Jennifers Bike Issue

[Raven457]

My friend is back from Dallas after dealing with this....

I think your friend is crazy...

Hi there folks!  Thanks for all the advice and suggestions thus far.  I'm the aforementioned friend of Jennifer, so it's all her fault that I'm here.   

I'd been suspicious of the fuel vacuum valve, and from looking around the Garage part of the forums that does seem like a good place to start.  We'll keep you updated with our findings.

[hootmon]

Welcome from Tampa Bay, Floriduh...
Nice ST you have there. What kind of Snow tires are you running???? 

[TLRam1]

Does Jennifer's friend have a name?   Welcome to MOOT!

[TLRam1]

Welcome from Tampa Bay, Floriduh...
Nice ST you have there. What kind of Snow tires are you running???? 

So your post is the one that kept My post from being posted. I waited while I received "someone from Florida just posted and clogging up the system"

[hootmon]

Welcome from Tampa Bay, Floriduh...
Nice ST you have there. What kind of Snow tires are you running???? 

So your post is the one that kept My post from being posted. I waited while I received "someone from Florida just posted and clogging up the system"

Keep it up Terry.. You'll see just how clogged up the system can really get!!!

[Raven457]

Jason here...  I forgot to put my name in my sig, but it should be all fixed now!

So this evening we tore into Jennifer's bike for a bit.  We found some really brittle old fuel hose from the petcock to the vacuum valve, and a piece of what looked like old, brittle, discolored aquarium tubing from the vacuum valve to the carburetor T-junctions, along with some hose clamps here and there that weren't really clamping much any more.  It's obvious that someone monkeyed with these lines once before.  This is all being replaced with fresh fuel hose and worm gear clamps. 

Visual inspection of the outside of the carbs did not reveal anything abnormal... and the oil level on the dipstick didn't seem to have gone up from where it was previously.  There was some wetness on the engine case near the dipstick hole, but it could just be a result of oil dripping off the stick, since nothing ran out when I pulled the stick tonight.  The level is high though, but since I've no idea who or what dealer changed it last, I don't know for certain if it was or wasn't overfilled to start with.  The oil has been drained and will be refilled tomorrow - I forgot to bring a funnel over tonight and Jen didn't have one. Jen knows the engine has no oil in it, and the keys are safely stored away from the ignition.

A check of the vacuum valve revealed nothing out of the ordinary.  There were no signs of leakage along the outside seam, and when I removed the screws and checked the internals, they looked great. There were no tears that I could find in either diaphragm, and the piston moved smoothly without binding.  The spring looked and felt fine, and there were no signs of leakage on the vacuum side of the internals either.  I reassembled the valve and it seems to be working correctly when I apply suction to the hose going to the cylinder.  No gas was found there either, the inside of the vacuum line was dry, and didn't taste like gas.

So what's the plan?  Right now the plan is to refill the crankcase with oil, reassemble the fuel lines, and run a gallon or two of good clean gas and Seafoam through while keeping an eye on the oil level.  If we're still getting fuel into the crankcase after that I'll bypass the vacuum valve, and if I'm still getting fuel in the oil afterward, I'll turn my attention to the floats and needle seats. 

I don't think there's any serious issue with the carbs (mind you, I've been wrong before).  I think the bike is really just in need of some TLC and, perhaps more importantly, being ridden regularly.  My Suzuki had a heavy gas smell to the oil when I brought it home, and like Jen's bike it had been sitting for a while before I bought it.  After an oil change, fresh gas and riding the snot out of the bike for a while, the bike runs 10 time better than it did when I bought it. The PO only started this Magna up once in a while, it wasn't really ridden at all.. such a shame to do that to a beautiful machine like this.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed... we'll see what happens next!

[TLRam1]

Keep it up Terry.. You'll see just how clogged up the system can really get!!!

Now that you clogged up my PM's, I'll have to post more.  

[lragan]

Thanks for the report, Jason.  Spring is here, and the bluebonnets along the Willow City Loop will be out in force soon.  We should all get together and ride out for a look.

If I can help in any way, just let me know with a PM.

[Jennifer F]

Hi again,
Jason spent some time over the last few days doing a few things.  First, the oil drained.  It was overfull and smelled of gas pretty bad.  Second, as he said above, we removed some sort of fish tank hose from the fuel hose that was clamped to the valve.  The valve looked good and so he put everything back together, filled the oil back up, new filter, sea foam in the tank and took it for a ride. 

Much less backfiring, and has a ton more pick up and go.  I will check over night to see if the gas smell as lessened.  I hope (crossing fingers)

Second question tho:  Jason adjusted the clutch handle so it engages just at the very end of the extension.  While its working as designed, I find that when I go to let it out and give it gas out of 1st, it easily stalls.  The throttle is pretty touchy and limited movement gives a ton of rpm.  Im not sure if its my grip is smaller than his, or the throttle is just too touchy, but its annoying and not to mention embarrassing, to stall out when taking off from a light.  I did it 5 times before I was able to get her going and when I do, she wants to take off and run out from underneath me.

Is there something I can do to adjust either the throttle so it takes more movement to give less gas, or if the clutch can be let out some so my hand can reach it.

Thanks!

[Jennifer F]

Never mind!  My emergency road side assistance helped me! ( <3 Jason ) 

My clutch cabled wiggled out and was wide open.  All should be ok.  I will drive it tomorrow and find out

[hootmon]

Remember you are dealing with a 750.. Even though the Maggie runs strong, it can take quite a bit of clutch slip to get her off the line.. The Throttle is a 1/4 turn throttle, so the RPM's do come up quick.. Bring the RPM's up close to 2000 and keep it there as the clutch comes out.. (which means you will need to add more gas as the load increases)..
I'm not trying to say you don't know what you are doing.. It's just a good technique discussion for someone who is new to the Maggie.
Hope the oil stays at the same level!!!!!