Wilsons Sandbox

> I realize this post is long and not as much fun as the Jennifer mystery > but I sure would appreciate your patience and help. > Problem: Intermittent Missing at high speed/high rpm. on hot sunny days; > rarely misses on hot cloudy days even when I ride 90mph plus. Ambient > temperature not engine temp is a factor. Started 100 miles from Moab while > traveling to the rally, no problems on the White Rim but stuttered all the > way home to Colorado, continued through the Summer. Most typically the > engine misses on a series of long uphill grades at interstate speeds after > riding 20/30 miles; once it starts it continues at lower speeds even down > hill, very irritating. Never misses around town or on the trail. I > addressed the problem by: opening the gas cap at speed while engine was > missing; didn't help. Cleaned air filter. Took off float bowl then blew > out fuel line entrance. Installed new vacuum line from carb to petcock. > Checked coil for resistance then had it checked for spark; all read fine. > Installed new spark plug. > Here's what threw me off; only recent posts concerning a partially > empty tank and a fuel filter installed possibly shed light on what > actually happened. I took the bike for a ride engine commenced to missing. > Though the tank was not empty decided to try something, I switched to > reserve; the engine stopped missing immediately and ran great until.....I > moved the lever back down to regular open position; in a mile or two it > started missing. When I moved back to reserve it again ran fine. Repeated > experiment with same results. As a final test I stayed at the reserve > position and ran the bike at 80-90mph for 40 miles on a stretch of I 25 > that climbs about 1200' from Pueblo to Colorado Springs. Exactly the > situation where the problem would usually manifest itself. The engine > didn't miss a beat. > I'd installed Skip F's petcock mod but since the problem started before > the mod was added, it didn't look like it was a factor. Never considered > the fuel filter being a problem now I see it could have been and that > skips mod could have aggravated things because it may require a bit more > vacuum to pull gas through it. Now I see I could have had two problems. > Anyway,I was convinced the petcock was the problem. I ordered a rebuild > kit from Fred and proceeded to pile wife, kids and dog into the Escort > wagon and drive them to Canada. I figured when I got back I could easily > fix the petcock and proceed on to Guatemala. Well, when I did do that it > didn't improve anything, I then took the petcock apart again and defeated > the vacuum mechanism rendering it an old fashion on/off unit. Still no > relief. Called Elden Carl ;he suggested replacing the spark plug cap; he > was sure that would be the cure. After doing so I took an aggressive 300 > mile ride. No missing!! But...it was an overcast day. Went out the next > day, sunny, stuttered worse than ever. Elden postulated black box; said it > was safe to swap, offered his bike, course he's in California. I was out > of time; Central America trip by cycle was canceled. Since then I've been > in contact with another klr elder statesman Jake Jakeman (he sent me some > great allen bolts to replace the cheesy Philips stuff all over the handle > bar; more on that latter) like Elden he was sure the problem was > electrical. He said that simply taking the CDI unit off and putting it > back on removes corrosion that could cause a short. Haven't done that yet; > I want the problem to manifest itself so I can have some idea what cured > it. Since returning from my PLANE trip south I've only used the bike on my > 12 mile round trip commute to my morning work site. Doesn't miss a lick. > Of course it's cold and the ride is short. I want to address this problem > so next year's Summer riding isn't again compromised, I have some > questions. The manual gives instructions on testing the Ignition Unit. You > should see them; not only are they beyond my capacity but the local > mega-shop (with a good reputation) won't tackle it. (They checked my coil > for spark for free, Apex Sports). Is there somewhere I could send the unit > and have it tested? Someplace that could duplicate extreme conditions, > even heat. I'd send my coil too cause it was tested cold. I don't think I > could be so lucky that my problem is caused by the presence of a fuel > filter; the bike stutters when the tank is absolutely full. The bike has > 33k miles and I'm running a fairly new fuel filter. Bogdan, Desperate in > Colorado BTW What happened to that electrical sabio The Professor; he > was late for class in Moab. > >

