Importance of pre-ride inspection!

[mikefootusa]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take advantage of the balmy weather and utilize the bike to perform an inspection (damaged freight).  As the request didn't come in until after 2:30 pm and the shop closed at 3:30 I had to hurry to get the saddlebags back on, the GPS hooked up, put on the gear and then drive the 15 miles to the job.  Inspection went fine as did the ride...although I'm still dealing with a stutter in the carbs.  As long as I'm gentle with the throttle it performs just fine.

Today I decided to try to drain the bowls, blow them out...etc  So after i did that, I started her up (started right up!) and while I'm feathering the throttle to warm her up...out of the corner of my eye I see movement.  Upon closer inspection...I found this:



May not have caused alot of trouble...but it was a good reminder to do a good visual check of the machine prior to take off!

This is what I got from draining my carbs:



I know that I'm going to have to take them off and blow them out...but before I do can anyone offer a suggestion as to the possibility of a vacuum slide/seal not operating correctly being the cause or a portion of the cause?  When I rebuilt the carbs these seal rings were rather stiff.  But the first three tanks of gas...the engine ran strong...no hesitation whatsoever.

As an added note:  number three cylinder is considerably cooler than the other 3 if I just start her up for 10-15 seconds.

[Bumblebee]

All critical bolts and related hardware should be on the preflight checklist. Go over the motorcycl one afternoon and think about each fastener then put the critical ones on the checklist.

A very casual wishy washy walk around inspection will catch nothing. Observe each part, don't just look. I could probably remove half the safety critical bolts on a motorcycle and most riders would ride off with it like that because the motorcycle looked right when they glanced at it while getting on.

Inspection went fine as did the ride...although I'm still dealing with a stutter in the carbs.  As long as I'm gentle with the throttle it performs just fine.

Accelerator pump including the injection nozzles clear and functioning properly?

[mikefootusa]

You know, the replacement accelerator pump that I got when doing the rebuild had a dust boot completely different from what was on there originally...I think I posed a question about it at the time.  I wound up using it anyway but in hindsight it could in fact be binding the pump shaft.  The original boot was just a little bigger than 1/4"x 1/2"long...the replacement was more like 1/2"x3/4"long.  Looking for pics.

[bajakirch]

I had a similar experience the other night.

I was putting the bike back together after my big project and I happened to bump the acorn nut on the top of the right shock. It turned freely. Hmmm...I don't think it's supposed to do that. I could see that popping off on a ride, and I'd suddenly have a low-rider.

[Adam Roby]

Count yourself lucky...  that same bolt on the opposite side came off after a lousy tire change done by the stealer.  Doing 120 km/h in the fast lane when I heard a funny metal clink sound.  Instinct told me to slow and get to the slow lane and just as I hit around 100 km/h my front wheel just about stopped cold.  It took all of my wit and strength to keep hanging on as I am certain the rear wheel left the ground.  I came to a complete stop on a very busy highway.  I looked to see what had happened and saw the caliper wedged between the tire and the fork.  I kicked it a few times and got it unjarred so that I could drag it to the side of the road and out of danger.  Luck for me a few cars actually stopped behind me with thier hazzards on to warn other drivers but that is a very scary predicament to be in and I probably should have just dropped her there and left the roadway.

1) Always check your critical bolts every ride, and every season go over all other bolts, more often if you ride a lot.  Also consider some lock-tite.

2) Always do your own maintenance however if you are stuck, do not rely on the job being done, immediately inspect the bike before leaving the dealership.

3)  When your gut tells you there may be something wrong, pull over and check... had it happened at 120 km/h in the fast lane the story may have gone ever more wrong.

[RobbieAG]

Always do your own maintenance however if you are stuck, do not rely on the job being done, immediately inspect the bike before leaving the dealership.

+1. I had to bring my bike back to the dealer twice after they installed tires for me. They left the plate at the back of the right swingarm AND the front axle loose.

[KarlJay]

You have Acc pumps on your carbs ??  I didn't know the CV's had acc pumps.  The 700's don't.

About the cold exhaust, I had a simular problem and it ended up something with the wires to the spark units.  It went away by itself.

I'd use a timing light or some kind of spark tester and check the spark.