Still Missing something - Hawk Woes

[Weldangrind]

Maybe pull the intake tube off of the head and have a look. I've had one where the o-ring groove was cut too deep and another where the o-ring was out of the groove, squished between the flange and the head.

[Sport Rider]

Originally Posted by Megadan

On the mikuni clone? I was running a 27.5 at 1 1/4 turns out on the mixture

You are right. I went back and checked more. I was using a 117/30. not sure where the reference to 15 came from.

[JerryHawk250]

Just thinking out loud. Have you dropped the bike lately? Laid it on the side? If so, check air filter to see if it is cleaned and not oiled up. Sounds like your not getting a good air flow and choking it out.

[Vtunimog]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Just thinking out loud. Have you dropped the bike lately? Laid it on the side? If so, check air filter to see if it is cleaned and not oiled up. Sounds like your not getting a good air flow and choking it out.

No, not even knocked over. no but last time I checked there was a nice coating of oil in the airbox that I cleaned out. perhaps my overfull oil level was pushing oil out through the breather into the airbox and soaking the filter ? I will check.



I picked up some jets for the Keihin PZ30b today so maybe I will put that back on. the guy at my local cycle shop seemed to think it might be the needle position.



I feel stupid because I think I have jinxed myself bragging to everyone how my $1300 motorcycle runs so well mostly better than my KLR650.

[Vtunimog]

I think have run the bike maybe a total of 2 miles and 10 minutes ?



This is what the new iridium plug looks like - pretty sooty

[Wild Dog]

Once i had a 2 stroke that was running way too rich and the plugs were never that sooty and we are talking about 2 stroke which tend to dirt up plugs quite fast...

So pretty much can be attribute it to at least two reasons:

-Overly rich carb

-Weak ignition voltage


You tried already 3 carbs, one carb can be defective sure but 3???
so if i was you, i would bark at the electrical system.

[China Rider 27]

I'm really new to Motorcycle tuning so I probably should not comment but any idea may help. Saw plug like that couple of weeks ago on a carb I was tuning had a 42 pilot jet in it but it did not affect how the bike was running off of idle so I'm not all in that rich carb causing major issue or all the issues and then how? NZ pointed out, I start thinking about some weak coil that acts intermittently affecting combustion. I would take spark plug out and see how the spark was and then after it heated up and started acting up I would check it. I also would take the air breather off and listen to the carb when it is good and then when it transitions. I would check the manifold by taking it off or spraying carb cleaner around it when its running to see if its leaking. Some ideas.

[Vtunimog]

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

I'm really new to Motorcycle tuning so I probably should not comment but any idea may help. Saw plug like that couple of weeks ago on a carb I was tuning had a 42 pilot jet in it but it did not affect how the bike was running off of idle so I'm not all in that rich carb causing major issue or all the issues and then how? NZ pointed out, I start thinking about some weak coil that acts intermittently affecting combustion. I would take spark plug out and see how the spark was and then after it heated up and started acting up I would check it. I also would take the air breather off and listen to the carb when it is good and then when it transitions. I would check the manifold by taking it off or spraying carb cleaner around it when its running to see if its leaking. Some ideas.

Thanks ChinaRider - I am thinking electrical too, I picked up some Keihin jets today a 130/35 Pilot/idle put the PZ30b back on and starts up just fine, idles well but under slight acceleration I notice a perceptible skip, slight but still there. I ordered a new coil and CDI from TXpowersports - cheap enough (compared to the CDI I purchased for my KLR @ $189)



I know some folks upgraded their coil and wondering if it is worth it.

[Vtunimog]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Just thinking out loud. Have you dropped the bike lately? Laid it on the side? If so, check air filter to see if it is cleaned and not oiled up. Sounds like your not getting a good air flow and choking it out.

the filter was clean but heavily oiled. maybe 1/8" of oil in the bottom of the cleaner box as well looked mostly clean though ?

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Vtunimog

the filter was clean but heavily oiled. maybe 1/8" of oil in the bottom of the cleaner box as well looked mostly clean though ?

If the filter is oiled up then there's the problem. Replace the filter or just pull it if you don't have one to see if that solves the problem then get a new filter.

[Vtunimog]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

If the filter is oiled up then there's the problem. Replace the filter or just pull it if you don't have one to see if that solves the problem then get a new filter.

Maybe part of the problem - I will order a replacement although it looks suspiciously like my lawnmower filter :-)



I ran it without, less acceleration issues but still a stumble/sputter which I suspect is electrical. the CDI/Coil combo is cheap enough so I ordered both.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Vtunimog

Maybe part of the problem - I will order a replacement although it looks suspiciously like my lawnmower filter :-)



I ran it without, less acceleration issues but still a stumble/sputter which I suspect is electrical. the CDI/Coil combo is cheap enough so I ordered both.

It is a B&S filter that will fit. You can pick them up at Lowes or Homedepot. Don't have the part number right off hand. I switched to a pod filter as it does better job than my stock box filter. My air box had air leaks and was letting dust go past the filter. But I also do a good bit of off road riding.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Vtunimog

I ran it without, less acceleration issues but still a stumble/sputter which I suspect is electrical. the CDI/Coil combo is cheap enough so I ordered both.

Something else to check. I had a similar issue. There is a 4 pin connector near the battery that had a pin loose that would cause it to do the same. And recently it had started doing the same. Same connector had corrosion and had loose connections. I ended up replacing the connectors with waterproof connectors. Problem solved.

[Vtunimog]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Something else to check. I had a similar issue. There is a 4 pin connector near the battery that had a pin loose that would cause it to do the same. And recently it had started doing the same. Same connector had corrosion and had loose connections. I ended up replacing the connectors with waterproof connectors. Problem solved.

Thanks I didn't think of that, I have been through a whole wiring harness issue with my KLR and know, even when they are as simple as a hawk wiring harness, how much of a PIA they can be. I will check the connections today. I notice that many are not sealed and very prone to moisture and dirt making their way into them. I was cruising on a lonely dirt road around 10 pm this spring when the headlight just winked out. considering the road was a steep bank dropping maybe 80ft on one side and rock ledge on the other I made sure to stop right away. reached up under the headlight assembly and checked the rubber 'boot' and the light came back on. I pushed the wires and connector in to make sure the connections were secure -which they weren't and made it home without incident. Not alot of fun to lose your headlight.



I am still confused as to why when cold the bike seems to run fine , revs ok, but the minute it reaches temp the sputtering starts. I will try to check the voltage as was recommended at the coil and see what I am getting.

[JerryHawk250]

It could be a coil going bad. Mine had started acting up so I swapped it out to a coil on plug. Much stronger spark.