Sputtering and Lost Power

smeres

Member
My chopper recently starting acting up. I'd go for a long ride, park, let the bike sit, start riding again and on the way back home the bike will lose a power throughout the gears and run really loud and weak. It will randomly catch power, and speed up very fast then bog down again. It's a very loud (almost popping) noise when I accelerate. I replaced the plugs and cleaned the fuel filter. What's going on?
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Sounds like it might be time to pull the carb apart and give it a good cleaning and some HP air. Ensure the jets are clear. You aren't using the enrichener are you?

:cheers:
 

chacha

Chaff Your EHC!!
Calendar Participant
smeres wrote;

I only use the enricher lever when I first start the bike.
Stop that bit for sure -- its like smoking grass, hard to stop once you get use to it cause ya think it's normal. Enricher is a problem child and should only be used in the extreme cold when all else fails.

But this is probably not your problem here -- what Raywood said should clear or at least improve things...
 

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
Did you change the wires at teh same time of the plugs? if not do so and make sure they are all the way on. Trust me.
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
Ray/Chacha, what's wrong with using the enrichner? This is the same thing I refer to as the choke I guess. My wife and I both use ours to warm up the bikes, but only for about 30 seconds or so. Will this cause issues down the road? Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but since the subject came up???????
 

V

Guru
Ray/Chacha, what's wrong with using the enrichner? This is the same thing I refer to as the choke I guess. My wife and I both use ours to warm up the bikes, but only for about 30 seconds or so. Will this cause issues down the road? Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but since the subject came up???????
Will foul the plugs very quickly! Try starting your bike with a few twists from the throttle, then the key, run button, start button. Keep the revs up till it will idle on its own. :hi:
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
Will foul the plugs very quickly! Try starting your bike with a few twists from the throttle, then the key, run button, start button. Keep the revs up till it will idle on its own. :hi:
Thanks V. We rarely have cold weather and what we call cold is what some of you may call summer. I'll disconnect the enrichners from both dogs. :up:
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Ray/Chacha, what's wrong with using the enrichner? This is the same thing I refer to as the choke I guess. My wife and I both use ours to warm up the bikes, but only for about 30 seconds or so. Will this cause issues down the road? Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but since the subject came up???????
I pick on this guys vid quite a bit. This is a classic example of what happens when you use the enrichener. It will foul your plugs so fast you won't believe it. This guy is out on a sunny day and he shouldn't be using the enrichener. It's not like a choke on your car, this thing pours raw gas right down the manifold. Learn to start your bike without it, many of us here never use it. Get a "Cruise-Mate" to hold your throttle open when warming the bike and by the way "always warm up your bike before taking off". And never open your throttle when starting like this guy is doing!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14VS0lJfCEA]YouTube - my BigDOG Chopper[/ame]
 

BadBrad

2005 Pitbull
I pick on this guys vid quite a bit. This is a classic example of what happens when you use the enrichener. It will foul your plugs so fast you won't believe it. This guy is out on a sunny day and he shouldn't be using the enrichener. It's not like a choke on your car, this thing pours raw gas right down the manifold. Learn to start your bike without it, many of us here never use it. Get a "Cruise-Mate" to hold your throttle open when warming the bike and by the way "always warm up your bike before taking off". And never open your throttle when starting like this guy is doing!

YouTube - my BigDOG Chopper
This may sound stupid, but is "not using it" and "disconnecting it" the same thing? I know it's slightly lifted when the carb is installed. Do you keep yours connected but just avoid using it or pull it out from the bracket and let it set flush down into to carb? :loony:
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
This may sound stupid, but is "not using it" and "disconnecting it" the same thing? I know it's slightly lifted when the carb is installed. Do you keep yours connected but just avoid using it or pull it out from the bracket and let it set flush down into to carb? :loony:
If your bracket is mounted properly your enrichener will be seated fully. I don't have the stock cover anymore on mine so it's a non issue.

I wouldn't disconnect it in case you want to start it one cold winter night! :D
 
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07bigdog

07BIGDOG
Just make sure the enrichner is all the way off. I live in Canada and it gets quite cold here and i never use the enrichner. Crack the throttle 3 times before engaging the starter and fires right up. Like Ray said all the enrichner does is throw raw fuel through the manifold and down the cylinders and washes away all the lubrication.
 

Exotic

Member
You mentioned cleaning the fuel filter... these gravity fed fuel systems are not suppose to have a fuel filter. It takes pressure or force to push the fuel through the filter, the fuel in tank creates pressure in the line, more fuel in the tank more weight forcing fuel into the bowl; if there is not enough fuel in the tank to create that force the fuel pressure thought the filter may not be enough to keep up with the demands of the carb. Pops through the carb is a symptom of a lean condition as well.
 

DRBarnhart

Insert title here...
What can you tell us about the electrical system? Does it have some sort of electronic controller for the whole system? And what type of ignition system does it have (single or dual fire)? :confused:

I also agree with Exotic about the fuel filter, dump it! Overall it'll give you more grief than benefit...

Dennis

PS Howdy from Cleveland! :hi:
 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
You mentioned cleaning the fuel filter... these gravity fed fuel systems are not suppose to have a fuel filter. It takes pressure or force to push the fuel through the filter, the fuel in tank creates pressure in the line, more fuel in the tank more weight forcing fuel into the bowl; if there is not enough fuel in the tank to create that force the fuel pressure thought the filter may not be enough to keep up with the demands of the carb. Pops through the carb is a symptom of a lean condition as well.
You can run a Pingle fuel filter with NO PROBLEMS!!!




 
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