Left side continues to misfire

[sredish]

I'm still going nuts. Left side is not firing.

 

I checked to make sure the coil is putting out spark with a timing light. I went up to a 215 in the single 35mm carb, then stepped down to a 185. I've gone from EEK in the fifth, to DEK in the third.

 

I swapped plug boots to see if it followed the boot, nope it doesn't. I've swapped several new plugs in to make sure it's not fouling out for some reason. When I pull the plug, I see plenty of spark and there's fresh unburnt gas on it.

 

I've pulled the intake twice to check the VForce reeds and all. Nothing stuck in there, the reeds aren't broken or anything. One side (can't remember which side now) is slightly open, less than the width of a penny tho. I can just barely see daylight through the one, but I didn't think that would make much difference.

 

I was having trouble idling, but got that all figured out. I haven't performed a compression check, but will in a few. The top end was just put in in Dec. and I have maybe 5 hours on it, so I highly doubt the compression has dropped, but who knows.

 

I also used Propane gas and went over the left side completely hoping for an obvious air leak, but of course, didn't find anything.

 

The only other thought would be a crank seal, but it ran perfect the last time it was used, maybe 2 to 3 months ago. I did change from the Trinity intake to the Graydon with an open pod filter, but I can't figure out why one cylinder would run differently than the other with a single carb setup, other than an air leak or reed issue.

 

The left pipe is loose where it joins the stinger. I wrapped paper and taped it to keep the oil from squirting out, and figured I'd deal with it after I get her jetted and running good. Don't think that'd make much difference, do you?

 

I'm about to start richening again, but I'm just getting more pissed and more pissed. TIme to stop and grab a margarita.

 

Scott

 

[sredish]

Compression seems to be in the 135 to 137 range. While that seems fine and pretty even, I seem to remember it being around 150 or so when I redid my top end. Maybe it's because I haven't been running it.

 

Dunno... just wanted to add that.

[SANDSTAR]

If those reeds arn't closed flush with the cage, it could spell trouble. You might want to flip the petal over so it is flush.

What throttle position do you notice the worst misfire?

Might want to look at your stator/flywheel. My flywheel started rubbing the pick-up wires after I changed to an adjustable timing plate. It kept running like hell (misfiring, fouling plugs on the left). I must have rejetted 5 times before it just completely died. It had finally severed the wire.

 

This was one of the most frustrating breakdowns I have ever had. Problem plauged me for 2 months. The fix cost me $2 for some solder(sp).

[sredish]

If those reeds arn't closed flush with the cage, it could spell trouble. You might want to flip the petal over so it is flush. 

What throttle position do you notice the worst misfire?

 

At first the throttle position was about mid-throttle, so I tried richening and leaning with no luck. It actually seems to have gotten worse, like it just starts misfiring and I can't get the left side to fire normally now....

 

I might flip those reed petals over tomorrow before I keep going.... at least it'll rule it out.

 

Thanks,

Scott

[white trash]

Its her way of letting you know shee is pissed at you for giving the honda more attention....

 

I would definatly flip the reeds. Sounds alot like what my bike was doing when i had a bad one. Also have you checked your plug caps, trimming the wire back and screwing it back on? Its worth a shot anyway

[sredish]

I would definatly flip the reeds. Sounds alot like what my bike was doing when i had a bad one. Also have you checked your plug caps, trimming the wire back and screwing it back on? Its worth a shot anyway

376669[/snapback]

 

What I did do was hook a timing light to the wire to be sure the wire was getting juice. Then, when that test passed, I swapped the plug wires over to see if it followed the wire. If it did, then I would've figured the boot was faulty, but it didn't follow the wires. Also, I did try another CDI and coil off a friend's bike, with no luck.

 

This is my present thought. I used to run 104 in it. My compression checked in at around 150 when the rebuild was fresh, but after sitting it seems to have dropped to around 140, maybe a tad less. The dealer was out of 104, so I had him fill it with 110. Well, I'm thinking the 110 needs a lot higher compression to burn properly and may be causing some issues with the firing. So, I'm going to get some 93 today and try it out. Worst case, I can eliminate the fuel as a problem, best case, she runs great. Also, I'm thinking the compression drop may be to the bike sitting for 3 months and once I get her out there and some heat cycles through her, the rings will tighten back up and some compression will be restored. Dunno.

