too rich when warm - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

boxybike · 11-25-2012, 08:11 PM

well....I've given up! I'm going to limp on down to the bike shop for a diagnosis this can be electrical or fuel but after it warms up (apx. 10 minutes) rpms drop to the point of dyeing . I'm getting spark from the coils at this point but i don't know if it's enough the spark look okay. the left carb that feeds the rear cylinder is unresponsive to a shot of wd 40 like that carb either already has too much gas or that cylinder isn't firing some how! i 've already had these carbs off twice, both have been overhauled.....I'm pretty confident about float level and all that other good stuff. i did buy 2 new se valves (choke) just in case but they look ok ! any want to take a guess? thanks

stubb · 11-25-2012, 11:56 PM

Is the pipe on that rear cylinder getting hot? What model of bike is it?

93gc40 · 11-26-2012, 03:51 PM

Are chokes stuck ON. Are you getting ANY spark at all 4 plugs? When was battery last charged? Were carbs originally removed because of this issue or other reason?

boxybike · 11-26-2012, 08:21 PM

well...it's hard to tell because it runs well for about 10 minutes (at that point exhaust is hot)......then like a light switch being flipped, it runs like crap. Oh yea it's a 85 vt1100c shadow

boxybike · 11-26-2012, 08:27 PM

yea I'm thinking choke too but I've had those apart, inspected, cleaned, and adjusted. I can't see anything wrong ! I've even swapped the right side with the left side and the left carb still seems to be flooding out!

proto · 11-27-2012, 11:04 AM

are you for certain that the core of the problem is too rich of a fuel mixture? I'm no expert, but here's what I do know...

if the mixture in the carbs is too rich, the symptoms should be:
-sluggish accel
-not needing a choke from a cold start
-sooty/black spark plugs
-strong smell of gasoline when your idling
-uneven running (will drop below idle RPM's and die occasionally)

first thing to check would be the air filters and see if there's anything wrong there. clogged up air filter would be an obvious fix if the problem is just a rich fuel mixture.

hope this helps.

proto · 11-27-2012, 11:09 AM

Did some research before I run to work this morning, found this link of really helpful problem/solutions for carb-related issues:

Recarbco - Carburetor Troubleshooting

hope this helps.

boxybike · 11-27-2012, 09:14 PM

yea I've checked with the filter on and off, it doesn't seem to matter !

boxybike · 11-27-2012, 09:39 PM

well, the first time was when i first got the bike last summer. It had been sitting in a garage for ten years, i figured i better at least inspect and clean. they looked pretty damn good considering. the second time was was because the bowl gasket started leaking i was trying to do it on the cheap so i didn't buy any new gaskets.....at my age i should know better. figured i should get 2 overhaul kits and bought 2 jet kits from carbjetkits.com ,i think that was the name ! it improved the performance when cold .. but i still have the poor performance when warm......boom, like a light switch!

boxybike · 11-27-2012, 10:02 PM

wow! i didn't know it was 14 pages. lots of good info ! Thanks......i think ! not sure if my bike even has some of the things on it that they list as a possibly. ignition condenser, egr valve, heated air inlet stuck, idle cut off solenoid ? now i have homework ! just kidding, I'll keep you posted.

11-25-2012, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	too rich when warm well....I've given up! I'm going to limp on down to the bike shop for a diagnosis this can be electrical or fuel but after it warms up (apx. 10 minutes) rpms drop to the point of dyeing . I'm getting spark from the coils at this point but i don't know if it's enough the spark look okay. the left carb that feeds the rear cylinder is unresponsive to a shot of wd 40 like that carb either already has too much gas or that cylinder isn't firing some how! i 've already had these carbs off twice, both have been overhauled.....I'm pretty confident about float level and all that other good stuff. i did buy 2 new se valves (choke) just in case but they look ok ! any want to take a guess? thanks

11-26-2012, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
93gc40 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 4,292	Are chokes stuck ON. Are you getting ANY spark at all 4 plugs? When was battery last charged? Were carbs originally removed because of this issue or other reason? __________________ 93 VT1100C Harley Killer (1150cc), VH Exhaust, 2mm sleeved and bored, Modified Heads and Valves, Adjustable Timing, Touring Seat, Baby Apes, Metzlers

11-25-2012, 11:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
stubb Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: wichita, ks Posts: 40	Is the pipe on that rear cylinder getting hot? What model of bike is it?

11-26-2012, 08:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	well...it's hard to tell because it runs well for about 10 minutes (at that point exhaust is hot)......then like a light switch being flipped, it runs like crap. Oh yea it's a 85 vt1100c shadow

11-26-2012, 08:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	yea I'm thinking choke too but I've had those apart, inspected, cleaned, and adjusted. I can't see anything wrong ! I've even swapped the right side with the left side and the left carb still seems to be flooding out!

11-27-2012, 11:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
proto Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 85	are you for certain that the core of the problem is too rich of a fuel mixture? I'm no expert, but here's what I do know... if the mixture in the carbs is too rich, the symptoms should be: -sluggish accel -not needing a choke from a cold start -sooty/black spark plugs -strong smell of gasoline when your idling -uneven running (will drop below idle RPM's and die occasionally) first thing to check would be the air filters and see if there's anything wrong there. clogged up air filter would be an obvious fix if the problem is just a rich fuel mixture. hope this helps.

11-27-2012, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
proto Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 85	Did some research before I run to work this morning, found this link of really helpful problem/solutions for carb-related issues: Recarbco - Carburetor Troubleshooting hope this helps.

11-27-2012, 09:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	yea I've checked with the filter on and off, it doesn't seem to matter !

11-27-2012, 09:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	well, the first time was when i first got the bike last summer. It had been sitting in a garage for ten years, i figured i better at least inspect and clean. they looked pretty damn good considering. the second time was was because the bowl gasket started leaking i was trying to do it on the cheap so i didn't buy any new gaskets.....at my age i should know better. figured i should get 2 overhaul kits and bought 2 jet kits from carbjetkits.com ,i think that was the name ! it improved the performance when cold .. but i still have the poor performance when warm......boom, like a light switch!

11-27-2012, 10:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
boxybike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: sacramento Posts: 22	wow! i didn't know it was 14 pages. lots of good info ! Thanks......i think ! not sure if my bike even has some of the things on it that they list as a possibly. ignition condenser, egr valve, heated air inlet stuck, idle cut off solenoid ? now i have homework ! just kidding, I'll keep you posted.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
HondaShadow.net Advertisement