Casper Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Spray starter fluid around the boots between the carbs and motor. If it revs, you have a leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) Spray starter fluid around the boots between the carbs and motor. If it revs, you have a leak.That too, it will sound doggy at low rpms but run ok at higher rpms.And then be ok when sprayed. Another clue is it might run ok in the rain, which seals the leak. Edited August 17, 2014 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 These bikes are finicky and require routine carb cleaning unless you're absolutely fanatical about maintaining the fuel system. That's why they turn up with relatively low miles from time to time. Somebody buys one, lets it sit for a long winter without prepping the fuel system, and in the spring it either won't start or runs like shit and they let it sit in some back garage. TheGSResources.com is the all around best site. Get a can of dip, buy an o-ring set on the site, pull the carbs, and follow the carb clean procedure to the letter. It's a one day job and anyone can do it. Just do your homework first and take your time. You can try spraying carb cleaner around the boots and make sure they're not old and cracked and leaking, you could get lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 umm, btw.... if electrical...those coils are fired by breaker points, if you haven't replaced them yet. Common failure point. "back-in-the-day", we used to carry spare points and plugs... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigd Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Damn, thanks all. Some great stuff I hadn't thought of. MUCH appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigd Posted August 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Sudden loss of power? That can come back? -> running on two cylinders - electrical two coils, right? Each runs two cylinders - one of them isn't firing for whatever reason it will feel like a funky 25% - 50% power, but will still make it home edit: two of the header pipes will be coldif it is all four pipes, it's probably a fuel problem or battery or whatever I had the spark plug wires rot off my coils, I went to NAPA and got replacementsand replaced stock coils with Blue Goose hot firing coils - don't think those are available any more Winner, winner! One of two coils was bad, because it was intermittent...after a ride, all 4 pipes would be hot...but on startup it was quickly apparent that 1 and 4 were cold. Replaced the coil, back on the road! Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Winner, winner! One of two coils was bad, because it was intermittent...after a ride, all 4 pipes would be hot...but on startup it was quickly apparent that 1 and 4 were cold. Replaced the coil, back on the road! Thanks all!yup, it happens a fair amount on older bikes. Sometimes it's just the connections at the coil (or the other end). Glad you found it. Intermittent electrical isn't fun to trace. At least it cooperated for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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