Avian Flu and the "Usual Suspect": SuperChicken III Is Back in Action
Avian Flu and the "Usual Suspect": SuperChicken III Is Back in Action
A few days back, my bike backfired loudly, and it then seemed to be running on only one cylinder (sounded like a freaking lawn mower, idled at 700 rpm, and stalled at idle).
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I completed a basic check on the ignition system--less the ICU and Convertor Box, which the Haynes Manual claims can't be checked without a special Honda test fixture . Everything seemed to be OK: The throttle position sensor = 500 ohms/4.26K ohms at full throttle; throttle position sensor voltage = 5.0 volts; ignition pulse coil is ten ohms high [650 ohms], but that's probably no big deal; the primary ignition coil resistance is 0.5 ohms for both front and rear coils, and the secondary ignition coil resistance is 18.3 K ohms for both front and rear coils; the spark plug caps are within spec as well.
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Then, I inspected the spark plugs, planning to replace them either way, since they had 30,000 miles on them anyway. Viola! Problem #1 Located: carbon-fouled spark plugs!
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I then checked the K&N filter and found that it was loaded with dirt and pollen from a wicked Florida Spring pollen-dusting. This explained why my plugs were carbon-fouled: Clogged filter-chargers can cause a bike to run rich, and thus can cause carbon-fouling of spark plugs. Problem #2 Located (related also to Problem #1): excessively dirty filter-charger causing carbs to run rich and foul the plugs.
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At this point, I did not know that when the God-awful-loud backfire had knocked the rear carb's air intake hose out if its socket on the breather box, the impact of that reaction had also knocked the fuel tank's vacuum line off of its socket (located at the horizontal nozzle at the rear-center of the fuel petcock).
Not knowing this and thinking that I had already fixed all of the problems, I tried to start the VTR to take it for a test-ride. It took about two minutes, then the bike fired-up and ran at idle, but only for about fifteen seconds--until I had made my way a half-block down the street and had lit into the throttle a bit. The bike then bogged-down like it had horked a head or had lost compression. Then, it ran OK again, then bogged down, then ran OK, then bogged down. I was able to limp home on the bike, and then consult the SuperHawk Forum by using search terms such as "bogged down," "fuel" and "vacuum." ...I was thus able to locate Problem #3: "the Usual Suspect": the fuel vacuum hose being dislodged from its socket.
___________________________
The fuel vacuum hose is now re-attached, SuperChicken III is back up and running fine, a coat of Meguiar's Show Car Glaze #7 drying on the tail section as I write this line.
____________________________
Dang, this Forum (and the Haynes Service and Repair Manual) just saved me a nice bit of cash on diagnostics and repair, effectively helping me to locate and eradicate three problems over a two-day period.
cheers,
--Professor Chaos
__________________________________________________ _
I completed a basic check on the ignition system--less the ICU and Convertor Box, which the Haynes Manual claims can't be checked without a special Honda test fixture . Everything seemed to be OK: The throttle position sensor = 500 ohms/4.26K ohms at full throttle; throttle position sensor voltage = 5.0 volts; ignition pulse coil is ten ohms high [650 ohms], but that's probably no big deal; the primary ignition coil resistance is 0.5 ohms for both front and rear coils, and the secondary ignition coil resistance is 18.3 K ohms for both front and rear coils; the spark plug caps are within spec as well.
________________________
Then, I inspected the spark plugs, planning to replace them either way, since they had 30,000 miles on them anyway. Viola! Problem #1 Located: carbon-fouled spark plugs!
____________________________
I then checked the K&N filter and found that it was loaded with dirt and pollen from a wicked Florida Spring pollen-dusting. This explained why my plugs were carbon-fouled: Clogged filter-chargers can cause a bike to run rich, and thus can cause carbon-fouling of spark plugs. Problem #2 Located (related also to Problem #1): excessively dirty filter-charger causing carbs to run rich and foul the plugs.
______________________________________
At this point, I did not know that when the God-awful-loud backfire had knocked the rear carb's air intake hose out if its socket on the breather box, the impact of that reaction had also knocked the fuel tank's vacuum line off of its socket (located at the horizontal nozzle at the rear-center of the fuel petcock).
Not knowing this and thinking that I had already fixed all of the problems, I tried to start the VTR to take it for a test-ride. It took about two minutes, then the bike fired-up and ran at idle, but only for about fifteen seconds--until I had made my way a half-block down the street and had lit into the throttle a bit. The bike then bogged-down like it had horked a head or had lost compression. Then, it ran OK again, then bogged down, then ran OK, then bogged down. I was able to limp home on the bike, and then consult the SuperHawk Forum by using search terms such as "bogged down," "fuel" and "vacuum." ...I was thus able to locate Problem #3: "the Usual Suspect": the fuel vacuum hose being dislodged from its socket.
___________________________
The fuel vacuum hose is now re-attached, SuperChicken III is back up and running fine, a coat of Meguiar's Show Car Glaze #7 drying on the tail section as I write this line.
____________________________
Dang, this Forum (and the Haynes Service and Repair Manual) just saved me a nice bit of cash on diagnostics and repair, effectively helping me to locate and eradicate three problems over a two-day period.
cheers,
--Professor Chaos
Last edited by ProfChaos; Aug 5, 2011 at 09:44 PM.
this site has saved me tons of money,i do all my own work.which saves even more money.now you should know the bike pretty good.
this is one great site.everything you need to know is right here.
this is one great site.everything you need to know is right here.
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