Motorcycle stalls when slowing down

[pinchepunx]

My 83 Shadow that is still new to me and in need of TLC dies when I am riding and begin to slow down. Because of this I haven't even ridden it past 2nd gear (new rider here also). Same happens when I'm taking off in first unless I give it enough throttle as I release the clutch.

I've heard the kickstand sensor on some bikes may cause this but not sure that is the problem here since I am able to ride without problem until I slow down (or if an 83 has a kickstand sensor).

The bike has over 30,000 miles on it and the previous owner may not have taken good care of it.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Motorcycle.com Free App

[John Hopkins]

carb overhaul for the fault, new plugs, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter, oil, hydraulic fluid, brake pads and shoes, coolant and drive shaft oil..will all need changing on any new to you bike..maybe tires, battery and any frayed cables..

John.

[Earthling789]

Ah, yes... sounds like you have a dreaded carburetor problem

Don't think, and don't try to adjust it out... if the PO didn't take pristine care, or the bike sat for any length of time, CLEAN the carbs before you go any farther.

Take them off the bike, disassemble, soak, clean, scrub, clean again, and clean some more... Pay extra attention to cleaning the jets and all the little passages... sounds like they've acquired a bit of gunk.

When re-assembling, use new gaskets and make sure you have the floats adjusted per factor spec (this will cause you some grief if you are off on measurement).

Once they are back on the bike, adjust idle and mixture screws, then sync the carbs.... she should purr like a kitten after that!

Do a search on this forum for carb removal, cleaning, and adjusting.... and there are a couple of good threads on homemade manometers for syncing the carbs... I just built one myself for <$15, including 5mm adapters, tubing, fluid, etc.

[93gc40]

Sounds to be to be dying from rider fear more than a mechanical issue.....

IT is impossible to diagnose this as a carb issue since it apparrently is fine at idle and in nuetral and the fact that the Poster has never ridden above 2nd gear.
Are you sure you are not just bogging it and stalling the motor? Sound to me like you are affaid of the bike. These bikes the 80's versoins in particular prefer NOT to be babied. They tend to stall and bog if ridden with a limp right wrist. Give the throttle a good twist at starts, use the clutch and transmission to control the torque, NOT the twisty grip. That bike has a HIGH performance motor in it, performance characteristics more akin to a Crotch Rocket, than the average V-Twin Cruiser. Power is made at high RPM, unless you keep it wound up it will tend to die.

It might still be the carbs or other issues.....

Start with basic maintenance. Refer to the storalogy thread for what you need to check. The post should be retitled for Storage and New used bike purchases. because most of the things you need to check and do are the same for both.

[Earthling789]

Hmmm... must have skipped right over the "new rider" part...

Yes, my 85 absolutely HATES to be running below 2500 rmps, unless she's idling... and you are correct, these motors are built to take the abuse... you can't be afraid to twist that thing on the right and let the clutch's friction zone do the work

[jimnfor]

Originally Posted by pinchepunx

My 83 Shadow that is still new to me and in need of TLC dies when I am riding and begin to slow down. Because of this I haven't even ridden it past 2nd gear (new rider here also). Same happens when I'm taking off in first unless I give it enough throttle as I release the clutch.

I've heard the kickstand sensor on some bikes may cause this but not sure that is the problem here since I am able to ride without problem until I slow down (or if an 83 has a kickstand sensor).

The bike has over 30,000 miles on it and the previous owner may not have taken good care of it.

Any ideas?


Thanks!

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Motorcycle.com Free App

THAT sounds like a worn clutch to me.....

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by jimnfor

THAT sounds like a worn clutch to me.....

Worn clutch would have OPPOSITE affect than described.

[pinchepunx]

thanks guys, well I've ridden smaller honda (nighthawks) and yamaha dual purpose bikes in class (just passed) and granted those are much smaller bikes but I have not had this problem with them. So is it just a matter of me getting use to the shadow?

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Motorcycle.com Free App

[Science.Dan]

+1 on the carb rebuild

While I agree that these older shadows prefer to be at a higher RPM, they shouldn't be bogging down or cutting out when you close the throttle. In fact that's a very important point right there. If I'm reading his post right, he sees the problem depending on the throttle position and not necessarily the RPMs or current gear.

My guess is that he's probably riding rich in the first 1/4 throttle. I bet he'll find that someone bumped up his pilot jets a size or two, or that his pilot screw is way loose, or that his choke is stuck open.

Your first step is a carb overhaul and then all the maintenance that one should perform on a new to you bike.

["Captain D"]

IF it were me ~ I`d try adjusting the idle (throttle stop) to just a tadd bit higher RPM, and see IF it is Me (or that work needs to be done) ...
But that`s Just Me,
"D"