- Joined
- Jun 4, 2009
- Messages
- 560
- Reaction score
- 9
- Location
- Granger, TX
- First Name
- Carl
- Last Name
- Niskern
It seems to be running Ok. No miss or anything like that. It is rather slow to accelerate though but equated that to a 997 cc engine in a heavy bike. I do ride like a dingbat some days. I mean who can really resist the open highway early in the morning with no one else on the road.
The carbs might need cleaning or something. I'll try to get some new spark plugs in it this weekend and see if that helps.
Fresh plugs will always help a little but if your Connie was sitting for any period before you got it - only takes a couple months - those multiple tiny carb runs are going to be plugged or partially blocked. And if you thought slipping those airbox boots back on was a pain, try pulling the carb rack for rebuild.
Try this when you have some time to let it sit for a few days:
1 Fill the tank and drop about a third of a bottle of Seafoam in it (way over done but it'll work faster).
2 Take it for a +20 mile spin. At some point it'll start running rougher.
3 Let it sit with the loaded gas in the carbs for several days. DO NOT leave it for months as Seafoam will indiscriminately eat carb gaskets too.
4 Run out the whole tank after that and +20 on a fresh tank. If you can do it in one sitting, it'll help because the extra heat will help the Seafoam scrub out the varnish.
If you ever need to leave it sit for extended time, drop some marine Stabil in the tank run the engine until it's in the carbs. This stuff won't eat the gaskets...but it also does nothing for cleaning.
Other things I'd recommend are a fuel filter between tank and carbs. The screen on the petcock does nothing. Plus a valve adjustement and carb sync. Connies are quite touchy. And my carbs are sync'd at 4k, not idle. Helps with my buzz.
From your MPG description you'll probably find carbon'd plugs...you're running rich. If you still have the factory plugs in the pilot screw holes, you have an air leak. Connies breath best with restricted air flow. Easy to check with a can of engine starter and swap a carb cleaner head/tube on it. At idle, focus tiny bursts on the rubbers before and after the carbs...and where the airboots attach to the airbox...and the air filter door. When you get those fixed idle will go up and you can check your MPG again. If it's still less than 35, try partially blocking the airbox snorkel.
Having had mine since 2000, I have a lot of maintenance tips. Mine is not a showroom bike - especially now that she's naked again - but any time I want the old girl to dance, she can do it.