Weird poser for you all.

Post by **nugget** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:46 pm

On Monday I had a ride to Ripon, Bedale, North Allerton, Thirsk and Scarborough. Bike was running beautiful. Called in at my local garage approx 1 mile from my home to fill her up ready for the next ride out. As I got a quarter of a mile from home she started to run on 3 cylinders. Got on to the drive and definately now on 3 cyl's. Now some of you are going to say bad fuel at the garage. There would have been enough in the float bowls of the petrol already in the tank to get me home.

First job I tried this morning was to see if the spark plug on the faulty cylinder (#4) was sparking. It wasn't sparking so I thought faulty plug. Changed the plug for another one and I got a spark. I also snipped a bit of the HT to make a better connection. Refitted the plug etc. Pressed starter button and still on 3 cylinders. #1#2#3 downpipes were very hot, but #4 wasn't hot at all. I swapped the HT leads over to 1 & 4 and still number 4 was still cooler than the rest.

I'm now starting to think it's a fuel problem. (Carb's) took the carb's off and gave #4 a good clean out. Fitted the carb's back on and started her up, but this time there was a bit more heat in the downpipe. I took the carb's off again and stripped them all down. As I took the diaphragm tops off I came across what looks like coal dust. See photo...

As you can see #1 is pretty clean and it gets worse as it get's to #4. What I want to know is where does this all come from???

As I continued with the carb strip. I took the diaphragms out and noticed #3 diaphragm had a big rip in it.

Luckily I have a spare set of carb's to take bits from. Unfortunaletly I've come to a halt now because I've borrowed a diaphragm from the spare carb's but it seems it's shrunk a little bit. I've read the post from Bonly1 about using Autoglym Vinyl and rubber cleaner and a tin of Williams specialist tea. I'll be going into town tomorrow morning for some Autoglym. I haven't got a tin of tea, so I'll have to find something else to use.

One question I have is could that tear in the diaphragm on #3 carb cause the problem on #4 cylinder?

To be continued.....

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:54 pm

Thought FZRs were coal fired?

Honestly, I feel your pain. All that I can add is that carbs are evil. Will be interesting to find out what it is though. Missing all the way through the rev range?

BONLY1 · Post by **BONLY1** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:21 pm

Carbs - topic of the moment it appears.
You've helped so many here Nuggit, hope you find the autoglym stuff useful and that you'll find something suitable for stretching your rubbers

But that amount of muck in the carbs???
Guess you've already checked the airbox and filter?
Something insect size been resident in there over winter and multiplied and fried?

Post by **nugget** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:25 pm

Air box is clean and it's a newish air filter. What I can't fathom out is how it gets there and why is #4 the worse?

Anychance of measuring the diameter of the tin for me so I know what I'm aiming for?

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:41 pm

If there is no sign of the dust in the airbox, then it can only have come from either the fuel or something that is already in there. Could it be bits of tank debris, tiny bits of disintegrated rubber, or something rubbing creating it?

BONLY1 · Post by **BONLY1** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:53 pm

Just measured the opening diameter of the tin that I used - it's 75mm - I couldn't find anything in the garage while originally looking and just chanced upon this, but you may find something similar around your house.
If you're near a Lewis's when shopping for the autoglym, you may well find a tin there as they're on a clearance sale, (see my original post)

BONLY1 · Post by **BONLY1** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:55 pm

And just remembered too - I searched on here when struggling and saw someone had recommended using piston ring compressor? I didn't have one, but may be a handy alternative if you don't drink Williamsons tea

Post by **nugget** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:58 pm

Air box is fine. As for tank debris I have two filters inbetween the fuel pump and the carb inlet pipe. Plus I've got the little one that hides in the T piece which is also clean. Like I mentioned. #1 had a little bit of coal dust type material. #2 had a little bit more than #1. #3 had a lot more but #4 had the most of it. If it was something rubbing you would think they'd all be the same. Something else to consider is. When I park the bike up after a ride I put it on the side stand so could something be happening while it's cooling down and the bike is on an angle/leaning on it's side stand? Hence the slight build up of coal dust from #1 to #4. Baffling to say the least???

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Wed May 24, 2017 10:11 pm

Really curious as to what this coal dust is! Might be the only way to figure out what has caused it. If you know what it is, hopefully you can work out where it came from

Post by **nugget** » Thu May 25, 2017 1:24 pm

Spent all morning putting the carb's back together and back on their mounting points.

Primed the float bowls with fresh fuel and pressed the starter button. Still on 3 cylinders. Mike (roadrunner & his friend Gordon) could be right by saying it could be a valve problem. I wouldn't mind but we've just done the valve clearances over the winter. Oh such joy.

Post by **Stig** » Thu May 25, 2017 2:54 pm

Is it worth doing a compression test before striping head off

Post by **nugget** » Thu May 25, 2017 4:34 pm

That has been mentioned stig. I may get round to doing that shortly.

It's now gone from bad to worse. It's only running on #2 cylinder now. I'm totally at a loss now with it. I've even changed the ECU over but it's still the same. I've also tried another set of coils and no change. Baffled and I've had enough today.

I don't think my bike likes the new Ohlins shock I fitted last week. I went to Ripon for a test run with it and the bike's never been the same since.

I will say the shock has made a big difference to the handling of bike, it''s just unfortunate the bloody thing won't run properly now.

Teego · Post by **Teego** » Thu May 25, 2017 4:51 pm

If you have a spare battery swap it over and see what happens.
BTW have you checked your plugs?

Post by **nugget** » Thu May 25, 2017 5:17 pm

I've no spare battery, as this one is quite new. I've tried some other plugs and its still the same. Losing the will to live at the moment. I'm laid in that candle lit room now listening to Enya.

Teego · Post by **Teego** » Thu May 25, 2017 5:56 pm

nuggitt wrote:I've no spare battery, as this one is quite new. I've tried some other plugs and its still the same. Losing the will to live at the moment. I'm laid in that candle lit room now listening to Enya.

If you see light at the end of the tunnel get the hell outta there - Its a train coming the other way.