--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "barocky"
wrote:
>
> My 96 klr started acting up last summer. On a hard acceleration
from full stop rpms going
> up and bike lost power.
SNIP
Brian,
A couple of things come to mind; some of which is derived from list
wisdom, some from personal experience.
Quality of fuel; quality of air.
Q. Does any of this happen soon after fill up?
= fuel contamination from the source
Q. Does any of this happen when you are near or using reserve?
= fuel contamination in your tank
and,
Think about the type of fuel when the bike started acting up. Is it
gasoline or is is 10% moonshine? My bike does not like ethanol--and
I try not to feed it ethanol if I can help it.
What you can do:
1. Drain the gas out of your tank and use a national brand.
2. Drain the fuel bowl as well. (Might try this first)--try to
collect the drainage on a clean white cloth, or a small container--
which will be difficult. Watch as the 2oz of fuel drains out and see
if there are any 'bubbles' on the cloth--which will be water. Ah,
water, not part of the better-combustion-process.
NOTE
Fuel: Others may disagree--but I try only to buy a national brand if
I have a choice. ie shell, Texaco, Sinclair, vs Mom and Pop "Flash-
Bang" brand. I recently had my bike go DEAD after filling up at a
prairie gas station--no, there were no other choices. Wouldn't even
start at the pump. Required two fuel bowl emptying to start. and I
try to never buy ethanol for the bike.
Now that you have the tank empty; 3. examine the inside with a
flash light and look at the fuel filter screen--lower rear part of
the tank. Is it clean and free of debris? If there is any debris
near the screen, you are getting intermittent fuel to the bike.
= ragged running bike.
OR
remove the petcock and screen/straw. The screen is best accessible
by removing the petcock; which is best accomplished by removing the
tank. The location of the tank petcock is problematic--can be removed
with the tank in place--I have done it--but then, it is best done
with the tank removed--so as not to easily strip the bolts.
4. Fuel treatment: this is for the fouled carburetor jets and fuel
passages. Buy SEAFOAM at a place like NAPA, follow the directions.
Many on this list have had fantastic results using SEAFOAM for
cleaning up peculiar running problems. Most see good results through
one tank of gas. Be sure to follow the instructions! Get the bike
running with the treated gas, and then shut it off and let it set
overnight. You want to get the new-clean and SEAFOAM treated fuel
into all the little passages.
An alternate treatment that others have used is a Yamaha fuel
treatment. Not something that I have used, but others find it as
useful as SEAFOAM.
Now; clean air.
5. You need to remove the right large side plastic side cover, and
you will see a black 'door' held on with just one screw. Remove
that, SLOWLY--as the little gasket might be sticking and you don't
want to tear that gasket and lose water-tight integrity. Now take a
look at the condition of the air filter. It might/most likely need
to be serviced. If you have to 'spoon' out the dirt--it needs to be
serviced. If you cannot see clean-ish foam--it needs to be serviced.
6. You spoke of needing a little help/supervision; here is some:
http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html
Read this, print it off and put it in a 3 ring notebook. It will
make a big difference.
Lastly, 7. while you have the tank off, pull the spark plug and take
a look at it. If it has little particles of 'sugar' welded to the
porcelain or other internal parts of the plug, that is 'dirt' getting
to your plug. Replace the plug. and make sure the air filter is
clean!
and--in the area of general maintenance;
If you have no idea how old the plug is; replace the plug.
7a. Before you put the plug-lead back on the plug, put a little
dielectric grease on the top of the plug to improve the water-tight
integrity and the electrical connectivity.
8. Tell the list where you live, and 'ask' for help--"Is there some
one near me that could coach me along?" etc. You bike will run
better, and you will make a new friend.
Since your problem seems to be intermittent, I am betting that with
fuel treatment and carb draining, you problem will get better.
Let us know if this works, or you find something else.
revmaaatin.