 

Scott

[bigboybanshee]

Damn man, you're not having any luck with this!! Don't know if you flipped your reeds yet but did you try swapping the cages from one side to the other when you pulled and checked them? When I got a circle clip stuck in my cage (ironically it was the left side) it did the same exact thing yours is doing. I'm not saying that you have something stuck in the reed, but that gap between the reed petal and the cage can definitely cause issues. The gap from the clip stuck in my cage was a little less than the diameter of a dime and it caused it to run like shit...and when I pulled my plug it had unburnt fuel on it as well, simply because the reed being stuck open dumped too much fuel in the cylinder causing it to misfire. When you rev it up, does the misfire sound like it's going away or is it constant through the RPM range? I really don't think your gas is the problem.

 

Just trying to throw some ideas out there to stir up some thoughts

[sredish]

Damn man, you're not having any luck with this!! Don't know if you flipped your reeds yet but did you try swapping the cages from one side to the other when you pulled and checked them? When I got a circle clip stuck in my cage (ironically it was the left side) it did the same exact thing yours is doing. I'm not saying that you have something stuck in the reed, but that gap between the reed petal and the cage can definitely cause issues. The gap from the clip stuck in my cage was a little less than the diameter of a dime and it caused it to run like shit...and when I pulled my plug it had unburnt fuel on it as well, simply because the reed being stuck open dumped too much fuel in the cylinder causing it to misfire. When you rev it up, does the misfire sound like it's going away or is it constant through the RPM range?  I really don't think your gas is the problem.

 

Just trying to throw some ideas out there to stir up some thoughts

376765[/snapback]

 

Thanks bigboy. Actually, I haven't swapped the reed cages, but I'm going to in the next hour or so. I've also got some new fuel. I'm going to swap the reed cages and try it and if that doesn't prove anything different, then I'll replace the fuel and try that. If that doesn't do anything, I'll just start hitting myself in the head with my rubber mallet. I'm hoping it follows the reeds so I can move forward.

[bigboybanshee]

Thanks bigboy.  Actually, I haven't swapped the reed cages, but I'm going to in the next hour or so.  I've also got some new fuel.  I'm going to swap the reed cages and try it and if that doesn't prove anything different, then I'll replace the fuel and try that.  If that doesn't do anything, I'll just start hitting myself in the head with my rubber mallet.  I'm hoping it follows the reeds so I can move forward.

376839[/snapback]

 

LOL! If I were you, go ahead and flip the reeds before you swap them just in case the problem is with the reeds...you wouldn't want to install them and bolt everything up just to find out you need to take them off again and flip the petals....make sense?

 

Good luck to ya, I got my fingers crossed!

[sredish]

LOL!  If I were you, go ahead and flip the reeds before you swap them just in case the problem is with the reeds...you wouldn't want to install them and bolt everything up just to find out you need to take them off again and flip the petals....make sense?   

 

Good luck to ya, I got my fingers crossed!

376844[/snapback]

 

Yea, I'll play with that before I put them in. I've already had the damn things off twice checking crap.

 

I will say, a few times I hit it riding and they both fired like they were supposed to for a moment, and holy freaking crap what a pull that quad had. When I get her tuned, she is going to freaking fly.... Oh, and don't I owe you some dough, dinero, pesos, ruples??

[bigboybanshee]

I will say, a few times I hit it riding and they both fired like they were supposed to for a moment, and holy freaking crap what a pull that quad had.  When I get her tuned, she is going to freaking fly....   Oh, and don't I owe you some dough, dinero, pesos, ruples??

376849[/snapback]

 

Outstanding!

 

You do, but like I told you before, there is no rush. I'd rather wait until you do get it tuned, etc. so you feel confident with your purchase I know you're good for it

[sredish]

alrighty.... swapped the reed cages and changed the fuel. I got fresh fuel from the pump. the other was 110 but it was out of the bottom of a 55 gal. barrel at a place that you could say was nothing but shady.

