Acting up again.....

[Deathstar88]

im confused.... here we go. Bike starts up every time. No problems. Then a few days ago...bike started to backfire like crazy...... backfires from exhaust, and carb/air filter....shoots flames out of the tailpipe on occasion, and sometimes jerks. Seems like its running a little different than usual. Also seems that oil, or something is coming out of the exhaust...and there is black shit on the frame near where the exhaust exits. Its been almost a year since ive had full service done on the bike. I also stopped hearing the gas cap vent like it used to.. Not sure if its related. Bike never stalled, or broke down. Its just running weird. All connections are tight. Any ideas?

 

[Th3InfamousI]

bad gas?

 

[Deathstar88]

no.. i filled up with fresh gas.... but i did use liquid horse power gas additive.

 

[woodbutcher]

pull your plugs and see how they look. could have bad spark.

 

[Deathstar88]

How long should spark plugs last generally?

 

[BigDogRick]

When mine did that it was a bad coil.

 

[woodbutcher]

How long should spark plugs last generally?

you only need 2 so it's not a big investment, but i would say at least every riding season.

 

[Deathstar88]

i took a flash light and looked at the inside of the gas tank....where the petcok, and fuel screen come up....and it looks to me like there is black shit around the filter that feeds to the petcok. Cant see that good....but it looks like something is there.....but bike fires up great everytime....i dont know

 

[hayseed]

remove the fuel line from the bowl and place into a container,, open up the petcock and see if the there is good flow and if any dirt particles coming out -

 

[MyDogPete]

My 02 pit bull started to run like sh@t. Backfiring, etc.. Removed carb, pit cock screen and gas filter. Found this sh@t, so I cleaned it all up and flushed tank. Bike running great since then, but I'm sure, there is more of whatever this is in tank. Not tank liner or rust but sure made bike run bad.

 

[Deathstar88]

the bike is also spitting oil like crazy from the breathers, and rods.

 

[Dakotabos]

the bike is also spitting oil like crazy from the breathers, and rods.

:bang: Not saying it your case but I had to top end mine when this happened. Do you have a compression gauge or can you get one? You might have lost a ring.
But that seems like 2 issues.
1 the bike starts fine because when the bike sits your fuel has time to fill the bowl.
Shut your petcock off , pull the fuel line get you a container and open your petcock and see if your fuel is flowing good. If not drain your tank, through your petcock, remove the tank pull your petcock and clean it. Reinstall with Teflon tape and your good to go. (You may want to drop your bowl on your carb and see if that garbage made it to your carb) But most likely its blocking your screen in your tank around your petcock

2 Get yourself a compression gauge pull your spark plugs on both front and rear and do a compression check. I know the rate is on here somewhere and if not look on S&S page. (Or someone out here knows what it is off the top of their head)
If you are getting oil (A lot) out your breather then you may have a broken ring. Mine broke in 15 places. Good luck let me know

 

[Nukeranger]

When you check the fuel flow, if it starts to slow, open the gas cap to see if you have a vent problem.

Once I knew I had good fuel flow to the carb, I would clean the carb and replace the jets with new ones. Being 10 years old, corrosion on the jets makes it hard to get the fuel delivery right. Corrosion in the bowl can be affecting the float operation causing too high/low level (erratic levels).

 

[Dakotabos]

When you check the fuel flow, if it starts to slow, open the gas cap to see if you have a vent problem.

Once I knew I had good fuel flow to the carb, I would clean the carb and replace the jets with new ones. Being 10 years old, corrosion on the jets makes it hard to get the fuel delivery right. Corrosion in the bowl can be affecting the float operation causing too high/low level (erratic levels).

Good Call NukeRanger :bang: I once had that problem too then removed the gas cap guts :up:

 

[Deathstar88]

i was thinkin possible exhaust leak, or manifold leak. bike sounds louder than usual

 

[Deathstar88]

well....shit / gunk was in the carb, accelerator pump was clogged as well in case anyone was wondering.

 

[bearman]

Glad you found your problem.
Thanks for letting us know what it was.