Tuning or cleaning? Be the sleuth!

Classic Goldwings

Help Support Classic Goldwings:

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
'83 Aspencade starting issue, carbs rebuilt 2 years ago with Randakks kit and new oem needles and seats.
Symptoms:
Needs full choke to start when cold & is very cold-blooded for 5 minutes. ( nothing new here)
Idles well at 1100 (stock tach) excellent power and gas mileage.
Restarts are the problem...several seconds required with full throttle to restart, feels cold-blooded if allowed to "cool" for twenty minutes or more. My other wings will restart instantly when warm. I regret, I didn't test for the effect of choke on warm restart.
THE QUESTION: Do I need to clean the idle jets, or richen up the mixture?
Plugs look great after 2000 miles, no carbon, just light tan or lighter.
bike rested in a hot garage from April 22 - Jan '23
Ran 1/2 can of seafoam in the gas without much improvement.
Trying to have a plan before removing carbs...plan is, don't ruin a good riding day with parts on the floor.

Suggestions, & snide remarks are welcome.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2023-01-24-08-20-34.png
    Screenshot_2023-01-24-08-20-34.png
    1.8 MB · Views: 0
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
Thanks , I think I'll try richening the mixture first. 1/2 turn closed for a 50 mile ride should show me something. It's going to rain for three days later this morning, that's a good time to pull the carbs!
I don't often get an opportunity to play with my funky mixture screws!
 

Attachments

  • alu gear.jpg
    alu gear.jpg
    79.6 KB · Views: 0

pidjones

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
218
Location
Clinton, TN
One half can of SeaFoam may be a problem. I'd flush it all out, and if using any fuel additive, do so only by manufacturer's directions. I've helped a couple friends with this problem. Additives are great if not abused. Might change plugs, too. Over-use of additives can mess them up.
 
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
One half can of SeaFoam may be a problem. I'd flush it all out, and if using any fuel additive, do so only by manufacturer's directions. I've helped a couple friends with this problem. Additives are great if not abused. Might change plugs, too. Over-use of additives can mess them up.
Interesting you should say that, the seafoam was three tanks ago, and yesterday when I filled up with non alcohol high test, I began to see a little improvement.
Just got back from a short ride, (good thing I had my rainsuit) and the two restarts seemed improved. Maybe I was running too lean for an easy start....hmm .
Time will tell.
 
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
i would go ahead and clean the carbs now. get it over with.
Normally I would agree, but these were spotless when I put them in service two seasons ago. They idle just fine after warmup, so that spoils my clogged idle jet theory. Accelerator pump nozzles all squirt well with good response. Tuning has always been my shortfall, so I'm going to try mixture adjustments first. Turning the mixture screws IN makes the mixture richer, right?
I don't have an accurate tach right now, so performance and plug condition are my tools today.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2022-12-26-21-05-12.png
    Screenshot_2022-12-26-21-05-12.png
    719.8 KB · Views: 0
  • Screenshot_2022-11-25-16-00-23.png
    Screenshot_2022-11-25-16-00-23.png
    1.3 MB · Views: 0
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
A couple of quick questions. Is this the way it ran even since the original rebuild two years ago or is this

A couple of quick questions. Is this the way it ran even since the original rebuild two years ago or is this a recent change?
Originally it was not an issue. Not as good as my factory tuned carbs, but pretty close. The problem appeared a little at the end of last season ( march 22) but has gotten a little worse this season (jan 23) which is why I thought the idle jets needed cleaning.
Turned my mixture screws in 1/2 turn this morning before a 20 mile ride, 2 restarts were way better. Interesting to see if this is a fliuke or just on it's way to being worse!
 

naturlm

Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2022
Messages
7
Reaction score
5
Location
MN
My Bike Models
85 1200 Aspencade, 86 1200 Interstate, 85 VT 700, 83 VT 500
If it's a minor pilot jets fouling you may be able to fix it by running a couple tank fulls of non ethanol gas with a shock treatment level of Yamaha Ring Free additive. I have found it works far better than sea foam for minor carb fouling problems.
 

claydbal

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Messages
78
Reaction score
18
Location
doyline, la
all carbs were spotless when they were put into service. lol thats an invalid argument. let todays fuel sit in a carb bowl for a couple months and it becomes something that is no longer fuel. more like gum and shellac!
nothing like putting a hole in a piston from lean burn, or galling a skirt from detonation. good luck.
 
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
Nothin wrong with non-alcohol - it is 100% preferred - BUT high test is NOT. Causes carbon build-up. These engines are designed for regular 100% gasoline.
Ok, so I'll go back to using it just for storage with sta-bil in it. I actually found 89 octane with no alcohol, is that better or worse than 87 with 10 percent alcohol
 
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
Progress report: turnd the mixture screws out one full turn resulted in better starts ( not a very thorough test) and smoother takeoffs at very low power. Some new plugs and a couple plug chops should tell the tale.
Thanks for your help!
 
OP
OP
kerryb

kerryb

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2013
Messages
989
Reaction score
142
Location
Buffalo, NY
Thought I would make the mixture too rich by turning the mix screws out to 4 1/2 turns from closed. Instead, I got this result after a 20 mile ride. (New plugs) Starting is improved, not perfect but good. Any suggestions?, or leave it alone?
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2023-02-10-12-59-18.png
    Screenshot_2023-02-10-12-59-18.png
    1.6 MB · Views: 0
  • Screenshot_2023-02-10-12-58-06.png
    Screenshot_2023-02-10-12-58-06.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 0

tom collins

Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2022
Messages
8
Reaction score
9
Location
west chazy ny
My Bike Models
82 honda goldwing
'83 Aspencade starting issue, carbs rebuilt 2 years ago with Randakks kit and new oem needles and seats.
Symptoms:
Needs full choke to start when cold & is very cold-blooded for 5 minutes. ( nothing new here)
Idles well at 1100 (stock tach) excellent power and gas mileage.
Restarts are the problem...several seconds required with full throttle to restart, feels cold-blooded if allowed to "cool" for twenty minutes or more. My other wings will restart instantly when warm. I regret, I didn't test for the effect of choke on warm restart.
THE QUESTION: Do I need to clean the idle jets, or richen up the mixture?
Plugs look great after 2000 miles, no carbon, just light tan or lighter.
bike rested in a hot garage from April 22 - Jan '23
Ran 1/2 can of seafoam in the gas without much improvement.
Trying to have a plan before removing carbs...plan is, don't ruin a good riding day with parts on the floor.

Suggestions, & snide remarks are welcome.
I would check the float levels,
not enough fuel in them carbs.
 

Latest posts

Top