Need experienced wisdom!
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
Need experienced wisdom!
Long time since I've posted but I now have a 1983 fxrs and plenty of questions. With this bike it ran great when I test rode it and it has only started acting worse and worse since then. It has a bad stumble/cough when running anything above idle speed. It will bang out the pipes like a late firing and will also hiccup out thru the carb like an early firing. So far I have adjusted pushrods (solid lifters, rods barely spin by finger while cold) set the timing correctly. I believe it to be stock ignition with accel coil and wires(dual fire). I have replaced the coil with another one I had around, both tested good but wanted to try it. I have also drained the carb bowl expecting debris possible but it was clean as a whistle. Then proceeded to fiddle with the mixture and idle speed. I haven't been able to nail anything down for certain but I am feeling in my gut that it is not a fuel issue but an ignition system issue because it has not definite repetition. Worse when warmed up or outside temps are hotter. Randomly does it at low rpms or high rpm while just cruising or working hard pulling my big *** up a hill. May last for a few scones or may go for minutes at a time but it will do it every ride I take from 100 yds to 10 miles. I hate to thow money at it and want an easy fix haha. 3 kids and a wife keep my wallet thin and my tinker time short! Looking for my next best step to take as I'm at my wits end and am doubting everything I thought I knew!
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
That's on my list to check next. I'm going to put new plugs in it too because it can't hurt. I also need to try a compression check but I doubt that's an issue with how intermittent the coughing fits come on. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
Well, I changed the intake seals for new and the issue seemed to have gone away on my ride in to work this morning. Then I turned the corner and it was like someone flipped a switch. It started all over again popping and banging. Every time I seem to get a change its been from me playing with the intake seals but when I do that I am also taking the coil off and moving it to the side to make room, so in my stubborn mind I feel like I have a bad wire to or from the coil. Anyone think there's any merit to this? Next step is to pull the carb and check / clean it thoroughly. One thing at a time so I know what's the real culprit when it gets better!
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
I'll look into that first, thanks for the recommendations. One thing I realized that I forgot to mention before, I see the tach jump by nearly 1000 rpm every time it does this. That is what originally got me to thinking electrical issue.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 430
From: MASS_hole
Not an expert, but read the forums and have heard that a bad stator can sometimes cause fluctuation with ignition and ignition related stuff.
You already checked your coils. So you know that's not it.
You already checked your coils. So you know that's not it.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
I'm showing no other charging system issues or symptoms but I will definitely check that out just to eliminate the possibility.
It does have a new battery in it as well.
It does have a new battery in it as well.
Last edited by Randall; Jul 27, 2016 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Add info
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
Ran with fuel cap loose, no change. Fuel supply is definitely sufficient. Checked charging system, working perfect. Went thru carb, 68, 295 jets, cleaned it all up but was pretty damn clean before. Changed plug wires. Warmed it up to reset carb and it pops with flames out of the front pipe quite consistently. I couldn't seem to get a 12 volt reading on the coil but I may not have been checking it correctly.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
Just so everyone looking doesn't think I bailed on keeping them informed... I haven't had time to work o the bike lately but the next step is going to be for me to check all the grounding wires and connections on the bike. Hopefully I'll have good news to report in the next few days!