exhaust systems

[sflklr]

Evenin guys, A17 with 3K miles, bought it with 1K on it. Stock except for air screw backed out. Over the last 1K miles or so I started getting a knocking/heaving pinging maybe scraping noise when the engine gets up to about operating temp (2/3 + on guage) while accelerating moderately and up. Doesn't do it when motor is less than 1/4 on guage or so. Haven't got around to taking it to a Kaw dealer to check it out yet, as it's still under warranty. Any suggestions/opinions ? Sean

[Keith Saltzer]

when the engine gets

> up to about operating temp (2/3 + on guage) while accelerating > moderately and up. > Sean

2/3 and UP?? Can you be more specific? If your saying that your "normal" operating temp is 2/3+ of the dials travel, that's too hot. Even 2/3 is too hot. Even half of the gauge, or just a hair past half, is where mine will be at while riding very slowly in the woods and no air flowing through the radiator, or on the road with an outside temp of 100 degrees plus. My "normal" temp reading is about 2 needles width into the red. At long stops or in town, my needle will go to about 4 needles width, but still below half. At just above half, (needle straight up and down as you are looking at it) my fan kicks on for a few seconds and takes the needle down to below half immediately. Are you sure you turned the fuel mix screw the right way? Are you sure that your fan is working? Radiator or screen clogged? Most other bikes that I have ridden, that are stock or close to it, run a little hotter than mine, but not nearly as hot as you are describing yours does. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[sflklr]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Saltzer" wrote:

> when the engine gets > > up to about operating temp (2/3 + on guage) while accelerating > > moderately and up. > > Sean > > > 2/3 and UP?? Can you be more specific? If your saying that > your "normal" operating temp is 2/3+ of the dials travel, that's

too

> hot. Even 2/3 is too hot. Even half of the gauge, or just a hair > past half, is where mine will be at while riding very slowly in

the

> woods and no air flowing through the radiator, or on the road with

an

> outside temp of 100 degrees plus. My "normal" temp reading is

about

> 2 needles width into the red. At long stops or in town, my needle > will go to about 4 needles width, but still below half. At just > above half, (needle straight up and down as you are looking at it)

my

> fan kicks on for a few seconds and takes the needle down to below > half immediately. Are you sure you turned the fuel mix screw the > right way? Are you sure that your fan is working? Radiator or > screen clogged? > > Most other bikes that I have ridden, that are stock or close to

it,

> run a little hotter than mine, but not nearly as hot as you are > describing yours does. > > MrMoose > A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

Actualy, just over half is where my fan kicks in and is as hot as it gets. My mistake. Damn, I gotta go the rest of the year now without making another Sean

[Keith Saltzer]

> Actualy, just over half is where my fan kicks in and is as hot as

it

> gets. My mistake. > Sean

Ok, well, then that's all working well. Now how about more info on this noise. Is it a low end sounding knock, that you can hear only 1 or 2 times when blipping the throttle off idle? And can you hear that same noise for a second or two, while taking off from a stop, sorta like chugging the motor a bit? If so, that's normal. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

[sflklr]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Saltzer" wrote:

> > Actualy, just over half is where my fan kicks in and is as hot

as

> it > > gets. My mistake. > > Sean > > > Ok, well, then that's all working well. Now how about more info

on

> this noise. Is it a low end sounding knock, that you can hear

only 1

> or 2 times when blipping the throttle off idle? And can you hear > that same noise for a second or two, while taking off from a

stop,

> sorta like chugging the motor a bit? If so, that's normal. > > MrMoose > A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

Let's see if I can explain it a little better. Temp guage at half way, 3rd gear, RMP's as 2500-3000, cruising along nicely and open throttle to half way so its pulling a bit and theres the knock. Will keep doing it till I let off. Doesn't do it if engine temp is below 1/4 on guage. Sean

[Allan Patton]

> > Temp guage at half way, 3rd gear, RMP's as 2500-3000, cruising along > nicely and open throttle to half way so its pulling a bit and theres > the knock. Will keep doing it till I let off. > >

