SuzukiSavage.com - Not all backfiring is carb

mark_k

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Not all backfiring is carb
08/02/07 at 08:18:33

Had a major D'oh moment this past week. Undecided

Had rejetted the carb recently and had gotten a fairly smooth curve with good throttle response. Was feelin' pretty good about it, then at about 2300 miles on the odometer (it's a 2002 that had 1500 on it when I bought it) it started popping again when the throttle slapped shut. Started as just a single pop, much like it did when the carb was stock. Also had noticed a slight vibrating noise at 60 - 70 mph sounded like a speedo rattle or guage rattle that only occured at speed. Couldn't locate the rattle as it is hard to look from the front of the bike at 70 mph. Popping kept getting worse to the point it was popping whenever I coasted or backed off the throttle.
Then as I was getting ready to go to work, I saw it.! One of the exhaust pipe bolts holding the bracket to the head was missing and the other was loose allowing air to mix with the exhaust gasses causing the backfiring. Taught me a lesson. Need to periodically check the bolt tightness even if you don't think the mileage should warrant it.
Will have to order a new one in from ronayers, maybe I should get 2 just in case.

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skatnbnc

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Re: Not all backfiring is carb
Reply #1 - 08/02/07 at 09:17:48

I'm fairly sure this is why I have blueing spot right behind the joint on my exhaust pipe.

Right where it meets, a little air seeps through and POW! I can clearly hear the backfire coming from the middle of the pipe, not the back.

I check the connection once a week. As long as it keeps running fine, I am not going to change it.

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #2 - 08/02/07 at 12:09:41 Many of us have said this in response to the How do I stop the backfiring? queries. Be sure your exhaust is leak-free. In my case, it has been the exhaust gaskets. I keep a couple spares of the crushable gaskets that go between the header and the cylinder head and I use a new one every time I remove the exhaust.
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #3 - 08/02/07 at 21:16:42 skatnbnc, I have read several of your post (including a reply to a question of mine,which I really appreciate) and I'm now wondering....how do you know so much about bikes? Are you just mechanically minded? and is there a good way to learn ? Any tips on learning? Thanks!
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #4 - 08/02/07 at 21:31:23 No disrespect meant toward you guys....ya'll are smart ,but I kinda expect it moreso from guys. I just dont know many women,personally, that know that much about bikes.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #5 - 08/02/07 at 21:48:21 stick around, we grow on you.
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #6 - 08/02/07 at 22:38:37 Ohhhhhh.....I liked you guys instantly......this is my favorite site.I spend lots of time here. I now know there are no bad guys that ride a savage
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Balderdash

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Re: Not all backfiring is carb
Reply #7 - 08/03/07 at 10:34:29

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

Many of us have said this in response to the How do I stop the backfiring? queries. Be sure your exhaust is leak-free. In my case, it has been the exhaust gaskets. I keep a couple spares of the crushable gaskets that go between the header and the cylinder head and I use a new one every time I remove the exhaust.

Where do you buy those? And for how much? I would like to buy a handful sooner or later.

The local stealerships around here were telling me $30 bucks for the Jardine type and I laughed and left...

That's seems a bit excessive for me so I Junked up my header with a bunch of Tailpipe/muffler Exhaust putty, packed over and under a strip off a cut up foster beer can (thicker aluminum than a regular beer can) and made my own gasket that way (works through bubble water test but ugly).

As to the thread topic. It's a good thing to know.

Once I got the jetting 'correct' for my bike, I now use the backfire method of discovering when the exhaust has sprung a leak. If it backfires more than once, I probably sprung an exhaust leak somewhere.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #8 - 08/03/07 at 10:46:02 Rob's talking about the gasket between the head and the header. Can be gotten at any mail order place 3 or 4 each.
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Balderdash Full Member Offline Posts: 117 Minnesota Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #9 - 08/03/07 at 10:48:26 verslagen1 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08: Rob's talking about the gasket between the head and the header. Can be gotten at any mail order place 3 or 4 each. Ah, right... darn.
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Savage_Rob

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Re: Not all backfiring is carb
Reply #10 - 08/03/07 at 11:37:45

Yeah, the gasket between the header and the cylinder head is what I tend to use more of. I also have a couple of the gasket/sealer/rings that go between the header and muffler. There are two types. One is fibrous and the other is copper jacketed. The copper jacketed is great if you use a stock muffler but I am using a MAC and I have to shave the gasket down a bit before installing it because the MAC is a tighter fit. The copper doesn't shave as easily. I usually keep the muffler and header connected though, so I don't need to replace that one very often.

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skatnbnc

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Re: Not all backfiring is carb
Reply #11 - 08/03/07 at 14:33:32

FreeSpirit wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:

skatnbnc,

I have read several of your post (including a reply to a question of mine,which I really appreciate) and I'm now wondering....how do you know so much about bikes?
Are you just mechanically minded?
and is there a good way to learn ? Any tips on learning?
Thanks!

How do I know so much about bikes - because I hang out HERE on the forum! ~ LOL! Grin

Actually I have had lots of experience fixing things myself, and I've worked as a project manager for commercial construction. After awhile of that, you figure out all sorts of creative ways to pull things apart and put them back together.

Bonus is that I usually end up hanging out with my guy friends among whom are an architect, a historical restoration specialist, a machinist, a gunsmith, a blacksmith, and others who know all about how things are constructed/made/can be unassembled.

So I can usually work something out unless I've never seen the issue before; that's when you see me asking questions here..."how come this is doing that?" ???

Answer to your question: To learn, keep reading here and ask questions. I've always appreciated that on this forum no one ever says "that's a stupid question", and that you can get multiple answers to work on your dilemma very quickly.

As verslagen1 said - keeping hanging around; they grow on ya. Wink

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #12 - 08/03/07 at 20:45:00 Thanks skatnbnc Oh ,ok.....I see what verslagen1 meant . And I guess making some more, knowledgeable local Biker friends would be a good idea also for me. There's really alot of bike riders in this little town. And I'll most definitely hang around here,this is the best group!
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mark_k

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Re: Not all backfiring is carb
Reply #13 - 08/04/07 at 17:07:21

A wise man once said, "Experience is the best teacher, but the experiences of others are the least painful."

If you hang around the site, you'll generally find that with most of the problems you encounter, there is likely someone here on the site that has run into or done the same "D'oh" as you have. (Whether they admit it or not Roll Eyes

Most are willing to share their experiences and fixes. You can sure learn a lot by reading.

Welcome.

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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: Not all backfiring is carb Reply #14 - 08/08/07 at 01:36:35 Mark_K Thanks! I do enjoy this website and don't know what I'd do without it. People here are very nice! and I am learning more things the more I read here! Plus I am worrying much less It's very nice to have people to talk to about something that everyone enjoy's so much
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