Power loss

[dbeardslee]

I mentioned this before, but didn't see an answer. Have you checked the plug gaps? They tend to grow over time, so depending on how old they are, it might not be a bad idea to make sure they're still in the .028-.032 range. Might try cleaning and setting them at .028. JAT

[blue giant]

Greg,

I have been following this thread hoping the answer would reveal itself. The voice in my head says the issue is fuel related. I'm thinking fuel starvation. Have you had the petcocks apart lately? Have you had the petcocks out of the tank to check the condition of the tower screens?

Just my two cents. I ordered petcock kits for the 80 special I'm currently reviving, one because they wont stop seeping and two because I seem to have a fuel starvation/flow issue from the right side valve, even on prime.

Paul

[rdmcguy]

From out of the blue

Having followed this thread for a while,but may have missed how spark plugs were reading(color wise )to this point .
You mentioned trying different carb banks, but did not mention if ALL of them were jetted the same as eachother?..I have had tired engines (low compression )run progressively worse as they get more tired
Wouldn't run for s**t at low rpms but ok at mid /high rpms .
Don't know if this will be of any help but ....
......maybe carbon buildup in exhaust port ?...
Good luck and don't give up ,

[motoman]

You're getting spark, but the indications seem to be that it's a somewhat weak spark. The pickup coils just tell the TCI when it's time to send electricity to the ignition coils, which they seem to be doing. If you had a problem with the pickups you'd expect it to show up by plugs 1 & 4 looking different than 2 & 3. But I don't think changing the pickups is going to get you a hotter spark. I also don't think the pickups performance would improve at higher rpms, and judging from the video it sounds like it runs better at high rpms. But if you've got another set it couldn't hurt to change 'em. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky. And it's better to be lucky than good any day.

Have you checked the gap on your plugs? Should be .028-.032, and with old coils closer to .028 would probably be in order.

He ain't usin the old coils..........may wanna read back thru the threads.

[BA80]

Having followed this thread for a while,but may have missed how spark plugs were reading(color wise )to this point .
You mentioned trying different carb banks, but did not mention if ALL of them were jetted the same as eachother?..I have had tired engines (low compression )run progressively worse as they get more tired
Wouldn't run for s**t at low rpms but ok at mid /high rpms .
Don't know if this will be of any help but ....
......maybe carbon buildup in exhaust port ?...
Good luck and don't give up ,

Read through post #1 carefully.

[BA80]

Here's the latest; I took the pods off and ran without any filters for a test. IT WAS BETTER!

It liked leaner better. So, I pulled the carbs and dropped the needles one notch. Ran it again WITH the pods and the low gear stumble is quite a bit less and the high gear low RPM bog is almost gone.

I think tomorrow I'll drop them down to the last notch and see how it is.

I'm having trouble understanding how the engines fuel requirements have gradually changed over the last 4 - 5 months.

[dbeardslee]

Here's the latest; I took the pods off and ran without any filters for a test. IT WAS BETTER!

It liked leaner better. So, I pulled the carbs and dropped the needles one notch. Ran it again WITH the pods and the low gear stumble is quite a bit less and the high gear low RPM bog is almost gone.

I think tomorrow I'll drop them down to the last notch and see how it is.

I'm having trouble understanding how the engines fuel requirements have gradually changed over the last 4 - 5 months.

It's amazing how much difference the clip position on those needles makes. When you say you dropped the needles do you mean you went up one notch with the clip?

[BA80]

When you say you dropped the needles do you mean you went up one notch with the clip?

Yes. What has me spinning is, as I said in the #1 post, I've tried 3 DIFFERENT sets of carbs on there with 3 different sizes of main jets and 2 of pilots.

And the fact that the original set of carbs I started with had been on there untouched for 4 or 5 years and all of a sudden this pops up. Why would my engine gradually change fuel requirements?

Original set ; 45 pilots and 140 mains, needle center notch (on bike running great for 4 - 5 years)

1st changed set; 45 pilots 142.5 mains, needle center notch (ran good for about a month)
2nd set 45 pilots 137.5 mains, needle center notch

current set 42.5 pilots 140 mains, needle started on center moved 1 lean

I'm now running 1 size smaller pilot, same main, and the needle set 1 lean. A leaner setup than ran great for several years. Why would it change?

[dbeardslee]

Yes. What has me spinning is, as I said in the #1 post, I've tried 3 DIFFERENT sets of carbs on there with 3 different sizes of main jets and 2 of pilots.

And the fact that the original set of carbs I started with had been on there untouched for 4 or 5 years and all of a sudden this pops up. Why would my engine gradually change fuel requirements?

Original set ; 45 pilots and 140 mains, needle center notch (on bike running great for 4 - 5 years)

1st changed set; 45 pilots 142.5 mains, needle center notch (ran good for about a month)
2nd set 45 pilots 137.5 mains, needle center notch

current set 42.5 pilots 140 mains, needle started on center moved 1 lean

I'm now running 1 size smaller pilot, same main, and the needle set 1 lean. A leaner setup than ran great for several years. Why would it change?

I've heard some say that needles wear, and also that they can wear the inside of the needle jet, particularly if they're cocked sideways in the slide a bit. 'Course that doesn't explain why you'd get the same condition in three different sets of carbs, unless they were all worn. Which seems unlikely. When you've got them out you might check and see if there's any noticeable wear, and you might check the bores on the needle jets and see if they're round or oblong. Might double check the needles themselves too, and see if they've got any markings on them.

[BA80]

All jets are new except the stock sizes.

[dbeardslee]

All jets are new except the stock sizes.

Needle jets. A.K.A. emulsion tubes.

[BA80]

Yeah, thinking sideways.

3 different sets of carbs, 3 different sets of needle jets. I would have noticed any irregularities when cleaning them.

[DiverRay]

Living in California, I would say take a look at what your public servants have done for you, IE fuel now being sold! Sounds to me as if something changed in the fuel, and that may be causing your problems. Oil companies can change formulas as long as the State goes along with it. The exact formula is a "secret", so you'll never get a full answer. My guess is they pulled some of the "oxygenator" out of it, so you need a little less fuel volume to keep the same weight of fuel to air.

[BA80]

That was my first thought also but no one else's bike is having issues and I ode it to and from San Antonio (565 mi one way) and it did it all the way down and back. Gas every hundred miles. It would all have to be the same.

[dbeardslee]

Just out of curiosity, when is the last time you cleaned your pods? Do you run them oiled or dry?