Knowledge Base Feedback, Questions on Knowledge Base articles.

Losing Power (title edited)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-03-2010 | 05:48 PM
  #1  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Losing Power (title edited)

Why do I loose power around 80 mph? I've even stalled out once and had to pull over I waited about a minute and fired it back up with the choke pulled open. Almost like it's not getting fuel. Has this happened to anyone else?
Old 04-03-2010 | 06:01 PM
  #2  
yellowstorm's Avatar
dave
Squid
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 31
From: sydney australia
yellowstorm is on a distinguished road
if you have had the tank off you have bent the breather tubes to the tank so no air is getting in to let the fuel run check the two breather pipes
Old 04-03-2010 | 06:19 PM
  #3  
residentg's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperSport
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 667
From: NY State
residentg is on a distinguished road
Taker a look here for pics:

https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=22048

JB
Old 04-03-2010 | 06:28 PM
  #4  
8541Hawk's Avatar
Banned
MotoGP
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
8541Hawk will become famous soon enough
That or the vacuum line is on the wrong nipple of the petcock.....
Old 04-03-2010 | 08:08 PM
  #5  
mboe794's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperSport
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 505
From: Twin Cities
mboe794 is on a distinguished road
Diaphragm in the petcock could be toast. Mine acted a lot like you are describing when mine went out.
Old 04-04-2010 | 09:20 AM
  #6  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
everything is connected properly... If it is the diaphragm in the petcock do I replace the petcock or just the diaphragm?
Old 04-04-2010 | 09:32 AM
  #7  
mikstr's Avatar
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,631
From: Montreal
mikstr is on a distinguished road
I definitely prefer tight power myself, loose power being much more unpredictable.....
Old 03-19-2011 | 10:58 PM
  #8  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by mboe794
Diaphragm in the petcock could be toast. Mine acted a lot like you are describing when mine went out.
I finally got around to rebuilding the petcock seeing that riding season is at the doorstep... well up in Minnesota anyways. Sure enough the diaphragm was shot so I replaced it with the new one that came in the rebuild kit. Got a chance to take it out for a run today to see if she would loose power at highway speeds and still the same thing is happening. Any other ideas of what it could be? I've made sure all the lines are attached correctly... so no problem there.
Old 03-19-2011 | 11:03 PM
  #9  
autoteach's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,611
From: Belgium, WI
autoteach is on a distinguished road
Dammm, I thought that there was "loose" power going on, not that you were losing power. Going back to what I was doing...
Old 03-19-2011 | 11:25 PM
  #10  
smokinjoe73's Avatar
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,053
From: NYC
smokinjoe73 is on a distinguished road
Does it happen only at 80 or at any sustained highway speeds? Sounds like fuel starvation. Could be something as dumb as dirty or watery gas. Try dumping the tank & starting fresh.
Old 03-20-2011 | 09:45 AM
  #11  
JamieDaugherty's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,858
From: Fort Wayne, IN
JamieDaugherty is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by mikstr
I definitely prefer tight power myself, loose power being much more unpredictable.....
Dang, you beat me to it!
Old 03-20-2011 | 12:02 PM
  #12  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Loose Power... I guess I would prefer tight power as well
Old 03-20-2011 | 12:04 PM
  #13  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by smokinjoe73
Does it happen only at 80 or at any sustained highway speeds? Sounds like fuel starvation. Could be something as dumb as dirty or watery gas. Try dumping the tank & starting fresh.
I guess any sustained highway speed I've noticed. I dumped the tank and put fresh octane in... well see what happens in the next couple days.

Last edited by stangy89; 04-18-2011 at 09:45 AM.
Old 03-20-2011 | 12:12 PM
  #14  
8541Hawk's Avatar
Banned
MotoGP
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
8541Hawk will become famous soon enough
Originally Posted by stangy89
I guess any sustained highway speed I've noticed. I dumped the take and put fresh octane in... well see what happens in the next couple days.
The other thing that could cause a high speed cruse issue would be if the holes in the emulsion tubes are clogged.

If the fresh fuel doesn't help, then remove the float bowls. Remove the main jets and then remove the piece that the main jets screw into.

These are the emulsion tubes. There is a front and rear so don't get them mixed up. There are a series of holes around the body of the emulsion tube. Make sure that these are all clean.

Losing Power (title edited)-vtr_emulsion-tubes.jpg
Old 04-21-2011 | 12:34 PM
  #15  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Ok I haven't dug into the carbs yet. figured I'd ask this question before I did....Would the cold weather (mid 30's) have anything to do with it? I've noticed the temp gauge is running quite cool. Just thought this could throw off the air/fuel mix?
Old 04-21-2011 | 12:55 PM
  #16  
8541Hawk's Avatar
Banned
MotoGP
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
8541Hawk will become famous soon enough
The cold will not cause the problem.

After re reading your original post it sounds like a tank breather line issue.

If it happens again, open the fuel tank. If you hear vacuum when you open it or the bike fires right up after you open and close the tank, then you need to check the breather line.

