[HondaRider95]

I recently purchased a 2011 Honda shadow with only 4100 miles on it in july. Judging from me having to buy a new battery for it, it seems to have been sitting in a garage unridden for quite some time. I've already changed the Oil and tires and it was riding fine for a few weeks. But recently the bike has experienced a tremendous loss in power. It's difficult to get the bike up to 65 mph and hold that speed now. I can't get it to go any faster unless I'm going downhill. Top gear is meaningless, doesn't deliver any further power than the gear before it and may even cause me to loose power going back down to 55 ( I usually shift into top gear around 65). The exhaust is turning blue from heat quite dramatically, if I didn't know any better I'de say it's not getting the fuel it needs to the injectors, thus more air and less fuel, means it's burning hotter. I inspected the fuel tank, full of rust, working on cleaning it out now. I suspect the fuel filter may be clogged but I can't seem to locate it. Anyone know where on the bike I might find it? I'm very new to the motorcycle world so any help is appreciated!

 

[Kenstone]

yep starving for fuel...

Go here and find your manual, you can download it:

Honda Service Manuals

Honda Service Manuals The following list of manuals has been accumulated by forum members over the years: 500C VT500C: Honda Service Manual - English Only (Posted by reno1051) 600C HSM VT600C,CD VLX 88-89 91-96 (61MR107).pdf 750C VT750C ACE: Honda Service Manual - '83 (Posted by Kathy M)...

www.hondashadow.net

Go here and find the fuel filter location, it's on top of the fuel pump:

2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 VT750C Parts Diagram:

BikeBandit offers thousands of 2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 VT750C OEM Parts to repair or restore your bike. See our parts diagrams online today.

www.bikebandit.com

good luck,

 

[HondaRider95]

I SEE. So remove top plate here, filter shall be inside the fuel pump just under the plate? I'll post a picture of the filter screen when I get to it. Gonna work on it this afternoon when the weather cools down.

 

[Kenstone]

Just as a heads-up get some "Blue Magic" chrome polish/paste, it'll take of the brown/blue off the pipes.

Amazon.com: Blue Magic 400 7Oz Mtl Polish Cream: Automotive

Buy Blue Magic 400 7Oz Mtl Polish Cream: Metal Polishes - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Sold in most auto parts stores

Put it on the middle of a one inch wide strip of rag at least a foot long, wrap it around the pipe once and pull on one end then the other, like sawing dental floss thru your teeth.

The loop will pass around the pipe and remove the brown/blue discoloration quickly
Move up/down along the pipe to polish any brown area.

 

[Kenstone]

I SEE. So remove top plate here, filter shall be inside the fuel pump just under the plate? I'll post a picture of the filter screen when I get to it. Gonna work on it this afternoon when the weather cools down. View attachment 289426

Yep...clean it 1st before taking it apart though.
Down load that manual and read it in the comfort of the AC until it cools off enough to work on it.
jmo

 

[jpr1968]

I would get a Honda service manual for your bike and it will have steps to check what to do in it.

 

[HondaRider95]

Nasty, absolutely caked with rust. Thank you for the helpful advice Ken! ❤

 

[HondaRider95]

Trying to do a little polishing and cleaning, will have to pick up some of that blue magic you mentioned. It's all coming together nicely. 😎

 

[Kenstone]

Nasty, absolutely caked with rust. Thank you for the helpful advice Ken! ❤ View attachment 289440

Pumps in a vise so you took it off the bike, good call
You are getting close to some fun rides at full power.
I'd still run some cleaner thru it while riding it for the injectors though.
My go to is Seafoam or Techtron (Chevron)

How are you cleaning the Tank?
I use white vinegar and BBs and shake it a lot, sometime OMS and BBs
I use a magnet to get the last pesky BBs out.
The vinegar will etch the raw steel so put something in it or it will flash rust.
Evaporust works good too.

I use a lawn mower gas tank to run/tune bikes when the eom tank is off...just sayin'

 

[HondaRider95]

I went with evaporust actually, soaking it overnight. If that doesn't work I'm going to use electrolysys. Interesting you mention seafoam because I purchased some yesterday with the injectors in mind. Great minds think alike I see.

 

[Froth]

Wow that filter looks gross, I’m looking at the diagrams for the fuel system and it seems there is no other filter anywhere in the system other than in that swirl tank type setup for the fuel pump which means anything that goes in the tank will feed down to that pump filter, on the carb models with a petcock they usually have a pre-filter over the tube in the tank and also an in-line filter. Definitely something the EFI guys need to check every now and then with only one filter in the system.

