Not running right, some help in Houston?

[technogeek]

I really hate having to ask, but my Valk just is NOT running right, and I am not experienced enough to tell what it is myself.  I know this would probably be a question to ask on the tech boards, but I would really prefer to hear from someone in Houston who might be able to give me a hand figuring out what's going on.  I'm just not currently experienced enough to answer a lot of questions that might be asked, that someone in person may just be able to tell in person...

So the issue is:  About 2-3 weeks ago I was riding to work and started to lose a bit of power/the engine started "hesitating" (for lack of a better description) a bit like it will when getting low on gas and needing to switch to reserve.  Unfortunately, after switching to reserve it didn't seem to pick back up, and when I filled back up (station was probably <300 yards from where I switched to reserve) it didn't seem to make any difference.  Since then it seems to me like the performance has gotten worse, the engine running a lot louder and I am definitely noticing a change in power (almost getting creamed by a truck on the way to work today when I grabbed the throttle to get out of the way of a truck and the moment of hesitation it had before taking off, that it did NOT used to have, cinched it for me).  I also used to notice that at higher speed (70+) the only thing I would hear is the whine of the tires on the road, and the lifters whining, now I can hardly hear that over a lower droning from the engine somewhere else...

So is there anyone in the Houston area with some good experience that thinks they might be able to give a hand and work out what what it is that's wrong?  I wouldn't ask normally, however the service departments at Honda of Houston and Wild West Honda are booking 2+ weeks out now and have told me that's pretty much how all the dealerships are right now.  At their recommendation (and seeming to remember hearing them mentioned before), I ran down to JK Performance Center in Missouri City just a little while ago to have them take a look at it and see what they said might be wrong.  Unfortunately, their answer was that nothing seems wrong, it seems like it's riding fine, and it sounds just like it's supposed to, which unfortunately is NOT the the case, so I seriously doubt I will be going back there...

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Peter

[godfire]

I'm not in Houston, but when is the last time you changed the air filter? (I change mine every 10K)
Also mud-daubers love to plug the vent tube from the gas tank.

I've had both, a dirty air filter and a clogged vent tube.
Both times I thought my bike was shot and that my world was coming to an end. (I love my bike)

[technogeek]

I am at about 19,700 miles, and I believe the filter was changed at 16K when I had that service done at the dealership.  I checked it about 2 weeks ago and it looked good.

I haven't checked the vent tube yet, so that's something I'll check tonight, I can only hope it's something that simple!

And I know what you are saying about the "world coming to an end", that's how I've been feeling this morning, with the problem seeing to get worse it just hit that nerve.  I've had my bike for less than 3 months now (which is part of the lack of experience, the rest being that this is my first bike), and have been wondering since I picked her up how it is that I was getting by before in the rotten cages! 

-Peter

[Daniel Meyer]

Air filter. (should be replaced every 10,000 miles)
The small tank Vent tube clogged.
Petcock vacuum leak/malfunction (likely if it's never been serviced)
Other vacuum leak.

To test the vent tube clogged possibility catch something small/thin/not conductive, like a wire tie, in the tank cap and close it. Go for ride.

Like this:


There are a number of Houstonites that should be able to help out...they even have "wrench days"...hopefully they will chime in soon!

[Daniel Meyer]

I am at about 19,700 miles, and I believe the filter was changed at 16K when I had that service done at the dealership.  I checked it about 2 weeks ago and it looked good.

Did this happen before or after you checked the air filter? If after, the very most liekly suspect is that you kinked the tank vent tube when you put the tank back on.

EXTREMELY common on the valk.

[technogeek]

Daniel,

It was happening before I checked the air filter, that was the reason I checked the air filter actually.

I will try to check for the vacuum leak now, about to have to  go for a ride anyway, the petcock leak/malfunction though wouldn't surprise me  considering how many problems I've heard of them causing.  Any easy way to check that other than to replace it?

Thanks for the advice!

-Peter

[DrewDanube]

The things I've seen on other bikes that sound like this are:
1. bad/watery/dirty gas
2. Clogged fuel filter

I'm not sure if our Valk's have a fuel filter...but hunting down some fuel treatment that removes water may be something you want to look into. 

Always eliminate the easy stuff first..

[technogeek]

It was suggested by Honda of Houston when I talked to them ~2 weeks ago that I run a few tanks through with some carb cleaner added (a few tanks since one bottle is WAY too much for a 5 gallon tank), and I believe what I had used was supposed to deal with water as well.  I've run probably 4 tanks through now since this happened and have not had any changes.

