So confused, 1996 VFR wont draw in enough fuel into engine

Totally agree

 

You did check for an exhaust blockage?

 

I thought about it too. But for 8 bucks each, at least I know they are clean. I used a guitar string to clean out the idle jets. I think I got it clean but after thinking, by pushing a guitar string through the idle jet I think all I did was push out the fuel sludge. I don't think I did much to anything that may have been left on the sidwalls of the idle jet.


HRCH

 

Yes I did. I took the slip-on off and ran a long flexible pick-up tool through the header pipe and I didnt pull against anything. When I had the bike running I didn't notice any less exhaust pressure from the pipe as compared to the rest of my two bikes.


HRCH

 

A thorough carb clean always requires that you blow through and confirm that the vent tubes are free-flowing.

Unless a wasp or something (saw that once !!) built a nest in a vent tube, it's really hard to imagine what would clog a tube that's almost 1/4" in diameter.

The fact that you consider changing a valve clearance that is still Ok leads to the conclusion that you might be an excessive worrier, since this would have NOTHING to do with your starting or running issue.

As a matter of fact, i believe the best course for you is to fix the carb problem and get the bike running right BEFORE you do any unnecessary valve work, Fewer variables.

 

Does anyone know why Squirrel is so anal? Lets all chip in and buy him a bong.

Sounds to me like Hirsh has a firm handle on things. Good luck with bringing her back to life!!


Rollin

 

Not even my analysts knew, so.............

 

Where are you located?

 

I really did not want to touch the valves. I kept pushing it out of my mind as I know it will not resolve anything with the bad hesitation. My neighbor who also rides and does his own work kept pushing me to at least check the valves. So that is why I did. Only one intake valve from the front head was off specs. So yes it had to be shimmed. The other two valves were at .13mm (borderline) So, when I had the front intake cam off I was able to swap some of the shims around. Since honda shims were .025 increments it was easy to get all the intake valves closer to specs. Once I put the intake cam back in, all intake valves on the front head measured .16mm (dead on specs). By checking the valves and shimming them now while I'm in the mood, at least I won't have to worry about it again for some time.

I'm not a worrier, I'm just very persistent. However, I am running out of ideas. I should get the bike running after work today. As I said before, I did get new idle jets. For $8 bucks each at least now I am 100% sure they are clean. The main jets look good, so I'm going to leave them alone.

HRCH

 

New jersey

 

Will I guess that rules oot coming to take a look.

 

Just thinking that you would trouble yourself to help someone you don't even know is an excellent judgment of your character. Thank you for your thoughts.


HRCH

 

HRCH, thanks for continuing to update this post. I didn't see it early in its life, and it has been interesting reading. I once had an old houseboat that was a pain to try to put gas into (50 gallon tank up front), and the problem was exactly what squirrelman alluded to; a small mud nest that some considerate insects installed in the tank vent line. It wasn't enough to keep the engine from running for hours at a time (318 V8), but it was enough to prevent gasoline from being pumped into the tank at a reasonable rate.

So hopefully the float bowl vent(s) are/were the problem. Even if the bowls were able to slowly fill, atmospheric pressure wouldn't be available to push the fuel out (that might be a re-statement...).

 

The sound of 8000+ RPM screaming in my garage

Update !!!!

The sound of a V4 screaming at 8000+ RPM in my garage never sounded so sweet.

Yup, it looks like I got it. Before the bike would never rev pass 5500 RPM even in neutral. 4000 rpm was a struggle. Granted I have not drove it yet because of all this rain. But just hearing the revs go over 8000 was a great feeling.

I put the valve covers back on. Reassembled the carbs, put the gas tank on and fired it up. I also synced the carbs.

Then this morning I warmed up the engine and reved the engine up, and yes, I saw the tach go over 8000 rpm.


HRCH

 

And for the record, I'm going to say this severe fuel starvation issue was caused by a clog in the carburetor float bowl vents. Fuel can't flow in or out of the bowls if air can't vent in or out. The $25 I spent on the ultrasonic cleaning service had to have been the fix. The Honda manager did say that the carbs vents were clogged because smoke was vissible in that area where the vents are present. I was told smoke will be vissible during the ultrasonic cleaning whenever there is a clog some place.

The true test will of course be the road test. But just seeing the bike rev over 8000 RPM in neutral is a good indication that things are looking good.
Now, if I can only make the rain stop for a little bit.

HRCH

 

cool beans.....

 

Got a test ride in today

I got a road test in today. The rain stopped for a bit and roads dried up.

I got the bike to actually accelerate well for the first time since I inherited it. Ahhh.... 9000 rpm. Excellent, but of course nothing is perfect. The bikes cruised great too Before all the extra work I just did, the bike could not reach 6000 rpm. It would loose all power if it got too close to 5500rpm, then it would just stahl out. Now, it will rev to 9000 rpm. I did not hold it long there too long. However, as I said it's not perfect, the bike does have a moderate hesitation from 5000 rpm up to 6000 rpm, then it revs up great again all the way up to 9000 rpm ( Id did not try to get it over 9000rpm, but I'm sure it will)

So, what fuel circuit is doing most of the work during the 5000 to 6000 rpm. Main jets?

I wish I could get the stock muffler and pipe back on the bike but it's no where to be found. The bike has a Two Brothers Racing slip on and some type of exhaust pipe that makes the muffler sit higher than say a stock system. I'm not crazy about louder pipes. But it looks like this slip on will have to stay.

HRCH