffled. And then as he was trying to get the idle going, he heard a loud "Pop!!" sound and thought he smelled something like a wire burning.
So it sounds to me as if something was not right causing it to miss and run rough, and now we may have an additional issue with something burning.
What do you suggest and where do I start??
I'd still bet on the idle jets... You might have got some dirty gas on your last fill up..
QuoteYou might have got some dirty gas on your last fill up..
How could it be dirty when its $4.05/gallon? I thought I was pumping gold into my gas tank :-x
On a more serious note, when was the last time the bike was ran before this starting issue? Just wondering how long it has been sitting. My bike made some pretty loud pops and bangs when I fired it up after a few months of sitting.
The bike has been run at least a couple of times every week. It hasn't been sitting at all.
Quote from: MagnaMan84 on March 21, 2012, 03:13:07 PM
... Use the choke for no more than 30 seconds when started and then just try to maintain an idle of maybe 2K rpm with the throttle until it warms up...
This is the exact procedure we use whenever starting the bike.
I'm going to pick up some Seafoam tomorrow and give it a try. If that fails, I will pull and inspect the plugs. If the plugs do not appear to be fouled, then I am going to say a prayer and attempt my first ever carb-pull and check the idle jets.
It really ticks me off to pay so much per gallon of gas knowing that we have more oil under the landmass of the United States than in the entire MidEast combined. This is a documented fact.
Magna does not need higher gas regular runs just fine.
Just check battery connection loose terminals can do funny things.
I agree with checking the battery magnas do not run well if the battery is weak mine made a popping noise once when I started it and then the battery died.
Quote from: Magnum Magna on March 21, 2012, 11:47:48 PM
Magna does not need higher gas regular runs just fine.
Funny people keep saying this..
My '94 would ping on regular AND has a sticker on the frame saying 89 Octane.. I haven't tried regular in the red bike, but it was made within a couple months of the yellow one, so I expect the same results..
I'm not a higher Octane is better kinda guy, I've tried it in the yellow bike with bad results..
(Nothing to do with plugged up idle jets though)
You may try to drain the carbs too. I've actually had water in my tank from a gas station's underground tank leaking :x Ethanol gas also has the effect of pulling in moisture, but it sounds like you've been steering clear of that. I would heavily sedate with seafoam and check battery connections as others have said before trying a carb removal. At least the 3G Magna's are 10x easier than the 1st generation....what a pain.
Ethanol actually absorbs water, allowing it to pass through the carburetor and engine pretty much harmlessly. Long before it was "green", we would add ethanol to the tanks of tractors, trucks, loaders, and other equipment that sat for long periods unused for this very purpose.
The most common cause of water in gasoline is "breathing" of a tank that has air at the top. As the tank warms, it "exhales", and when it cools, it "inhales". Further cooling through the night causes condensation, which sinks to the bottom of the tank because water is heavier than gasoline. Always fill up just before you park the bike to minimize this effect. Of course, I don't deny that you can get it from a storage tank especially one that pumps from the bottom. When we had elevated tanks to provide gravity flow storage to fill our equipment, it was necessary to empty the glass filter pretty often, as the tank was seldom full. I also made it a practice to "spill" a bit on the ground to clear the water before filling the truck or tractor tanks. (Yea, I know, this is not environmentally approved, but this was long ago in a galaxy far, far away...)
I also use Seafoam regularly (one oz per gallon per the suggestions on the can) in my bikes that sit through most of the winter, and per Greg's suggestion, fire them up for ten minutes or so every ten days to two weeks. I run them until the engine will accelerate slowly and smoothly to about 4000 rpm. So far, this has obviated pulling the carbs.
Southern_Partisan, I live about half way between Oak Hill and Driftwood, and will be happy to help you if you can get the bike to my home where I have all the tools. I have been through the carb routine a few times, but I found following the instructions in the "Tips and Tricks" section is quite simple. Good luck. Send me a PM if I you need me.
I guess I must be lucky because I have let my Magna sits for weeks sometimes (like 2-4 at a time if it gets cold) without starting it and it has never failed me. I think the most was maybe two months and even then it sputtered for a minute then settled in to it's usual idle.
Quote from: lragan on March 22, 2012, 02:17:26 PM
Southern_Partisan, I live about half way between Oak Hill and Driftwood, and will be happy to help you if you can get the bike to my home where I have all the tools. I have been through the carb routine a few times, but I found following the instructions in the "Tips and Tricks" section is quite simple. Good luck. Send me a PM if I you need me.
How much better can it get than this, you talk about Southern Hospitality for Southern_Partisan and from a guy who knows his stuff pretty well.
Quote from: Gloveberg on March 22, 2012, 02:37:28 PM
I guess I must be lucky because I have let my Magna sits for weeks sometimes (like 2-4 at a time if it gets cold) without starting it and it has never failed me. I think the most was maybe two months and even then it sputtered for a minute then settled in to it's usual idle.
I'm with you Jimmy, so far so good.
Quote from: TLRam1 on March 22, 2012, 02:38:36 PM
Quote from: Gloveberg on March 22, 2012, 02:37:28 PM
I guess I must be lucky because I have let my Magna sits for weeks sometimes (like 2-4 at a time if it gets cold) without starting it and it has never failed me. I think the most was maybe two months and even then it sputtered for a minute then settled in to it's usual idle.
I'm with you Jimmy, so far so good.
Same here. Never anything a little seafoam hasn't helped. I've been afraid to say so. Hope I haven't jinxed it.
Same here, Gloveberg. I've never experienced anything more than a few splutters after sitting for a couple of weeks or so, and then it cleared right up and ran like a dream.
And thank you very much, Iragan!! I really appreciate your kind offer.
Salvation!!! I added 6 ounces of Seafoam to the 2 gallons I had in the tank and it still wouldn't fire up. Charged the battery all afternoon and tried it again without success. Pulled all 4 plugs and they were fouled. Took a wire brush to them and a little piece of emery cloth to clean up all the contact points, replaced the plugs, and BAM!!! Running like a dream once again.
I love my Magna!! Talk about a bullet-proof design and fantastic performance. Personally, the only major upgrade I would love to have seen incorporated to this bike (other than a few more cc's) is dual disc brakes in the front and a disc in the rear rather than the lame drum brake. I did recently replace the front disc pads with some double-H sintered pads and my stopping ability has dramatically improved.
Thanks again for the help, fellas!! I really appreciate the excellent advice and suggestions. I plan on staying tuned in now that I've found this outstanding forum. God bless!!
A stainless steel brake cable makes the front brake even better...
I'd also dump the chain and increase the tank size..
Do a search, someone on the board installed a VFR engine and installed wheels off a crotch rocket giving him duals up front and disc in the back..
Welcome aboard... How about a picture of your bike?
Quote from: Southern_Partisan on March 22, 2012, 07:56:10 PM
Pulled all 4 plugs and they were fouled. Took a wire brush to them and a little piece of emery cloth to clean up all the contact points, replaced the plugs, and BAM!!! Running like a dream once again.
That was my fix when I had the same problem. I know the fouling of my plugs was caused by my carb experiments early on but I got to when I would travel I had extra plugs in the tool bag.
I changed the plug last year at 50k + miles. They all looked great and ran great just that at 50K it was time.
Glad it was just the plugs, I had this exact problem last year. I just replaced them though since when I pulled I realized the last owner had installed completely incorrect plugs. Enjoy the ride.