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AZDragger · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject: Struggling to Start and Shift

I jsut installed forward control brackets this weekend (post in modifications section). Rode some during the weekend without issue and to work yesterday morning.

When I went to leave lastnight from work, it took forever to start, at first i didn't get anything and then I'd get a little bit and finally got it started after easing in and out of throttle and nursing it for about 20 seconds. AFter that it sounded like it was ready to die, and everytime I shifted it would like slow down and struggle to get back up to speed and go faster. Ended up on a 35 mph road going about 15 cause It didn't want to go any faster.

I torqued everythign like instructions said. On the exhaust I torqued to 20 pounds, since I had put new crush gaskets on. The back pipe had 2 gaskets on when I removed but I only put 1 back on, since it's about a week to order 1 from the local honda dealer.

Could it jsut be that I need to retorque the exhaust bolts? I really can't afford to bring it into a shop right now, due to financial struggles.
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'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/azdragger/2001%20Honda%20Shadow/

zero200 · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject:

I suppose you did a good lookover to see that you didn't accidentaly mess with any of the other hoses and screws.

Well, listen to the exhause for any noises. To be a sealing problem like that, it would have to be a pretty big leak.

Check the air filter and housing. Check the sparkplugs. You could be running on one cylinder. The sparkplugs might also show some sort of tell tale sigh bases on their condition. Check the sparkplug wires? Could have pulled one just off.

Just a thought (or thoughts).

Good luck,
Zero.

wareyin · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject:

Each pipe is only supposed to have one crush gasket. I second zero2000: check your spark plugs, and check to see if you accidentally pulled something loose when you did the forwards.

Wareyin

thACE · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

Agree, you may not have completely removed all the old gaskets, you may have bent the pipe flange, you may have ?>?>?>?>? Recheck the entire installation procedure (yes the whole thing) and by the time you are completed, you will have found the problem, ensured all the bolts are torqued as per Honda spec and had fun. (this is if your mod caused it)

Post back when completed

th ACE
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Pray, Ride often and Speak the truth; everything else will only be in your mirror.

rojo · Gray Beard Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 278 Location: conn.

Just making sure.... not out of gas are you? Put her on reserve and give it a try. I have in the past thought there was something wrong with my bike to finally realize running on empty!..... Other than that maybe the fuel filter?
rojo
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Speed doesn't kill, the sudden stop does!..... Speed invigorates the soul!

AZDragger · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 7:08 am Post subject:

I checked, the tank the first thing and it was still 1/2 full. I don't have a spark plug tool, but they were checked back in January when my bike was being fixed and were fine at that time.

I probably won't have much time to get a good look at it and fix it now, for who knows when. it's already breaking into the mid to high 100's here and I work 5 AM til 4:30 PM most days so it's to hot and I'm to tired, lol....

I also get my 2 boys next week for hte summer, so might have to wait until next season to even look at it, lol...... Oh well....... such is life....
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'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
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zero200 · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:13 am Post subject:

Ok, I understand. Just try the spark plug wires then. Could have jarred one loose easily enough.

Zero.

PlaneCrazy · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject:

Always start with the simplest things first.

Start the bike and feel each exhaust pipe near the engine. Are they both getting hot? Can you hear and air noises? If only one pipe starts to heat up, then one cylinder isn't firing. Pull the plugs (both) from that cylinder and check them and report.

You've checked the gas,

Is it old gas?

Is the fuel petcock closed? Should be up or down, not horizontal.

Actually, looking at your pics of the new brackets, it looks like your fuel petcock is in reserve. If you feed from reserve all the time, there's always a chance you are going to clog up your fuel filter as that feeds from the bottom of the tank, while the normal 'on' position feeds from a stand pipe. Try draining some fuel from the carbs, take a look at the fuel filter. If it looks kinda dark or you see debris, then I'd drain the gas tank, change the fuel filter and remove the petcock from the bottom of the tank and clean the screen that is there. Then put it back together, fill the tank up with fresh fuel and open the fuel petcock and drain the carbs until at least a pint or two of fresh fuel goes though them. Then change the spark plugs and go riding.

Since you rode the bike home from where you did the work and didn't notice anything wrong, I highly doubt you have a massive exhaust leak. A leaky exhaust gasket would cause backfires and poor performance, but not to the degree you mention here. I'm more inclined to think you have a fuel problem. I'd start there.

Always remember for any gas engine, you need three things... fuel, air and spark. 99% of troubleshooting is done just by checking those three things.
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thACE · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject:

good points!
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Pray, Ride often and Speak the truth; everything else will only be in your mirror.

AZDragger · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject:

Just filled up Sat. morning before work and always use 91 octane.
Looking at the shut off, in the down position is on, horizontal is off, and up is reserve, or atleast that's what it says on the shutoff switch.

I jsut got home and took a look and also just noticed this at where the exhaust ties into the front head:

Riding on Saturday I did get a few rocks kicked up at me from getting stuck behind a gravel truck, but looks like it broke a piece off and kinda bent that hold bracket a bit, dunno..... it sure as heck didn't look like that on Saturday morning when I did the brackets and put hte exhaust back on, so I have no clue what happened there, other then to thing that maybe somthing hit it, but I don't recall feeling anything or an impact.
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'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/azdragger/2001%20Honda%20Shadow/

PlaneCrazy · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:05 pm Post subject:

Ugg... that doesn't look good Sad

Looks like the exhaust clamp may be a bit overtorqued. But that piece that broke off looks like it was cracked for a while and only now just let go. See the edge of corrosion around the hole? That looks like it was cracked for at least long enough to rust, then the whole piece finally failed and broke off.

You did mention that the crush gaskets were hard to get out....

AZDragger · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:01 pm Post subject:

that gasket came out easily, it was the rear head that the 2nd gasket was a pain to get out.

I guess considering that crack, I don't know if it's repairable without going for a brand new engine???

IF so, I'd be better off to just sell the dang bike, lol...
_________________
'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/azdragger/2001%20Honda%20Shadow/

AZDragger · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:38 pm Post subject:

can anyone take a pic like mine of hte exhaust connection to the front head?

Want to see what it looks like factory, sinc eI didn't pay to much attention on Saturday, jsut so I can look and see if there's a way to correc tthis issue without having to do a new motor or something.......

Sorry, as it might show, I know very little about motorcycle engines.
_________________
'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/azdragger/2001%20Honda%20Shadow/

mpersfull · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:04 am Post subject:

AZ,

My front head has a piece missing like that also. I noticed it when I done my forward brackets. A year later and over 10,000 miles I have had no issues with mine.
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Mike

AZDragger · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

Think I will probably jsut try to unbolt the exhaust from the head and rebolt it up, and see if that will work to resolve that problem. In all honesty, i hadn't paid attention to that area other then putting the bolts in and tightening it, but looking on line this morning I found some 750 motor pictures, and appears to be quiet common, although I don't know why.

I'll try to do that tonight and see if that doesn't help. I will also see if I have time to check the fuel filter.
_________________
'01 Honda Shadow ACE 750: All Stock for Now
http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a210/azdragger/2001%20Honda%20Shadow/