2000 Interstate

[mooserider]

Hi all My friend has a 2000 interstate trike with a lil over 9000 miles on the clock. He bought it new already triked from the Honda dealership in 2000. I picked it up today to install accent lights on it and like to never made it home. From his house to mine is about 70 miles almost all highway. When I picked it up he mentioned that he has not been able to get it past 65 mph on the freeway. I figure that the carbs needs blown out since it sits more than runs. I stopped and bought some sea foam before I headed home. While on the freeway i was able to get it to 75 only as long as I was in 4th gear with the RPM at 4200 to 4500 and the throttle was all the way open. I shifted to 5th the RPM would drop to 3000 and it would slow down to 65 also with the throttle all the way open. The sea foam didn't seem to help.

Any ideas what to look for? I haven't taken the tank off yet to check the vaccum hoses, air filter, spark plugs. Or do you think it the carbs? He has not had any work done on the engine except the oil changes.

Thanks for the help
Keith 

[Rocketman]

Sounds like the carbs need a more serious going-over than Seafoam.  Seafoam might eventually get it, but it'll take a while, and might not fully clear the problem.  I'd say a full carb job is in order.

[f-Stop]

Vacuum hoses!...rebuild fuel petcock valve!

Good luck!

[Wanderer]

hmmmmmmm. Left out the most important variable - what color? Could be blue, but not likely! Must be black or red/black?

It would be good to know the tank and petcock are squeaky clean. Love SeaFoam. I put straight SeaFoam to the carbs on my CB550 from the fuel line below the petcock (and let it sit for a few days) from time to time because I don't ride it enough. If you do use that technique, you will have to drain the SeaFoam from the float bowls and replace with fuel/seafoam mix. The bike will not fire on 100% SF.

Let us know how things work out. ~Jeff

[franco6]

MOOSEDIDER. all cleaners will clean everything including the tank and everything down the line. water in the tank if it wasn t full when parked for long.clean and flush the tank ,new filter ,fresh gas. next stop carbs. than ignition advance! or other way around.

[mooserider]

Thanks for the suggestions, I haven't had time yet to pull the tank, he lives in the country he might have gotten a critter in there chewing on the vac lines. I will check them soon. I did pull one of the plugs and it looks like they've been in there since 2000. I will change them out also, i picked them up today.

Oh Wanderer it is blue and silver, it's a sweet looking bike.

Thanks for you guys help, this forum is the greatest!!
Keith

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Check air box for a mouse nest. Don't ask me how I know that this can happen. Parked my car in a buddy's barn when I went to boot camp. 9 weeks later the air cleaner was a new house for a group of mice and some of the wiring had become part of their normal diet.

[mooserider]

Update:
  I changed out the plugs, I fired it up and it seem to idle a lil smother, took it just around the block there was def differance in it running. While I was changing out the plugs I found a piece of cotton / insulation material in the middle of the engine. Removed it to show the owner, didn't find any live varmets. Pulled the tank the rear vent to the tank was not connected the line is in bad shape it is very hard. The vent to the pet rooster and fuel line were still connected. I removed the air filter and air box. The air filter is def needing to be replaced and under the air box I found a big dirt dobber nest, Removed it to show the owner. lol He lives next to the water and this bike is in pretty bad shape cosmetically, most of the chrome is pitted from the salt air. All the vac lines are also coated in a white film so I'm gonna replace them all as well as the fuel lines.

 Questions???
  Is having the rear vent line to the tank off while running cause it to do any of the symptoms?
  Does any one know what size and how much Vent and fuel lines I will need to change out everything?
 

Thanks Keith

[godfire]

 Questions???
  Is having the rear vent line to the tank off while running cause it to do any of the symptoms?
  Does any one know what size and how much Vent and fuel lines I will need to change out everything?
 

Thanks Keith

I recently replaced the vacuum lines and fuel lines but I can't remember the size. Mine were in terrible shape so I went with this stuff.

http://redeye.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=414983

This guy is easy to work with, ships the parts quickly, and even contacted me because I ordered the wrong parts.

Everything fit great and the bike runs much better now also.

[Gear Jammer]

DITTO on Redeye !   

[mooserider]

Final Update
  I replaced the plugs, air filter, vac and fuel lines. It runs great fired right up, sitting in the driveway idoling it started to run hot, the fan was not coming on. I pulled the fan and found 2 dirt dobber nest holding the fan blade removed them put everything back together. The fan works great. Now the final test. I got up on the freeway it was like I was riding a new bike. It runs great.
Thanks everyone for your input.

Keith