Engine problems
 

I have a 2000 sv650 that has run fine up until about a month ago when the engine has suddenly started to surge at around 5k-6k revs. If I hold it there for too long the bike begins to backfire quite a bit, and then it will die when I let off the throttle. It seems that this started happening when I "accidentally" put 87 octane fuel in it instead of the usual 93. I'm not sure if the fuel is part of the problem or just coincidence. Anyway, it really didn't start happening until I had already run that tank of fuel through it. I filled it up with 93 octane and added a carb cleaner in hopes that it would help clear up the problem, but it doesn't seem to have gotten any better. Any thoughts?

87 Octane certainly isn't the right stuff for the engine, and could have caused some damage. Detonation could have been abundant throughout the cycle of that fuel tank, putting extra stresses and strains on the engine.

Having said that, it sounds like these problems are coincedental, and more down to the fueling in general.

I would have a look at your throttle assemblies, and may be consider that the carb tuning and syncronisation is a little off.


This isn't advice, it's opinion, and I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to add their own comments ;)

I think he's in US, we use M+R/2 octane method. 87= 91ron

anythiing more than 87 is waste, it's not his problem

I had that problem when my K1 was nearly new.

It doesn't do it now, but I can only tell you the things I've done but not necessarily which one "cured" it.


Remove the carbs.
Check out the choke cables and plungers for corrosion and sticking.
Remove float bowls and clean out any debris.
Blow gently through any/all holes you can see in the business bit of the carb body.
Check slides are free.
Re-assemble.

Fit iridium plugs (NGK CR8EIX)

Check the throttle pot setting. This may well be a very significant item I suspect.
Refer to the manual
http://www.sv650.org/sv_manuals.htm