 

[HondaRider95]

Completed the job. The gain in power was dramatic. Went from barely abled to maintain 65mph to pushing 80-83. I still feel just a little bogged down but I'm a big heavy boi, I'm not very aerodynamic and neither is the big ole windshield😂. Added seafoam and fresh clean fuel. Gonna let it run its course. What other maintenance do you think I could do to gain more power? I feel like 70-90 in a reasonable amount of time shouldn't take much effort. Also, could I retrofit another filter into the fuel lines outside the fuel pump housing? Could make things much easier on the interior fuel filter I just dealt with.

 

[Kenstone]

An after the pump filter is high(er) pressure so the inline filter clamps could become a leak point, and the clamps/filter must be high pressure rated/compatible.
A filter there though mean the smooge has gone thru the pump and could have damaged it before the filter.
Seafoam is good but Techron is for injectors so use Chevron gas if you can because Techron is in it.
Techron is sold at part stores though, and even Walmart.

I've had my single carbed 750 shafty over 100mph many times and I'm no light weight.
Your top speed may improve as those additives work their magic over time.

 

[Froth]

An after the pump filter is high(er) pressure so the inline filter clamps could become a leak point, and the clamps/filter must be high pressure rated/compatible.
A filter there though mean the smooge has gone thru the pump and could have damaged it before the filter.
Seafoam is good but Techron is for injectors so use Chevron gas if you can because Techron is in it.
Techron is sold at part stores though, and even Walmart.

I've had my single carbed 750 shafty over 100mph many times and I'm no light weight.
Your top speed may improve as those additives work their magic over time.

Seems that the fuel pump is actually in a little swirl tank/surge tank under the seat area on that model and not inside the fuel tank itself. As I understand the system there is an inlet line that feeds into the little tank which contains the pump/filter and then that has the high pressure outlet from the pump. The under seat tank inlet seems to be gravity fed from the main fuel tank so in theory a simple inline filter same as the carb models have before the pump may be able to be installed if there is enough room. Only my thoughts from looking at the technical drawings of the system though, not sure If it’s actually possible in practice.

 

[HondaRider95]

You guys have been immensely helpful. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to posting more on this forum in the future. Feels good to know
there's fellow Honda owners looking out for eachother on here. Here's a wonderfull picture of my first bike. 😊

 

[Kenstone]

View attachment 289465

You guys have been immensely helpful. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to posting more on this forum in the future. Feels good to know
there's fellow Honda owners looking out for eachother on here. Here's a wonderfull picture of my first bike. 😊

Nice Bike...
It has been a pleasure working with someone who knows their way around a tool box and doesn't respond with "I thought of that" "but I've read" or other challenges of our (my) advise.
Most here giving advise have lived it and it's is not just something they've read somewhere.

You did it right, finding the manual and using that info as a resourse to get you bike fixed, rather than poking around blindly not even knowing what you are touching.

Enjoy your properly running bike that YOU raised from the dead without spending $1300 at the stealership.

 

[garydh2000]

Completed the job. The gain in power was dramatic. Went from barely abled to maintain 65mph to pushing 80-83. I still feel just a little bogged down but I'm a big heavy boi, I'm not very aerodynamic and neither is the big ole windshield😂. Added seafoam and fresh clean fuel. Gonna let it run its course. What other maintenance do you think I could do to gain more power? I feel like 70-90 in a reasonable amount of time shouldn't take much effort. Also, could I retrofit another filter into the fuel lines outside the fuel pump housing? Could make things much easier on the interior fuel filter I just dealt with.

Just curious as to how much seafoam you added. Thinking of doing this to my 2014 Shadow Spirit.

 

[HondaRider95]

Just curious as to how much seafoam you added. Thinking of doing this to my 2014 Shadow Spirit.

I added one third a can. It ran extremely rough for a bit afterwards and I low key panicked. 😂 But afterwards it started doing waay better. Guess the seafoam really knocked some stuff loose.

 

[Tripswithtom]

Seafoam, per their tech guru
2 ounces per gallon fuel thru about 20 gallons for major cleaning of everything.

After that 1 ounce per gallon fuel in 1 tank as needed depending on quality of fuel
That may be 1 per month or every 6 months, with 2 oz per gal once a year
More than 2oz per gal does not work better
Less than 3/4 oz per gal is not effective.

 

[Tripswithtom]

Use the octane your bike calls for.
Tier 1 quality gas has more built in cleaners than non tier 1
To keep things healthy