sodapopdave
New Member
First build/bike. It's a 1986 Radian with 26k miles on it. When I bought it it was barely running. I've gotten it to the point where I think it's almost running right but I have an issue that I haven't been able to track down yet.
The issue (I believe) is only at idle. I would think it is something with the pilot circuit but I have pulled the carbs 3 times now, cleaned, replaced all pilot jets and air/fuel mix screws, plug out all passages, and they seem good. I've also synced them with a homemade manometer that seemed to work really well. Clean tank as well and checked fuel screen and it's all intact.
The bike, motor wise, is all stock. Stock air box, stock jet sizing, stock exhaust. The issue is that even after cleaning, syncing the carbs, and setting the idle speed, I still have to give it some throttle when I hit the start button to get it to keep running. Just a little throttle and just for a few seconds, but I want to hit the button and it just purrs. Once it is warmed up and ridden a bit, if I shut the bike down, it will start up on it's own (without giving it any gas), about 1/2 of the time.
I know there is something going on with the #4 cylinder as when it is just warming up, I can feel the other 3 exhaust headers heat up, except for the 4th one. Once I ride it a bit though it seems to get going and has full power throughout all gears/ranges. But when it's idling, I can pull the spark plug wire off and will only notice a slight change in engine speed, I pull any of the other 3 off and it barely runs.
Since I've bought the bike I've replaced all spark plugs, air filter, oil change, carb work, fixed a valve cover oil leak.. I think that's it on the motor side of things.
Hopefully this is enough info for someone out there to give me a few pointers of what to check out. I plan on checking the valve clearances soon, but I think they are going to be within spec because it seems the bike was well maintained before the owner passed and the bike sat for a while. I've also read that the valves on these motors don't need to be checked often (like 15-25k miles?), or something around those lines.
Thanks for any help, I'm limited on bike diagnosing specific tools and resources and trying to do this "on my own" so hopefully I can (with your help), get this figured out without having to take it to a shop. Here's a pic of it as it is now after I've installed the round headlight, drag bars, recovered the seat, bobbed front fender and eliminated rear metal fender and a ton of other small things just to get it road worthy if anyone cares ....
The issue (I believe) is only at idle. I would think it is something with the pilot circuit but I have pulled the carbs 3 times now, cleaned, replaced all pilot jets and air/fuel mix screws, plug out all passages, and they seem good. I've also synced them with a homemade manometer that seemed to work really well. Clean tank as well and checked fuel screen and it's all intact.
The bike, motor wise, is all stock. Stock air box, stock jet sizing, stock exhaust. The issue is that even after cleaning, syncing the carbs, and setting the idle speed, I still have to give it some throttle when I hit the start button to get it to keep running. Just a little throttle and just for a few seconds, but I want to hit the button and it just purrs. Once it is warmed up and ridden a bit, if I shut the bike down, it will start up on it's own (without giving it any gas), about 1/2 of the time.
I know there is something going on with the #4 cylinder as when it is just warming up, I can feel the other 3 exhaust headers heat up, except for the 4th one. Once I ride it a bit though it seems to get going and has full power throughout all gears/ranges. But when it's idling, I can pull the spark plug wire off and will only notice a slight change in engine speed, I pull any of the other 3 off and it barely runs.
Since I've bought the bike I've replaced all spark plugs, air filter, oil change, carb work, fixed a valve cover oil leak.. I think that's it on the motor side of things.
Hopefully this is enough info for someone out there to give me a few pointers of what to check out. I plan on checking the valve clearances soon, but I think they are going to be within spec because it seems the bike was well maintained before the owner passed and the bike sat for a while. I've also read that the valves on these motors don't need to be checked often (like 15-25k miles?), or something around those lines.
Thanks for any help, I'm limited on bike diagnosing specific tools and resources and trying to do this "on my own" so hopefully I can (with your help), get this figured out without having to take it to a shop. Here's a pic of it as it is now after I've installed the round headlight, drag bars, recovered the seat, bobbed front fender and eliminated rear metal fender and a ton of other small things just to get it road worthy if anyone cares ....