Sounds like detonation. Let me guess, you are close to sea level and using regular gas. If that is the case, try premium fuel, or shift down and get the RPM up before cranking on the throttle. Allan A14

[Mike T]

The KLR650 calls for minimum 91 OCTANE. At least for the A16. Allan probably hit it, I hope. Happy New Year, Hu Rah! Mike T A16 Las Vegas -----Original Message----- From: Allan Patton [mailto:apatton@...] Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:54 PM To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: opinions needed - not a good noise

> > Temp guage at half way, 3rd gear, RMP's as 2500-3000, cruising along > nicely and open throttle to half way so its pulling a bit and theres > the knock. Will keep doing it till I let off. > >

Sounds like detonation. Let me guess, you are close to sea level and using regular gas. If that is the case, try premium fuel, or shift down and get the RPM up before cranking on the throttle. Allan A14 List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Brad]

I wonder what change could have possibly been made to the engine to require 91 octane in an A16 when according the manual the A15 only requires 87 octane (pages 28 & 29). Unless you are reading the RON rating which is 91 but the common rating shown throughout the country at the pump is the RON+MON/2 which the manual states 87 octane is all that's normally needed. Brad A15 Centralia, WA From: "Mike T" To: "'Allan Patton'" Cc: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 9:17 PM Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Re: opinions needed - not a good noise

> The KLR650 calls for minimum 91 OCTANE. At least for the A16. > > Allan probably hit it, I hope. > > > Happy New Year, Hu Rah! > > Mike T > A16 > Las Vegas > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Allan Patton [mailto:apatton@...] > Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:54 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: opinions needed - not a good noise > > > > > Temp guage at half way, 3rd gear, RMP's as 2500-3000, cruising along > > nicely and open throttle to half way so its pulling a bit and theres > > the knock. Will keep doing it till I let off. > > > > > Sounds like detonation. Let me guess, you are close to sea level and

using

> regular gas. If that is the case, try premium fuel, or shift down and get > the RPM up before cranking on the throttle. > > Allan A14 > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ

courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html

> Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

[sflklr]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike T" wrote:

> The KLR650 calls for minimum 91 OCTANE. At least for the A16. > > Allan probably hit it, I hope. > > > Happy New Year, Hu Rah! > > Mike T > A16 > Las Vegas > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Allan Patton [mailto:apatton@m...] > Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:54 PM > To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Re: opinions needed - not a good noise > > > > > Temp guage at half way, 3rd gear, RMP's as 2500-3000, cruising

along

> > nicely and open throttle to half way so its pulling a bit and

theres

> > the knock. Will keep doing it till I let off. > > > > > Sounds like detonation. Let me guess, you are close to sea level

and using

> regular gas. If that is the case, try premium fuel, or shift down

and get

> the RPM up before cranking on the throttle. > > Allan A14 > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List

FAQ

> courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_klr650/ > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

That was my first thought but I only use premium. I have tried several different brands with no success. Sean

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 2004-01-01 7:41:50 AM Pacific Standard Time, bigfatgreenbike@... writes:

> > >I'm looking for information on what has been done with exhaust > >systems on KLR's. Anyone with a stepped header? Any idea how much HP > >gain? I'm in the process of designing a stepped header and can with a > >local custom builder and would appreciate any feedback on what you've > >done. > > >

To the best of my knowledge, in the Motorcycle industry FMF is the only outfit playing with, or making any claims for improved performance for this design. From where I sit the problem is when dyno tested by the dirt bike magazines these FMF designs have not shown any advantage. Basically, back in '99 FMF came up with a what they called the 'Power Bomb' header. Basically it had a small mini-muffler in the head pipe whose advertised purpose was reduction of noise. Never really worked to reduce noise levels but started the rumor that 4-stroke headers could be tuned like a 2-stroke. To date, while they remain committed to the design FMF has yet to come up any combination of sizes and lengths that really work. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]