Right Side Problem

[DavidT]

Hey all,

My right bank appears to not be firing at all.  I read some old posts and thought it was clogged slow jets (and it may be...hell, it may be all the jets) but while I was checking for spark, my timing light (digital, inductive) was going a bit nuts.  While at idle, Cylinder 1 Plug Wire is showing 1800rpm, Cylinder 3 plug wire goes between 900rpm and 1800rpm, all other wires show 900ish rpm (which is what my tach shows).  Now I'm not so sure what's going on.  I know that I've got fuel over there and apparently spark, but I can pretty much rev it to whatever I want and the right side (except for maybe #5) doesn't seem to kick in.  I just checked the plugs and 1 and 3 look wet as opposed to the nice powdery dry 2,4,6 and sorta 5.

How can I check that there is actually spark from the spark plug?

As a side, I just (last couple of weeks) pulled all the carbs and replaced all the o-rings.  No idea if that had anything to do with this, but it may have.  I also unbolted and shifted around a lot of the wiring harness.  Anything I could have bumped or dislodged?  Any tubes or wires I may not have reconnected?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
David

[Patrick]

If you have fire to the left sparklers, the right ones should work as long as they are not fuel fouled.. You replaced all the o-rings?? I'd guess I'd check fuel flow first then, open the drains one at a time and see what happens.. If this monster has set for any length of time then the low jets could very well be plugged/varnished.. Add some heavy doses of fuel cleaner[ I'm still a Sea-Foam guy] and ride it.. Ride it at the speeds that it doesn't like to run at until it clears up.. If it doesn't clear up after a couple tanks, then its time to get your hands dirty and clean some jets..

[Daniel Meyer]

I'd pull the tank and make sure the power/ground wires are firmly plugged into each of the three coils. I knocked one loose once and had similar symptoms.

[DavidT]

Hey Patrick. I checked the fuel and it's flowing fine (opened the drain valve) and I'm guessing I have spark since my timing light indicates...well, something.  I'm going to give the "running fuel through it" a shot, but I'm still concerned about the massive variation in the RPM readings off the timing light.  That thing measures straight signal to the spark plugs and it was showing 1800rpm on #1

Side question:  If it's the slow jets, can I just let it idle outside instead of trying to ride it at such low RPM's?

Daniel:  Thanks, will do...after I see how the Seafoam works.  Taking my tank off now (I have a belly tank) is a complete pain in the ass.

[98valk]

vacuum leak somewhere.  carb to manifold connection. manifold to head o-rings

[Ricky-D]

I wouldn't worry about the rpm's indicated on you timing light.

The coil is firing two cylinders so there is spark on every revolution rather that one spark per two revolutions.

***

[DavidT]

Hey Ricky,

I'm with you on the two for one...but it's only on the #1 and #3 cylinders and even then, the #3 cylinder fluctuates from 900 to 1800.  It's not consistent from coil to coil or bank to bank and that is what is getting me.

[Daniel Meyer]

Hey Ricky,

I'm with you on the two for one...but it's only on the #1 and #3 cylinders and even then, the #3 cylinder fluctuates from 900 to 1800.  It's not consistent from coil to coil or bank to bank and that is what is getting me.

That's why I suggested checking the connections at the coils...bad ones will cause inconsistent/early/weak firing. If you're sure the tach check on them is that incosistent that is somwthing to check out.

Loose wires or it also could be the pickups, insufficient voltage to the ignition module (check the voltage at the battery while idling...should be over 12.5)...bad/corroded ignition module connections etc...

[DavidT]

Hey Daniel.  I checked the wires and they're all snug and tight, but after messing with #5 at the coil, it's giving odd readings now.  I am going to go back and really look at how they're all seated in their coil sockets.

Howerver, I did determine that it is, indeed, clogged jets.  I pulled the #5 jets (you can get to them without removing anything but the intake manifold tube) cleaned them put them back in and voila, #5 is back in the game.  I'm going to run with Seafoam for a tank or two and see if that clears up 1 and 3. 

[Daniel Meyer]

Well cool! Ride hard!

[R J]

Hey Daniel.  I checked the wires and they're all snug and tight, but after messing with #5 at the coil, it's giving odd readings now.  I am going to go back and really look at how they're all seated in their coil sockets.

Howerver, I did determine that it is, indeed, clogged jets.  I pulled the #5 jets (you can get to them without removing anything but the intake manifold tube) cleaned them put them back in and voila, #5 is back in the game.  I'm going to run with Seafoam for a tank or two and see if that clears up 1 and 3. 

PUT THE WHOLE CAN IN...................  Seafoam that is.