non-valk; 750 shadow problem

[joefromperry]

You guys have been great with the Valkyrie tech help, so I hope you can help me here, too. I have a 2002 750 Shadow Ace Deluxe (carburetors) with maybe 20,000 miles. It's been running perfectly with regular maintenance. Yesterday everything started normally, but a mile down the street it lost power and started popping. I made it back home, but the pipes became badly discolored. Since then: I checked plugs, which looked okay, but I replaced anyway; I made sure fuel flowed freely from valve; I checked the filter, but fuel flows freely there, too. I removed the airbox and the filter looks good. I made sure all clamps around carbs were tight. No disconnected or pinched tubes. Since both pipes were hot and discoloring, I figured that it can't be a carburetor issue because it's happening to both sides at the same. The fuel pump seems to be pumping plenty of gas, which is fresh. I loosened the drain screw on the bottom of the carbs and there seems to be plenty of fuel coming out, and with the bowls empty and drain screws loose I'm able to blow through the lines without restriction. The gas is good; not a new fillup. Soooo... can anyone point me in a direction here to stop what appears to be this lean mixture that SUDDENLY appeared? And then I'll have to figure out how to clean the discolored pipes. Thanks.

[Tropic traveler]

Stuck choke???
Somehow jumped timing???

Just a couple of suggestions on where else to look. 

[3W-lonerider]

i had a 700 shadow that would do the same exact thing..here is what i found..maybe it will pertain to your problem..the carbs on the 700 had enrichner valves in the carbs..if ya follow the choke cable where it enters the carb..unscrew it and pull it out..on the end of the cable is a brass insert that slides into the hole in the carb..those brass inserts will get corroded..then stick..clean the corrosion off, put everything back togather and it should be fine..btw..there will be a spring between the cable tube and the brass bulb..but it will all come out as one unit.

[joefromperry]

After doing all the stuff mentioned in previous posts (except change battery and check timing), I finally resealed the airbox, both where the individual tubes connect to the box and where the main airflow connection from the air cleaner box goes to the airbox. I sealed the crap out of it with black silicone seal and put it all back together. It SEEMS to be working fine, but I only went two miles down the road. So, to summarize: I replaced all four plugs (old looked okay), replaced the fuel filter (old one seemed okay), replaced the air cleaner (old one looked okay), disassembled carbs and used gumout and compressed air to blow out jets and filters, checked diaphrams for leaks (none), replaced that flimsy foam filter in the secondary airbox, and ... I can't remember what else. Anyway, after I put a few more miles on the bike I'll let you all know if, in fact, I resolved my problem. When I'm sure all is okay, I'll replace my now blue/gold pipes and try to clean them. Thanks for all the suggestions.javascript:void(0);