Look at the lower part of the line and make sure there are no bends or low spots in the line. These can trap some water and cause the tank to vacuum lock.
Old 04-21-2011 | 01:06 PM
  #17  
Old Yeller's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
Old Yeller is on a distinguished road
yep...reading through the posts, I'd vote on breather too.
Old 04-21-2011 | 02:37 PM
  #18  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Ok silly question... which one is the breather line? Can you see it in these pics? https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=22048

Last edited by stangy89; 04-21-2011 at 02:39 PM.
Old 04-21-2011 | 02:47 PM
  #19  
Old Yeller's Avatar
Senior Member
SuperBike
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
Old Yeller is on a distinguished road
it'll be a hose running off the under-side of the tank and runs down to the bottom of the bike. it'll be open and not connected to anything.
Old 04-21-2011 | 04:31 PM
  #20  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Found this post by RK1

"Should be five lines connected to the fuel tank- the fuel lines to the carbs- one on each side. the vacuum line from the rear cylinder manifold to the fitting on the rear left of the petcock and parallel to the ground- plus a drain tube and a breather tube for the fittings which point down from the tank itself in front of the petcock. The piece pointing down from the petcock doesn't take a hose."

Now I took a look under the tank and found only 3 line connected... both the fuel lines and the vacuum line. Looks like I'm missing the drain line and the breather line. would this make a difference?
Old 04-21-2011 | 08:37 PM
  #21  
RWhisen's Avatar
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
RWhisen is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by stangy89
Found this post by RK1
Now I took a look under the tank and found only 3 line connected... both the fuel lines and the vacuum line. Looks like I'm missing the drain line and the breather line. would this make a difference?
That brings to question where the breather line went? If your tank does not breathe it creates a vacuum and no fuel will flow regardless of how much suction you put on it. I think you know what happened to the diaphram in your petcock now.
Old 04-21-2011 | 11:35 PM
  #22  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
wouldn't the tank be able to breathe regardless of a breather line? I found the line... looks like it was cut there's still about an inch of tube connected to the tank. I'll remove that portion an replace it with the rest of the line that's just sittin' there doing nothing.
Old 04-22-2011 | 06:56 AM
  #23  
RWhisen's Avatar
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
RWhisen is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by stangy89
wouldn't the tank be able to breathe regardless of a breather line? I found the line... looks like it was cut there's still about an inch of tube connected to the tank. I'll remove that portion an replace it with the rest of the line that's just sittin' there doing nothing.
Make sure it isn't plugged, also make sure overflow isn't missing/plugged. Also make sure you are not a victim of PVLIR.
Old 04-22-2011 | 09:01 AM
  #24  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by RWhisen
Make sure it isn't plugged, also make sure overflow isn't missing/plugged. Also make sure you are not a victim of PVLIR.
Checked
Checked
and Checked...

Not sure why the drain and breather hose were just hangin' out not hooked up Checked to make sure both lines were not plugged. Going to take it for a spin later to see how wonderful a job I/We did solving this issue
Old 04-22-2011 | 09:15 AM
  #25  
smokinjoe73's Avatar
Senior Member
MotoGP
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,053
From: NYC
smokinjoe73 is on a distinguished road
I conjuntion with this the SH has a tendancy to get vapor lock if you over fill the tank (up the fill neck) even under normal circumstances. I have had to coast off the Brooklyn bridge yanking the ignition key to open the tank to let it breathe then restart the bike & go on.
Old 04-22-2011 | 09:17 AM
  #26  
RWhisen's Avatar
Former Superchicken Owner
SuperBike
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,607
From: Ft. Worth, TX
RWhisen is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by stangy89
Checked
Checked
and Checked...

Not sure why the drain and breather hose were just hangin' out not hooked up Checked to make sure both lines were not plugged. Going to take it for a spin later to see how wonderful a job I/We did solving this issue
Remember, if it starts to sputter, pop the filler cap to see if this solves the issue. Leave the other key in the lock. If not, time to pull the carbs for cleaning.

Last edited by RWhisen; 04-22-2011 at 09:19 AM.
Old 04-22-2011 | 10:49 AM
  #27  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
I'll remember to do that when I take it out for the test run. If I pop the gas cap and it does solve the sputtering and popping and lack of power what does that mean? Something still plugged up?
Old 04-22-2011 | 10:55 AM
  #28  
8541Hawk's Avatar
Banned
MotoGP
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
8541Hawk will become famous soon enough
Originally Posted by stangy89
I'll remember to do that when I take it out for the test run. If I pop the gas cap and it does solve the sputtering and popping and lack of power what does that mean? Something still plugged up?
It means the vent line is blocked.
Old 04-23-2011 | 10:32 AM
  #29  
stangy89's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 62
From: Minneapolis, MN
stangy89 is on a distinguished road
Originally Posted by 8541Hawk
The other thing that could cause a high speed cruse issue would be if the holes in the emulsion tubes are clogged.

If the fresh fuel doesn't help, then remove the float bowls. Remove the main jets and then remove the piece that the main jets screw into.

These are the emulsion tubes. There is a front and rear so don't get them mixed up. There are a series of holes around the body of the emulsion tube. Make sure that these are all clean.

Attachment 11199

Ok, so I decided dive in this weekend and clean the carbs...the emulsion tubes were in fact plugged up. Also while i was in there i noticed something that I wasn't too thrilled about. Anyone notice it?...



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Last edited by stangy89; 04-23-2011 at 10:53 AM.
Old 04-23-2011 | 11:30 AM
  #30  
8541Hawk's Avatar
Banned
MotoGP
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
8541Hawk will become famous soon enough
Yes you should change the pilot jet......



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:22 AM.