front wheel bolt threads

[Dan Jones]

1998 KLR 650 14,000 miles Symptoms: Low power Beginning to run hotter High fuel consumption So far I have cleaned the air filter, carburator and changed the spark plug. Problem seems to be getting progressively worse. I "think" the head gasket is beginning to leak. No unusual smoke or coolant/oil mix noticed....yet Was running fine, but I first noticed I was not able to hold freeway speeds. From easily crusing at 70-75 MPH, now I am WOT all the time to try to hold 70 MPH. Initially, the temp seemed OK, but now seems to run hotter (middle of the guage instead of near the low temp mark). Symptons have been noticed for the past 300 miles or so. Motor does run smoothly, starts easily, just low on power. 2 or 3 times the motor has lost complete power for an instant. Sort of a hiccup. Lasts long enough to jerk the bike (like running out of fuel) then runs smoothly again. I am trying to order a head gasket and it is time for a valve adjustment. Am I right on the head gasket developing a leak? Could it be the compression release thing sticking? Are KLR heak gasket leaks common or unusual? I do run the thing pretty hard on the highway and almost never off-road. Is there any thing I should be careful in changing the gasket? (I have replaced head gaskets on bikes, cars, etc..but never on a KLR and by no means am I an expert mechanic). Thanks Dan Jones

[Judson D. Jones]

Start with the easy stuff: drain the float bowl, check the petcock vacuum line and the carb and tank vents.Disconnect the fuel line from the petcock and crank the motor to see how much fuel flows. Is there an in-line fuel filter that could be impeding fuel delivery? It could be tight valves, but you will usually encounter some stalling and poor idle before any significant power loss occurs. Have you worked on the bike recently? Look there for a problem. Do you have a dragging brake piston? Is the brake lever jammed against a lever protector? What makes you suspect the head gasket in the absence of white smoke or mixed fluids? Does the engine smoke either on the overrun (rings), or on acceleration (usually guides)? If none of the above, suspect ignition, perhaps a bad ground somewhere.

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Walt" wrote: > First thing I would do is check the valves. If they are tight with close to > no clearance or no clearance at all you probably found the problem. > > Walt > A14 "War Horse" > > > > > 1998 KLR 650 > > 14,000 miles > > Symptoms: > > > > Low power > > Beginning to run hotter > > High fuel consumption > > > > So far I have cleaned the air filter, carburator and changed the spark > plug. > > Problem seems to be getting progressively worse. > > > > I "think" the head gasket is beginning to leak. > > No unusual smoke or coolant/oil mix noticed....yet > > > > Was running fine, but I first noticed I was not able to hold freeway > speeds. > > From easily crusing at 70-75 MPH, now I am WOT all the time to try to hold > > 70 MPH. Initially, the temp seemed OK, but now seems to run hotter (middle > > of the guage instead of near the low temp mark). > > > > Symptons have been noticed for the past 300 miles or so. > > > > Motor does run smoothly, starts easily, just low on power. > > 2 or 3 times the motor has lost complete power for an instant. Sort of a > > hiccup. Lasts long enough to jerk the bike (like running out of fuel) then > > runs smoothly again. > > > > I am trying to order a head gasket and it is time for a valve adjustment. > > > > Am I right on the head gasket developing a leak? > > Could it be the compression release thing sticking? > > Are KLR heak gasket leaks common or unusual? > > I do run the thing pretty hard on the highway and almost never off-road. > > Is there any thing I should be careful in changing the gasket? (I have > > replaced head gaskets on bikes, cars, etc..but never on a KLR and by no > > means am I an expert mechanic). > > > > Thanks > > Dan Jones > > > >

[Dan Jones]

> Start with the easy stuff: drain the float bowl, check the petcock > vacuum line and the carb and tank vents.Disconnect the fuel line > from the petcock and crank the motor to see how much fuel > flows. Is there an in-line fuel filter that could be impeding fuel > delivery?

Done most of that. I "think" it is not a fuel delivery problem because of excessive fuel consumption.

>It could be tight valves, but you will usually encounter > some stalling and poor idle before any significant power loss > occurs.

