Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech 2003 speedmaster not running right HELP please

Been away from riding for a while and this forum....trying to get back into it. Hello again to everyone. Here are the details of my issue:

2003 speedmaster
TOR pipes
completely stock including air box etc
stored for a little over a year with stabil in the gas

Here is what I did:
1. drained all gas
2. pulled carbs and cleaned. there was no varnishing on the inside
2a. new spark plugs and battery
3. readjusted idle screws to 3 turns out
4. Bike starts up and idles fine.
5. Almost dies out in first gear when you go to pull out....have to give it a lot of gas to get going.
6. Will get up to speed but cuts out badly.
7. when shutting down bike there is a backfire at times
8. Tried readjusting idle screws while running....didn't seem to make a difference no matter how many turns out or fully closed (I remember adjusting these previously and you could tell a difference when you were turning the screw)


Any ideas?

Anyone know someone near Huntington, wv that works on Triumphs?

Not questioning yur ability to tear a carb apart and rebuild but it sounds like carb prob might try some sea foam or might want to take another look in the carbs? I would try the sea foam trick first as that can be cheap and simple.

3 turns out will be way to much for what you have done for mods, start at 2 1/4 and see how it runs from there, make sure your idle is set at about 1050 or 1100 If you are not hearing and idle change when running in neutral and adjust the air/fuel (remember out is more fuel in is more air) then you may have put it together wrong or damaged the needle tips when you screwed them in or something.

Definitely try a tankful of Seafoam, the jets must be partially clogged. 2 - 2 1/2 turns out max. run the bike at speed and pull out the choke (the vacuum will pull the fuel thru the jets harder) hopefully this will clear up your carb.

The backfire must be a lean backfire

Sounds like you might have a vacuum leak.
Check the squirrel condoms.

squirrel condoms seem fine....no cracks etc.
Seafoam was added to the refilled tank....didn't run it with choke open so ill try that.

Will readjust with idle lower as suggested.

Thanks

You may have inadvertently not replaced the little bushing the needle is centered in, it is small and can fall out when your not looking very easily when you have a carb apart, happened to me as well as a few other members here, shot in the dark. Raises hell with the way your bike runs.

I took carb apart a 2nd time before I posted to make sure the bushings were on the needle and they were.

Did you check the air filter? It can make a fine rodent nest as can the exhaust pipes. The hidden filter between the carbs? Stabil can really clog a tiny filter like that. That said the most likely culprit is one of the circuits in the carbs is gummed up and that just taes persistence and lots of cleaner spray.

On anther note, you can actually run your bike on seafoam, if it has been sitting there that long i would throw a whole can of it in the tank, run it and then do it again.

Well to be on the safe side I took the carbs apart again to make sure I put it back right...everything was fine. Soaking everything in PineSol now (great carb cleaner).

I will put it all back together in a few days (dam work) and see how it goes.

And awesome idea on running on Seafoam...didn't know u could do that.

Air filter is new...
Hidden filter was clean...

This one is waaaayyyy out there, in left feild, but is the idle screw attached. Notice I said IDLE SCREW , (not to be confused with mix screws.) I say this cause once upon a time many, many moons ago I once backed mine all the way out (not sure how, or why) but then forgot all about it while buttoning other things up. Once I got that figured out she worked great.

Steve,

Before you pulled the carbs and opened them up, did you try and run the bike after the 1 year layover? If so, did it run well?

What exactly did you do when you pulled the carbs apart? Did you pull the jets? If so, did you make sure you didn't loose the nozzle above the main jet?

How did it run when you parked it last year?

She ran fine last time I rode. After draining gas and putting in new I took the bike out for a quick run and that's when I noticed it.

Gonna change to K&N pods and relocate battery while Im at it....So it will be a few days before I put everything back together. Wish me luck lol

It sounds fuel related for sure. It idles fine but then won't take off correctly? It really sounds like a clogged jet or jets. Mainly your pilot circuit since that works until 1/4 open throttle or so. I would just replace 'em to be honest. You can clean them but you have to be very careful since they are brass. Blowing it out with air sometimes just doesn't do the job.

Moe....you are correct.

My plan is to re-assemble carbs again after soaking and put back on the bike to ensure they are working properly....Even though they looked pretty clean there is alot of gunk after soaking them a couple of days.

Then do the other stuff.

Put everything back together last night after soaking the carbs for a few days in Pinesol.....

Bike is running good again!!! Thanks for all the advice everyone!

'Bout time, as there is some mighty fine riding area right where you are!