--- In DSN_klr650@egroups.com, Bogdan Swider wrote: > > > > > > > > I realize this post is long and not as much fun as the Jennifer mystery > > but I sure would appreciate your patience and help. > > Problem: Intermittent Missing at high speed/high rpm. on hot sunny days; > > rarely misses on hot cloudy days even when I ride 90mph plus. Ambient > > temperature not engine temp is a factor. Started 100 miles from Moab while > > traveling to the rally, no problems on the White Rim but stuttered all the > > way home to Colorado, continued through the Summer. Most typically the > > engine misses on a series of long uphill grades at interstate speeds after > > riding 20/30 miles; once it starts it continues at lower speeds even down > > hill, very irritating. Never misses around town or on the trail. I > > addressed the problem by: opening the gas cap at speed while engine was > > missing; didn't help. Cleaned air filter. Took off float bowl then blew > > out fuel line entrance. Installed new vacuum line from carb to petcock. > > Checked coil for resistance then had it checked for spark; all read fine. > > Installed new spark plug. > > Here's what threw me off; only recent posts concerning a partially > > empty tank and a fuel filter installed possibly shed light on what > > actually happened. I took the bike for a ride engine commenced to missing. > > Though the tank was not empty decided to try something, I switched to > > reserve; the engine stopped missing immediately and ran great until.....I > > moved the lever back down to regular open position; in a mile or two it > > started missing. When I moved back to reserve it again ran fine. Repeated > > experiment with same results. As a final test I stayed at the reserve > > position and ran the bike at 80-90mph for 40 miles on a stretch of I 25 > > that climbs about 1200' from Pueblo to Colorado Springs. Exactly the > > situation where the problem would usually manifest itself. The engine > > didn't miss a beat. > > I'd installed Skip F's petcock mod but since the problem started before > > the mod was added, it didn't look like it was a factor. Never considered > > the fuel filter being a problem now I see it could have been and that > > skips mod could have aggravated things because it may require a bit more > > vacuum to pull gas through it. Now I see I could have had two problems. > > Anyway,I was convinced the petcock was the problem. I ordered a rebuild > > kit from Fred and proceeded to pile wife, kids and dog into the Escort > > wagon and drive them to Canada. I figured when I got back I could easily > > fix the petcock and proceed on to Guatemala. Well, when I did do that it > > didn't improve anything, I then took the petcock apart again and defeated > > the vacuum mechanism rendering it an old fashion on/off unit. Still no > > relief. Called Elden Carl ;he suggested replacing the spark plug cap; he > > was sure that would be the cure. After doing so I took an aggressive 300 > > mile ride. No missing!! But...it was an overcast day. Went out the next > > day, sunny, stuttered worse than ever. Elden postulated black box; said it > > was safe to swap, offered his bike, course he's in California. I was out > > of time; Central America trip by cycle was canceled. Since then I've been > > in contact with another klr elder statesman Jake Jakeman (he sent me some > > great allen bolts to replace the cheesy Philips stuff all over the handle > > bar; more on that latter) like Elden he was sure the problem was > > electrical. He said that simply taking the CDI unit off and putting it > > back on removes corrosion that could cause a short. Haven't done that yet; > > I want the problem to manifest itself so I can have some idea what cured > > it. Since returning from my PLANE trip south I've only used the bike on my > > 12 mile round trip commute to my morning work site. Doesn't miss a lick. > > Of course it's cold and the ride is short. I want to address this problem > > so next year's Summer riding isn't again compromised, I have some > > questions. The manual gives instructions on testing the Ignition Unit. You > > should see them; not only are they beyond my capacity but the local > > mega-shop (with a good reputation) won't tackle it. (They checked my coil > > for spark for free, Apex Sports). Is there somewhere I could send the unit > > and have it tested? Someplace that could duplicate extreme conditions, > > even heat. I'd send my coil too cause it was tested cold. I don't think I > > could be so lucky that my problem is caused by the presence of a fuel > > filter; the bike stutters when the tank is absolutely full. The bike has > > 33k miles and I'm running a fairly new fuel filter. Bogdan, Desperate in > > Colorado BTW What happened to that electrical sabio The Professor; he > > was late for class in Moab. > > > >

> I had this exact problem a couple of years ago. The first thing I > checked was my air cleaner. Much to my surprise, there was a mouse > nest in the airbox with a petrified mouse to boot. I cleaned it all > out and re-oiled and re-oiled it. I also replaced the plug which was > about 15K old. KLR ran fine after that. You should also look at vent > hose blockage too. > > Gino > >

>Thanks Gino, I did all of that. I discounted the vent hose when the >stuttering wouldn't stop when I opened the tank cap at speed.

> A couple of crazy ideas: What is status of plug wire itself? And, > possibly more important, has anyone (Skip?) had experience with some kind > of plant (anerobic?) growth in fuels? This stuff has occurred in aircraft > > fuel tanks in past years, and may be stuck in the 'regular' intake tube > inside the tank as opposed to the reserve intake. The only other thing I > can think of is to be sure to verify a solid ground circuit. It does > sound > like it would be more of an electrical problem. The manual has a number > of > component tests that you can do at home with the multimeter to verify > integrity. > > Stuart >

> > > We occasionally have problems with algae growing in the fuel tanks of > locomotives. This type of thing usually shows up in the fuel sight > glass and by clogging filters quickly. This doest sound like quite what > Bogdan is having problems with. Maybe take the coil/CDI back to Apex > and take a hair dryer with you to simulate a hot sunny day. > > Don KLRA13 "Salad Shooter" > 73 Suzuki TS185 > >

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] bSwider@... [b]To:[/b] bSwider@... ; DSN_klr650@egroups.com ; 'k650dsn@...' ; heaslet@... [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, November 16, 2000 3:34 PM [b]Subject:[/b] RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: FW: What Am I Missing About This Missing > A couple of crazy ideas:  What is status of plug wire itself?   And, > possibly more important, has anyone (Skip?) had experience with some kind > of plant (anerobic?) growth in fuels?  This stuff has occurred in aircraft > > fuel tanks in past years, and may be stuck in the 'regular' intake tube > inside the tank as opposed to the reserve intake.  The only other thing I > can think of is to be sure to verify a solid ground circuit.  It does > sound > like it would be more of an electrical problem.  The manual has a number > of > component tests that you can do at home with the multimeter to verify > integrity. > > Stuart > Thanks Fireball, I'll take your advice on the ground circuit and think I'll replace the plug wire. I like your "Blob" theory but I scrubbed the hell out of the stem when I was messing with the petcock. BTW I heard that you sat on your bike overlooking Salt Lake City and said "This is not the place". Bogdan Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... Let's keep this list SPAM free! Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com

> Bogdan, > Have you ever seen those dorky light-up plug wires they sell for > Harleys, you can even choose the color.....you could get a hold of > one, put it in the KLR and when it starts to miss you could look > under there (maybe leave a little extra long plug wire sticking out > where you could see it) and see if it is an erratic spark coming off > the coil... >