Still searching

[Thunderbolt]

Went to Mike's yesterday and picked up the spare carb bank.  So today I tore into my carbs at about 0900 along with the heat and the bugs.  Cleaned everything, checked the usual stuff, set the pilots where I normally do at about 2 1/4 turns out.  Replaced the one diaphragm that had a split.  Put in new plugs and Mike also gave me an almost new set of intake o-rings that I installed.  I synced the carbs but I still have a random pop, seems like it is not necessarily one cylinder.  Now seems to be on the left side more than the right.  I haven't tried a test ride yet.  But here are a couple of things that I have been mulling around.  The spark plugs that I pulled out all had the first 1/32" of the center electrode burned to half the thickness of original.  I am still using the last tank of gas that I bought in Deadwood S.D. and parked the bike shortly after filling up and then transported it home in the toyhauler.  Aside from it being 3 months old does anyone have any experience with different blends of gasoline for different parts of the country?  I am going to drain the tank tomorrow and pour that in my old International Cub tractor, that thing will run on anything.  I'll fill it with non ethanol tomorrow and see if that helps.  Got me puzzled.  I didn't find anything out of the ordinary other than the one split diaphragm.
Any thoughts?

[oldsmokey]

Not familiar with regional blends, only seasonal changes in the blends.

[sandy]

In my travels I've found 85 octane in many parts of the Midwest. My old '98 Calif model ran on it fine. I think you're on the right track.

[Ken Tarver]

May not be source of popping....but I would recommend replacing plugs. Not all that expensive if don't get them at Honda shop. Auto Zone or O'Reillys is my alternate, or online.

Ken

[Thunderbolt]

I did put in new plugs while doing the carb overhaul.  I'll report back later today after changing the fuel.

[Blackduck]

How old were the plugs? Have never seen any signs of erosion on Valk plugs.
Have a box full of plugs that apart from colour look like new.

[Steel cowboy]

Different parts of the country use different blends of fuel that goes along with additives for Different times of the year. I would try new gas,a new set of plugs and if the popping is still there, check your valve adjustment. Are both sides of the engine popping, if not it could be exhaust gaskets bad, or loose pipes too. The popping on my Sabre went away when I replaced the exhaust doughnuts

[Bagger John - #3785]

This thing still have the PAIR valves and associated smog plumbing installed?

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks to all that replied.  Here is a copy of what I put on the FL. Board with the answer.

O.K. I could just stretch the truth a bit and say that I had a hole in one of the vacuum caps.  Roll Eyes  Or I could just tell the truth and say that I left one of the vacuum caps off after I synced the carbs.  Embarrassed  So if you ever have this popping noise on one cylinder and you follow that pipe back and see which cylinder it is you might look at that vacuum cap for a leak or see if it has taken a vacation.  cooldude
Running fine now.  Oh and the new gasoline couldn't fix that vacuum leak.  I think the original problem on the other side was actually one of the cheap o-rings that I had stuck in last time it was done.  But then there was that crack in the diaphragm that thanks to Bert and Mike I have replaced.  Here's the crack in the diaphragm, I stuck a small piece of paper in the crack to enhance it.  The crack wasn't that large to begin with but you could see it if you stretched it a bit.