That's what I thought, although another lister brought that up. A valve adjustment check will certainly be done, before pulling the head. I would not of thought valves could tighten up so rapidly as to have good power one day and a significant loss of power the next day.

> > Have you worked on the bike recently? Look there for a problem. > Do you have a dragging brake piston? Is the brake lever jammed > against a lever protector?

Yes. Installed new tires, (Kenda 270's replacing Distanzia's, I suppose that could account for a slight drop in power, but not what I am seeing). Also, the brake pads were worn excessively. New pads are ordered but not received yet. I will recheck for the pads binding.

> > What makes you suspect the head gasket in the absence of > white smoke or mixed fluids? Does the engine smoke either on > the overrun (rings), or on acceleration (usually guides)?

That the bike is starting to run much hotter than normal, is why I suspect a head gasket beginning to leak. There is no noticable smoke. I have not yet examined the fluids closely. Visual at the coolant overflow and at the oil sight glass shows nothing unusual.

> > If none of the above, suspect ignition, perhaps a bad ground > somewhere.

Possibly. I don't want to tear apart the engine, if I don't have too, but I am pretty much at a loss on what to check next. Not sure how to check the ignition. I tend to rule ignition out because the bike starts easily and runs smoothly. I will look for tight ground connections as I begin to work on the engine. Is there any way to check compression on these engines? Also, if I check the valve settings, and still decide to pull the head, will the valve settings change upon reassembly, in other words, will it be safe to order the valve shims as I start to disassemble the engine or would it be better to wait until everything is back together? Thanks Dan Jones

> > --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Walt" wrote: > > First thing I would do is check the valves. If they are tight with > close to > > no clearance or no clearance at all you probably found the > problem. > > > > Walt > > A14 "War Horse" > > > > > > > > > 1998 KLR 650 > > > 14,000 miles > > > Symptoms: > > > > > > Low power > > > Beginning to run hotter > > > High fuel consumption > > > > > > So far I have cleaned the air filter, carburator and changed > the spark > > plug. > > > Problem seems to be getting progressively worse. > > > > > > I "think" the head gasket is beginning to leak. > > > No unusual smoke or coolant/oil mix noticed....yet > > > > > > Was running fine, but I first noticed I was not able to hold > freeway > > speeds. > > > From easily crusing at 70-75 MPH, now I am WOT all the > time to try to hold > > > 70 MPH. Initially, the temp seemed OK, but now seems to > run hotter (middle > > > of the guage instead of near the low temp mark). > > > > > > Symptons have been noticed for the past 300 miles or so. > > > > > > Motor does run smoothly, starts easily, just low on power. > > > 2 or 3 times the motor has lost complete power for an > instant. Sort of a > > > hiccup. Lasts long enough to jerk the bike (like running out of > fuel) then > > > runs smoothly again. > > > > > > I am trying to order a head gasket and it is time for a valve > adjustment. > > > > > > Am I right on the head gasket developing a leak? > > > Could it be the compression release thing sticking? > > > Are KLR heak gasket leaks common or unusual? > > > I do run the thing pretty hard on the highway and almost > never off-road. > > > Is there any thing I should be careful in changing the gasket? > (I have > > > replaced head gaskets on bikes, cars, etc..but never on a > KLR and by no > > > means am I an expert mechanic). > > > > > > Thanks > > > Dan Jones > > > > > > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ

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[ED]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Devon Jarvis wrote:

> > > JStotler wrote: > > > > Are the front wheel nuts reverse threaded? > > > > It could just be that the nuts on this bike are cranked down

mighty

> > tight, but I don't want to put too much pressure on them if

they're

> > reverse threaded. I've pulled the pin and tried to loosen them,

but no

> > go so far. Can't find anything in my manuals on it. > > >

Had the same problem with my rear nut. I about blew a nut trying to remove it, but then when I torqued it back on, I thought I was misreading the figure, sixty something I think. Was hoping I wasn't leaving it way too loose. I haven't lost a wheel or anything yet, so I must have got it right. Fireman Ed A17