Strictly Street Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 (edited) A can of Seafoam, a set of plug wires and lube for a sticky mechanical advance was the fix(s)Runs really good now! Thanks for the troubleshooting help and tips on what to do.===== Original Post ============1980 Kawasaki LTD 550 C1 USA model.Kerker 4-1 headers, K&N air filters.Dynojet kit 2305.001 installed.(Like this when I bought it, can't verify without tearing it down)Ignition coil mod so spark is not a problem.I found a sticky mechanical timing advance, a little grease and it runs much better but still about 4500 rpm it breaks up till about 5500 rpm. After that it seems ok up to redline.Any thoughts as to why it would have this narrow range of stuttering? Edited June 10, 2009 by Strictly Street Update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v65rider Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Sounds like some dirty carbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 I ran some carb cleaner through it without much effect. You are saying I should pull the carbs and do a real cleaning.Sounds kinda intimidating based on my limited mechanical skills.Any idea what a shop would charge for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v65rider Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Your carbs have a slow, med and high range jets. To get them really clean you need to pull them and clean them.They aren't that hard to clean if you do one at a time so you don't get the parts confused and get everything put back where it is supposed to be.Also don't split the carbs unless you have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_Copeland Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 I'd say pull the carbs and clean them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 (edited) big +1 to everything v65 rider said. a shop will charge you maybe $100 to $texas depending on where you take it. a dealer may not even want to touch it, as the bike is older than most of their techs probably are. im sure you could find a few shops that would do it though. although i would also recommend doing it yourself. half the fun of owning a bike is working on it IMO. i know how you can feel intimidated by it. when you get down to it though its pretty much just screws and remembering how everything goes back together. once you do it, you will feel great though there are lots of people here who can help you too Edited May 17, 2009 by John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Your carbs have a slow, med and high range jets. To get them really clean you need to pull them and clean them.They aren't that hard to clean if you do one at a time so you don't get the parts confused and get everything put back where it is supposed to be.Also don't split the carbs unless you have to.It seems like the transition from low to medium is the problem. Clogged or dirty jets or fuel lines does make a lot of sense. The symptom does seem to fit. And I already fixed the other troubles, whats left is the carbs.I do have a manual for the bike, and a couple of old wrenches, hmm...It looks like I'll have to do some reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 (edited) big +1 to everything v65 rider said. a shop will charge you maybe $100 to $texas depending on where you take it. a dealer may not even want to touch it, as the bike is older than most of their techs probably are. im sure you could find a few shops that would do it though. although i would also recommend doing it yourself. half the fun of owning a bike is working on it IMO. i know how you can feel intimidated by it. when you get down to it though its pretty much just screws and remembering how everything goes back together. once you do it, you will feel great though there are lots of people here who can help you too People who can help definitely makes me feel better!A call to a shop or two taught me most of them won't touch anything older than a 2000. I can believe that the bike is older than most of the mechanics. An Example:"What year did you say"? "1980"."1980?!? Oh no, we don't work on bikes that old".The guy sounded like he thought I was nuts to even have something that old. The weather looks so good this week that I think I'll ride to work all week.I'll try some 93 octane and a little seafoam. If that doesn't do it I'll try to clean them myself next weekend while its raining. Edited May 25, 2009 by Strictly Street Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanDy Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I had a similar problem on my 1978 Suzuki, a ran the fuel almost to the reserve and dumped an entire bottle of Sea Foam into it, smoked like hell, for a bit, but after I ran that for about 5 minutes, (have to play with the throttle to keep it running and get the other jets kicked in) topped off the tank and it runs a whole lot better now! $10 for a bottle. Have a fuel can handy, you won't want to ride it til you top it back off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted May 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 I ran a can of seafoam through it with a tank of 93 octane and it seems much better now. Still a touch of lag but much better than it was.I think I'll put off cleaning the carbs for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 (edited) Changed the spark plug wires which fixed a lot of weird troubles including the drop out at 4500 rpm.The interesting thing was how much it cost, $12.00I got coil wires from NAPA at $3 a piece which with a little work fit just fine.The only other thing I found was a $50 set on ebay. Of course for the $50 they came in pretty colors. Edited June 3, 2009 by Strictly Street Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustinkz1000 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Changed the spark plug wires which fixed a lot of weird troubles including the drop out at 4500 rpm.The interesting thing was how much it cost, $12.00I got coil wires from NAPA at $3 a piece which with a little work fit just fine.The only other thing I found was a $50 set on ebay. Of course for the $50 they came in colors.So how's the bike running now over-all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Overall, I have to say Magnificently!It's just amazing what a couple of dollars in parts can do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I still want to take that thing for a ride, just for old times sake.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustinkz1000 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Overall, I have to say Magnificently!It's just amazing what a couple of dollars in parts can do!Haha. Sounds good man. What's the top speed on that...about 80? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Haha. Sounds good man. What's the top speed on that...about 80?80-90 I think is about it with the sprockets that are on it. A former owner changed both the front and the back. From what to what the receipt doesn't say. Anyway that's plenty fast enough to get me in trouble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I still want to take that thing for a ride, just for old times sake..Ah the bikes of yesteryear...I don't think they really were more fun, we just remember them that way.Of course I'm now mortal instead of immortal like I was back then... sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Ah the bikes of yesteryear...I don't think they really were more fun, we just remember them that way.Of course I'm now mortal instead of immortal like I was back then... sighI was 12 when i got my 550LTD, i rode the thing every day i could in the summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I was 12 when i got my 550LTD, i rode the thing every day i could in the summerAt twelve you were definitely immortal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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