A strange problem, need the forums collective knowledge..
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
i had a customer bring in his bike, doing exactly the same thing. he would lug his bike a lot and it caused a lot of carbon to build up in the cylinders and around the valve seats. a pretty easy fix for that is to pull off the air cleaner and rev the motor up while you are spraying cold water straight into the throttle body, the cold water crystalizes the carbon and it breaks loose and blows it all right out the exhaust pipe. fixed his bike in about 10 minutes. and it has worked countless times on a lot of old hot rods. you just have to make sure to rev it high enough so that the bike doesnt die when you spray the cold water in it. good luck, let me know if that fixes it
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Exactly my thought! If you are talking about a fine mist from a spray bottle, then it probably won't wreck your motor, but spraying water, like say with a hose Definitely will! Motors are basically compressors and water doesn't compress. I'm not saying a light mist won't work. I don't know, never heard of it, but if you spray water in your carb, you are asking for trouble... IMHO
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Exactly my thought! If you are talking about a fine mist from a spray bottle, then it probably won't wreck your motor, but spraying water, like say with a hose Definitely will! Motors are basically compressors and water doesn't compress. I'm not saying a light mist won't work. I don't know, never heard of it, but if you spray water in your carb, you are asking for trouble... IMHO
Water injection used to be a common performance mod on many cars, especially SAAB 9000 series.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
yes its from a spray bottle, not a hose, kinda figured that went without saying. it doesnt take much, as Spanner mentioned its not an uncommon thing on performance cars, also on a lot of airplanes. just trying to help with a solution that like i said has worked countless times in the passed. you could also take the top end apart to check if that makes you feels better, but this way is fast and doesnt hurt anything
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 391
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
yes its from a spray bottle, not a hose, kinda figured that went without saying. it doesnt take much, as Spanner mentioned its not an uncommon thing on performance cars, also on a lot of airplanes. just trying to help with a solution that like i said has worked countless times in the passed. you could also take the top end apart to check if that makes you feels better, but this way is fast and doesnt hurt anything
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: Central IL
As I was reading through the replies, (a lot of good ideas), I was thinking a valve seat issue. Has anyone done a leak-down test? I don't disagree with the carbon idea but since it has done this since new I would lean toward the seat itself. I have seen seats pop out on small engines before and then fall back into place and run fine for a while. (wouldn't have believed that without seeing it). It's a stretch, but worth checking if everything else fails.
Otherwise, get a priest. It may either need an exorcism, or last rites. Sorry, I couldn't help it.
Be sure to let us know what you figure out.
Otherwise, get a priest. It may either need an exorcism, or last rites. Sorry, I couldn't help it.
Be sure to let us know what you figure out.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 133
From: TEXAS
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Sorry if I came across harsh, just imagined this guy spraying water in his carb with a hose... Also am not trying to insult OPs intelligence as I don't know him,.... But that said I have seen people do some really crazy **** and was trying to make sure it didn't go wrong because of a misunderstanding.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 126
From: Aussie lost in Switzerland
Last night I pulled apart the ECM connector and cleaned all the contacts (they didnt look it needed it but i did it anyway).
Did a tour of all Earth and ground points, pulled them, cleaned up with a wire brush and contact cleaner (lugs and bolts).
All ran fine from my workshop to home, and i was thinking it might have come good.
This morning I fired it up, got about 100 yards from home and it started acting up again.
On the way to my shop this morning there is hill with a reasonably steep descent, dropped it down a gear into a hard engine brake and it came good again. So back to square 1.
I'll be getting some injector cleaner today and run that through to see if it helps.
My Indy called me this morning, said this issue is bugging him as he couldnt diagnose it. He wants me to take the bike back next week and leave it with him for a few days. He wants to ride it for a day or so, get it to misbehave, and see if he can nut out the issue.
@Hell Hound, doesnt seem to matter what Rev range or gear I'm in when it acts up. Dropping it gear whilst going downhill and letting the engine brake hard, and subsequent high revs seems to sort it out. Giving a good Rev on a flat road doesnt seem to do anything so I am thinking that the compression from engine braking is the key to sorting out whatever the prob may be.
I am starting to think I may have an intermittent gasket leak, or something compression related. Then again, I could just be talking out my ****. I really cant seem to put my finger on a cause for this, but the more I can eliminate, the closer I'll get i guess
Did a tour of all Earth and ground points, pulled them, cleaned up with a wire brush and contact cleaner (lugs and bolts).
All ran fine from my workshop to home, and i was thinking it might have come good.
This morning I fired it up, got about 100 yards from home and it started acting up again.
On the way to my shop this morning there is hill with a reasonably steep descent, dropped it down a gear into a hard engine brake and it came good again. So back to square 1.
I'll be getting some injector cleaner today and run that through to see if it helps.
My Indy called me this morning, said this issue is bugging him as he couldnt diagnose it. He wants me to take the bike back next week and leave it with him for a few days. He wants to ride it for a day or so, get it to misbehave, and see if he can nut out the issue.
@Hell Hound, doesnt seem to matter what Rev range or gear I'm in when it acts up. Dropping it gear whilst going downhill and letting the engine brake hard, and subsequent high revs seems to sort it out. Giving a good Rev on a flat road doesnt seem to do anything so I am thinking that the compression from engine braking is the key to sorting out whatever the prob may be.
I am starting to think I may have an intermittent gasket leak, or something compression related. Then again, I could just be talking out my ****. I really cant seem to put my finger on a cause for this, but the more I can eliminate, the closer I'll get i guess
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Tommy-Law
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
3
Sep 4, 2013 06:17 PM