 

It started up and spit some on the left side like it had been but very slowly started to clear up. After idling for a few minutes, it started idling like it should, pretty steady and even out of both sides. Hmm, seems better. So, I throw her in gear and go for a ride. The left side was still blowing some mad smoke plumes and cutting out a little bit, less tho.

 

So, I go back and check the idle again. Much better than before, idling perfectly. So, I throw in a 205 main and raise the needle from the 3rd to the 5th clip (still DEK needle), and after a 2 or 3 minute ride, it seemed to clear up pretty good. full throttle was a lot better and seemed to be running hard and both cylinders were firing good. now, there was still an occasional spit from the left side, but they were getting farther and farther apart.

 

I still hadn't gotten it above 3/4 throttle. She seemed to be warmed up pretty good and firing much better, so I threw in a few WOT punches in there. Dammit, hard to steer and see what's going on with the blur of trees going by.... ran pretty damned good. There was a hesitation in there, but it was a flat kind of lean type hesitation, not a one cylinder isn't firing and it was very short. I haven't ran any plug checks or anything, so the tuning will now commence. I think I might go back to the EEK needle and go down a size on the main, but it's still really hard to tell w/o riding much.

 

So, was it the fuel... I dunno. And I've only put maybe 3 or 4 minutes on it so far, so I'm hoping this wasn't just a tease, but it seems that it may have worked itself out some. I'll do some more riding and playing later and let you all know.

 

Scott

[bigboybanshee]

alrighty.... swapped the reed cages and changed the fuel.  I got fresh fuel from the pump.  the other was 110 but it was out of the bottom of a 55 gal. barrel at a place that you could say was nothing but shady. 

 

It started up and spit some on the left side like it had been but very slowly started to clear up.  After idling for a few minutes, it started idling like it should, pretty steady and even out of both sides.  Hmm, seems better.  So, I throw her in gear and go for a ride.  The left side was still blowing some mad smoke plumes and cutting out a little bit, less tho. 

 

So, I go back and check the idle again.  Much better than before, idling perfectly. So, I throw in a 205 main and raise the needle from the 3rd to the 5th clip (still DEK needle), and after a 2 or 3 minute ride, it seemed to clear up pretty good.  full throttle was a lot better and seemed to be running hard and both cylinders were firing good.  now, there was still an occasional spit from the left side, but they were getting farther and farther apart. 

 

I still hadn't gotten it above 3/4 throttle.  She seemed to be warmed up pretty good and firing much better, so I threw in a few WOT punches in there.  Dammit, hard to steer and see what's going on with the blur of trees going by.... ran pretty damned good.  There was a hesitation in there, but it was a flat kind of lean type hesitation, not a one cylinder isn't firing and it was very short.  I haven't ran any plug checks or anything, so the tuning will now commence.  I think I might go back to the EEK needle and go down a size on the main, but it's still really hard to tell w/o riding much. 

 

So, was it the fuel... I dunno.  And I've only put maybe 3 or 4 minutes on it so far, so I'm hoping this wasn't just a tease, but it seems that it may have worked itself out some.  I'll do some more riding and playing later and let you all know.

 

Scott

376888[/snapback]

 

Fuck yeah!! I knew you'd get her running right...I'll be willing to bet that spitting from the left pipe is from so much raw fuel being dumped into the pipe; it's probably working its way out now that it's running like it's supposed to.

 

When you swapped the reeds, did you flip them over?

[sredish]

When you swapped the reeds, did you flip them over?

376902[/snapback]

 

If I did it was unintentionally. I marked the left one with a small permanent dot, then pulled them. Then I disassembled them to inspect even further and cleaned them somewhat and put them back together and put the intake all back on with the reed cages on the opposite cylinders.

 

Dunno. I can't see how bad gas would affect only one, but maybe something to do with who knows what. I'm still confused and not sure if she's "all clear" yet, but I'll keep putting some fuel through it and see if she's good now. She seemed to be running pretty darned good overall by the time I was done.

 

What a mess, from testing all the electrical for no spark and getting the stator then the misfiring, she was really testing me. Maybe she was pissed.... She better get used to it, the Honda ain't going nowhere.

 

Scott

[bigboybanshee]

That's good to hear!! I still don't think your gas had anything to do with it I think you need to get out there today and rip the shit out of the banshee; show her who's boss....LOL