[abba352]

I am looking for ideas as to what might be the problem.

Symptoms: I can be riding along and everything is fine when all of a sudden it feels as though I lose ½ power to the engine. The bike become sluggish, the exhaust sounds horrendous, and then it decides to regain full strength and things go back to normal.

I thought at first it may have been loose battery cables (that has happened before) but I checked them and they are fine. Over the winter I replaced the battery as it was three years old and wasn’t cranking properly and I checked and adjusted the valves as I was beginning to hear that clanking noise. Everything has been fine until the last week.

Where should I start checking for the problem?

Thanks.

 

[VTXHOGG]

Could be a ground problem: see Bare's site
http://tech.vtxoa.com/index.php?sid=198220&lang=en&action=artikel&cat=14&id=33&artlang=en

I would verify the batter terminals with a wrench (which you may have done) I was having the same problem and thought they were tight by just trying to wiggle they by hand, but once I wrench them tight problems cleared.

 

[Big Jon]

Are you hearing what sounds like rockers tapping when this happens? If so, it may be an intermittent decompressor cam malfunction.

 

[macguyver]

I had the same problem last spring, a year ago. Found a couple of problems. First, as was stated be another member, GROUND FIX. Pull the coils and scrape the frame paint, dielectric grease on the mount and frame tighten it back up. Also secondary ground from Battery as stated in the link. It's a drag when you are riding two up and only half your engine is doing all the work. Haven't had this problem since. Mine did exactly what you are saying.
Second fix was to remove my PCIII which was causing some missing issues. Plugged stock back in and no more mis. Since then have replaced PCIII and she run like she was stolen. Do want to do the Dyno thing, not getting the best MPG, but "She Got Power To Spare"
Good luck , Mac

 

[abba352]

Battery terminals are snug (just checked them 2 days ago.

Ground fix was done a long time ago and was double checked when I checked the battery cables.

I am running power commander and had it dynoed last year.

I do hear some tapping noise from the front. What is an 'intermittent decompressor cam malfunction' and what can be done to correct it?

 

[spinner7456]

just my experience: same kind of problems you are encountering, and it was a bad pc111. run fine at times and then crap out to the point it would stall out and quit. the only time i have takin it to a shop. i first placed the pc111 under the seat, but put a aftermarket seat on and it was bottoming out on the pc111 and resetting it. bought new pc111 and placed it by tool compartment. might help... good luck!!

 

[Firemanirfd]

I would also check your plug wires and connections on the coils

 

[Big Jon]

Battery terminals are snug (just checked them 2 days ago.

Ground fix was done a long time ago and was double checked when I checked the battery cables.

I am running power commander and had it dynoed last year.

I do hear some tapping noise from the front. What is an 'intermittent decompressor cam malfunction' and what can be done to correct it?
The decompressor cam, part of the valve cam, relieves compression up to about 300 RPM when you start the engine. Makes starting easier. These tend to fail/break and keep decompressing the cylinder(s) either intermittently or constantly. The fix is either replace the whole cam or remove the decompressor cam from the valve cam. PITA!

 

[abba352]

Last night I was looking at the writeup on the ground fix and realized I hadn't checked the one under the tank so I took everything apart again.

I found it to be gummed up with deposits so I cleaned it and sanded it down again to removed all residue.

This morning everything was going fine.

I'll see if that helps.

 

[monster]

Ground fix

It happened to me a year ago.....AND today! I remember talking to some of the "X"ers at the time, and they said SOME bikes ya have to re-do the fix once a year.It seems that mine falls in to that catagory. Started
droppin a cylinder at lunch time.intermittent. Just like the last time.
Glad I work for an Auto dealer. I will perform the entire ground fix before
I leave for home. I'm sure that will take care of it.
So...to be safe+sure....just do the whole process over again.Why leave
something out?
Just my .02

Good Luck

Ken

 

[fastspek]

REPOST! Same thing happened to me :shock:

About 1 month ago I ran into trouble with my bike during a long trip of 1000 miles from Belgium to Italy passing Switzerland. It started with some misfiring and ended with running on one cylinder(max speed 50 miles possible). I had to ride for about 30 miles like that before I reached my hotel. I checked the spark plugs and they were all black. I cleaned them but that did not help. Then I checked the spark and saw threre was no spark at the front plugs. I lifted the tank and removed the front coil and removed some rust at the connection with the chassis(THE GROUND FIX!). Then the bike ran again but still somewhat rough. Since I came home I changed the plugs and also cleaned the rear coil connections. Bike is running regular now, no misfiring or popping but runs rich: there is a smell of gas from the exhaust and the exhaust has a "fatter" sound like running with choke on. Acceleration seems OK. Putting the zero map on the PCIII did not change anything but caused some popping as expected. Is the bike just loosing unburned fuel? Should I use a carb cleaner in the tank and also spray an amount in the intake manifold? Any other suggestions

EVERYTHING BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN

 

[monster]

ground fix

Make sure to look at "the ground fix" and print the pages from that site
so you dont forget anything. There is alot more to it than just the two coil
grounds....any one of them cound and would give you a problem.I made
the mistake of doing "half" of the ground fix...still had "half" the problems
until I performed the entire service.

Ken

 

[Retro Dresser]

i had the same problem with my bike stumbling. I did the ground fix and everything was tight and looked fine. I did the fix anyway and haven't had a problem yet.

 

[abba352]

This is day #3 since I did the ground fix for the 2nd time and I have not a recurrence of the issue I originally asked about.

Thanks to all.

 

[stillflyin]

Could be a ground problem: see Bare's site
http://tech.vtxoa.com/index.php?sid...Is ther another place to bring up the images?

 

[abba352]

Looks like a server glitch somewhere. The pictures were there last week I looked at them and not showing now. I'd try it again later.

 

[stillflyin]

here I found the ground fix pics again
http://www.texasxriders.com/ground/ground_fix_vtx.htm