Went for a great ride on Sunday everything was working sweet, I even passed a Hayabusa and an R1 on the Gillies. We stopped for lunch at the top pub in Ravenshoe and that's where the rot started. I left the pub and the bike started to run rough, all gears all speeds. No popping or backfiring on downhill runs just a vibration.
Someone suggested that I may have got some dirty fuel but I couldn't understand why it only started to happen halfway through the ride. I put some fuel system cleaner in and went for a blast, still not much difference so I decide to investigate.
Pulled the bike down, don't you love plastic, and started checking stuff. The fuel filter was looking pretty dirty so off to Honda for a new one, only $7.50 for an Emgo brand identical to the Honda unit, called in at Bursons for a new set of plugs and back home to get stuck in. So I put the new filter in, no difference still running like crap, new plugs.. ditto, so time to check vacuum hoses.. all seem ok. Out with the Carbtune.. hmmmm.. carbies don't seem to want to balance.. could it be the dreaded split manifold rubbers? Pulled more plastic and crap off to access the base of the carbies.. ok one of the rubbers feels a little loose, time to bite the bullet. Out with the laptop and look up the service manual section on carby removal.. hmmm dunno why people are so afraid this looks simple enough, undo the clamps, disconnect the enrichment cable, the carby drain lines, fuel line and pull the assembly out. No need to disconnect the throttle cables as there is plenty of room to swing the assembly to the side. Pulled the rubbers off and there is no sign of splits or damage but the one that appeared loose was actually a little loose so maybe it was sucking air. So after checking everything time to put it back together, hmm.. not that easy trying to line the rubbers and manifolds up but with a little gentle persuasion and leverage they finally lined up. Aircleaner back on, oh look at that the sub aircleaner is supposed to have a piece of foam in it, it's never had one as long as I've had the bike.. grabbed a P1 dust mask and cut a filter out of that until I can get an appropriate piece of foam. Time to fire up.. still running rough.. out with the Carbtune and balance time.. aha.. this time they balance, still a little rough but much better. Tomorrow the plastic goes back on and out for a run up the coast to see how it goes with brand new fuel and balanced carbs. Fingers crossed.
