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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> loss of power
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Message started by freeindeed on 08/13/08 at 18:31:43

Title: loss of power
Post by freeindeed on 08/13/08 at 18:31:43

I have an 04 savage with about 3 k on it. I bought it with under 500 miles in April and began riding almost constantly. I have never had a bit of trouble with it. Then went out to the garage today, it has been sitting for a week. Fire it up take off and I cant even get it out of 4th gear, top end seems to be about 45 mph. I rode it for about 20 miles thinking it might straighten out but no luck. I pulled the air cleaner, new, pulled the fuel line, free flow. Plug looked good, dark tan. While on the stand I can open the throttle all the way and it eventually revs up, it takes about 3 seconds and I can hold it there as its not really screaming. The bike is stock except that I drilled the exhaust pipe and the cover for the A/F mixture. both of those have been done some time ago. and I must say backing the screw out didn't help very much with the backfiring issue. I have been meaning to do the "white spacer" mod and perhaps there is something in the carb that will hasten the mod. Seems to have a much tamer sound. I don't think it can be electrical. It couldn't have jumped time, right? Gas doesn't go bad that fast does it? And it was fine when I parked it. If it was a 2 cylinder I would say its firing on only one. Can anyone suggest what the problem may be? Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by T Mack 1 on 08/13/08 at 18:40:30

I take it the 45 mph is at WOT. What happens if you back-off the throttle a bit?????? Does it pick-up then slow down???

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Max_Morley on 08/13/08 at 19:16:12

One day mine behaved that way and I found a small piece of what I presume to be hose lining material in the main jet. The one in the very bottom. Only about 2000 RPM available under a load a load, more w/o. If there is some water in the bottom of the float bowl it will do much the same. I changed the hoses out that day. Max

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by freeindeed on 08/13/08 at 19:41:20

Yes, 45 at wot. Its a dog all the way through the throttle, If I back off a little on the throttle it decreases as well, no surging.
I cracked the bowl drain screw, nuttin' but clean gas.
It won't take 5th gear unless I'm going downhill.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by 1st2know on 08/13/08 at 19:49:20

Guesses:
1) BBQed critters in the exhaust.
2) Try running on PRI to see if symptoms change.
3) Something interfering with pully/belt/wheel -does rear tire spin freely?

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Trippah on 08/13/08 at 19:50:11

While we all tend to think fuel supply, your bike is just old enough to have a juice issue, weak battery especially after sitting for a week. Check for good ground and tight connection..then you can go back to dealing with the fuel issue, where the problem probably is. :D
Could your throttle linkage have gotten out of adjustment? Mice in the gas tank? ;)

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 08/13/08 at 19:51:07

An idea for the wise among us to ponder and judge...

With a partial tank of gasohol, could the natural heating/cooling cycle during a week of warm days and cool nights cause the tank to draw in moist air (which loses some of it's moisture to the alcohol) then vent the dried air, then repeat, until the gas gets weak from water saturation?

That is the kind of uneducated malarkey that a friend of mine would say makes me a "pseudo-mechanic." He would be correct. But sometimes a shot in the dark can still hit.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Dj12midnit on 08/13/08 at 20:02:20

I'm liking the battery line. He never mentioned adding water to the battery, it could be low.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Jay on 08/13/08 at 23:09:33

747273716C6A71701E0 wrote:

I don't think it so far fetched. I'm pretty sure I had a similar experience.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by texassavage95 on 08/13/08 at 23:39:28

It sure sounds like carburation. Maybe something worked its way loose inside the carb, or you sucked something up and blocked a jet. If timing skipped, I think you would have serious backfiring if you could get it to start at all. Oh yea, check the spark plug first, sometimes it is the most simple thing.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by 07S40rider on 08/14/08 at 08:20:38

I agree, it sounds fuel flow related somewhat - but I also get a small voice in my head saying 'I wonder if the rear brake is hanging and dragging the bike down maybe?'

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by ls650v on 08/14/08 at 09:07:30

Like Max, I had a partially clogged main jet one time. The bike wouldn't go above 45 and I seem to remember it would also buck and misfire at that point.

I have also had problems with the carb slide sticking several times. The bike would seem to lack power and wouldn't accelerate at all above a certain throttle setting. Sometimes it would surge or misfire. Remove the top of the carb to get at the slide. I like to wipe it down with carb cleaner and a soft cloth. Make sure to clean the carb bore while you are at it. It really doesn't take much crud to cause it to stick.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by freeindeed on 09/01/08 at 18:00:39

Thank you all for the responses. Replaced the plug, put it back together, no difference. Dropped in just a couple tablespoons of Lucas injector cleaner, ran it, rode it for a mile or so, no change, I went back to my other bike knowing the next step might be pulling the carb apartbut after sitting about an hour, the additive must have cleaned out a plugged port or jet. Jumped on and it has all the power it used to. Thanks again.

Title: Re: loss of power
Post by Crotchrocket on 09/01/08 at 18:54:00

Seems like a case of motorcycle jealousy to me.