Poor running and sooty exhaust

[DickyC]

Dear All,

My friend has an issue with his twin. Its an RD07 2002 with moderate and not high mileage.

The bike has the following symtoms;

• Poor and inconsistant idle speed
• Black smuts from exhaust and drain hole under the exhaust
• Sooting up of plugs to the point where the bike will not run and they need cleaning
• Poor fuel economy (110 miles to reserve, I get 180/200 average)
• The radiator fan no longer works (even after thermastat in rad replaced)

We have stripped and serviced his choke cables thinking that that the problem was a sticky choke cable and at the same time replaced the plugs. The bike ran very well for about thirty miles but then the old issues started again. When we played with the chokes we also balanced the carbs. There was little adjustment needed. Initially after we did the above the engine sounded very sweet, as it used to, with no alien noises.

Sugestions would be gratefully recieved please as we are prepping for a trip and he doesn't want to be left behind!

Thanks one and all.

[tramp]

is it one plug thats sooty or both , as usual culprit is right front cylinder plug fouling up -cause jammed choke plunger yet again.

Only real fool proof way to check is clean both easy to get to plugs then remove choke plungers, be carefull as they easily nacker their threads.

with choke plungers out of carb body check operation to make sure they both return okay- usually the right one does not return so high fuel use and uneven idal.

WE HAVE ALL BEEN THEIR.

[DickyC]

Thanks for the speedy reply.

All four plugs were removed and all four were fouled up. Granted the front right was worst and after cleaning that one plug the bike will at least start but not run well at all. We actually removed and blanked the chokes so there shouldn't be an issue there. The airbox etc is seated correctly as we have made that mistake before as well.

I am assuming its still chokes and we are working on that assumption for now at least.

Cheers

[StumpyFingers]

Choke stuck or blocked air filter, both give the symptoms you describe.
Fan not working could be wired wrong or fuse blown.

[tramp]

when you blocked the chokes off you did put the little metal plungers in firstand the springs as well. common mistake.

If it ran okay a while back whatever the cause its simple

[YEN_POWELL]

Thanks for the speedy reply.

All four plugs were removed and all four were fouled up. Granted the front right was worst and after cleaning that one plug the bike will at least start but not run well at all. We actually removed and blanked the chokes so there shouldn't be an issue there. The airbox etc is seated correctly as we have made that mistake before as well.

I am assuming its still chokes and we are working on that assumption for now at least.

Cheers

Did you actually remove the choke plungers from the end of the cables and fit them with the springs before putting a blanking plug in there?

[YEN_POWELL]

Snap!!!!

[BobA]

As above, if you didn't re-install the choke plunger and spring, and then a blanking plug, you are in effect, running with the choke on.

[DickyC]

As above, if you didn't re-install the choke plunger and spring, and then a blanking plug, you are in effect, running with the choke on.

Thanks all.

We did re install the plungers but I will strip it down again and have a check as it was done in a bit of a hurry. One thing that I am thinking as well is that the springs were looking very tired/rusty and it seems to me that if they are poor then they will not push the plunger all the way home. Will let you know.

Cheers