late for work and bikes playing up
 

hi folks.

jumped on the bike this morning. let it idle with a bit of choke while i pushed it round the front. got 200 yards down the road (no choke) and it started backfiring. gave it a bit of throttle and it got worse. stalledtwice. seems ok on idle but as soon as you put load on it its like its misfiring and backfiring.

Any ideas. Argh!

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

Check your plugs

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

got to work on it, parked up and let it think for 10 mins then statrted it. ran lumpy to start then after another 5 mins got better.


ideas? im thinking overfuling when i put the choke on.


and what do you mean check the plugs?

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

Sounds like the spark plugs are wet or the leads are breaking down. Take them out (probably just the front plug behind the radiator), clean it up and pop it back in.

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

Don't leave it idling on choke to "warm up". It doesn't do anything any favours, believe me.

The bores and combustion chambers don't warm up very quickly when idling so there's lots of time for condensation (combustion gas is basically nitrogen, CO2 and water) and soot formation, the plugs get wet fouling (water and soot, very good at conducting electricity and preventing sparks), oil gets contaminated, bores and rings see high wear rates etc.

Double check your choke plungers are closing off properly, and when going out on the bike just start it, let it settle for maybe 20-30sec by which time it ought to run pretty well off choke, and then ride off gently.

This is getting like a broken record. :smt015

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

never had a problem before not using the choke. just thourght it might help it warm up a little quicker = more fun sooner. so wrong :(

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like preaching.

This is also one of the reasons I recommend iridium plugs, they are better at starting when cold, you can usually get the choke off sooner due to slightly better ignitability with the small electrodes, they spark at lower voltages due to charge concentration on the small tip so are less prone to fouling and usually ease starting with a low battery.

Also double check for water in fuel, drain the carb bowls which can get water collecting especially during colder weather, when it gets colder still maybe try Shell V-power or similar fuel, and perhaps the odd dose of Pro-fst to help stop carb icing.

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

I use time on the road warming the engine as time spent warming the tyres as well. Only once both are warm can I give it hoonage. Warming the engine alone lulls you into a false sense of security.

On track I use tyre warmers but warm the engine up properly before I take them off and go out to play.

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

That's what it's meant to do.

Re: late for work and bikes playing up
 

Aye good point :) surely its not supposed to flood it though? or cause the backfirng i was getting?

Im having a bad morning today go easy :)