That's part of why I've let it go as long as I have doing this, to give a chance to run the cleaner through it, unfortunately I am looking at possibly doing a 3,600 mile ride (round trip) the week after next, so making sure everything is running right is becoming much more of a priority much faster!

-Peter

[Rocketman]

There is no fuel filter that comes stock.  A lot of folks (me included) have put them on, but it's a simple inline filter on the fuel line, easy to find.
Bad gas doesn't seem likely since you've run enough tanks through that that should have been eliminated.
The vent hose kink/clog would cause a vacuum in the tank preventing fuel from coming out through the proper channels, so every time you open the fuel cap, that vacuum is released.  Does the problem get better (temporarily) after a fill-up?  (It would come back quickly, but for a few miles, I suppose, it would be fine.)

Did you do anything to the bike just before it started acting wrong?  Even just poking around in there could kink vacuum/fuel lines.

If these suggestions don't fix the problem, we'll get a quorum together to scratch our heads in sync until we fix it.  Keep us informed so we can schedule our next (emergency) wrench party.

[Tubadoor]

My bike died on me in Alb. in traffic - no warning. Couldn't get it started so let it set overnight and it started in the morning and ran fine. Took off for a group ride and rode from Alb. to Los Alamos. Filled up with gas and headed out of town and it died again. Folks helped me pull the petcock and turn the spring around so there was gas flow and it ran fine and got me home. Thought the problem was the petcock so I bought a new one. Next big ride was down to Beg Bend and had no problems until the second day. Bike started coughing and cutting out after about an hour of riding. Would let it set for awhile and then it would run fine for about an hour and then start cutting out like it was starving for fuel. Crippled it home to McKinney and started messing with the replaced petcock. I thought the problem was the petcock again. Finally figured out the petcock was fine, but the vacuum line that runs to the petcock had a leak and would not hold the diaphram open so fuel could flow throughl. I replaced the vacuum lines an she ran like a top and I have had no other problems. Line replacement is not that difficult and Raymond gives you some good advice on the National Board Tech section.

I suggest replacing the vaccum lines before replacing the petcock. Hell of a lot cheaper than a new petcock and if it is a leaky vacuum line you will still have the problem. Don't know what the reccommended replacement schedule on vacuum lines is, but if your's have never been replaced that might be the culprit.

[Tinman]

Well Peter like the other guy said eliminated the cheap stuff first.
Check the vacuum line going to the petcock for cracks or being soft and collapsing.
If it is cracked they are usually long wise down the length on the hose.
Remember the wrench party.
Come on by early or close to dark 30.
But call first. I will be happy to help you out. You still have my email and phone numbers dont you?

Mark! Come over here and slap me! I'm doing it again!...;-P

[technogeek]

Well, I've tried to check if it might be a clogged vent tube and have not seen any change from that, so I think that's a less likely possibility at this point.  Someone else suggested that it could also be an issue with the timing being off and getting some cylinders firing early/late that is causing it to lose some power and also would make it ride a lot rougher, anyone have any thoughts on that?

Tinman,

If you are free some this weekend I would be more than open to any help figuring this out.  Friday is going to be a LONG night at work migrating to a new phone system and modifying the network at the office, so "early" saturday would be pushing myself quite a bit, however late morning and on or any time sunday, I could make the trip down.

-Peter

[Tinman]

Weather permitting come on over. It's supposed to be nasty this weekend.
Just call first.
I don't have any plans that will take me away from the house.

[Daniel Meyer]

Someone else suggested that it could also be an issue with the timing being off and getting some cylinders firing early/late that is causing it to lose some power and also would make it ride a lot rougher, anyone have any thoughts on that?

Unlikely. There is NO adjustment. It's controlled by the ECM...it's possible to have a bad pickup (picks up the pulses from the trigger wheel) though.

I'd start looking at petcock as well as the fuel screen and the vacuum hoses, particularly the one to the petcock.

[cutter]

Been out of town since July. Looks like you got some help. What did you find that was causing the problems? I'm in the Tomball area if I can help.

[Disco]

Peter, I'm curious.  Has the problem been identified and solved?

[technogeek]

Sorry to take so long to respond, been slammed at work and just haven't had time to keep up!

Unfortunately, no, the problem has not been identified yet.  On the plus side (in a way...), It looks like I probably won't be going to CA after all, or if I do I will end up having to fly last minute, so don't have to be in quite as much of a rush.  There was some talk about trying to work on it again on Sat. and check the compression and carb sync, will have to see if/how that goes.

Tinman took it for a spin on Sunday and might be able to better describe what's going on than I have been able to...

-Peter