Popping, cracking and backfiring

[Cricket]

I got some on camera just not downloaded yet. I will. She's a beauty. I will be that one to talk to folks I'm not a rude butt.. Lol.

[CDNRatMan]

 Just keep smiling and the thought that you love your bike, because the first time people stop you to talk and you want to ride unless you are a total jerk and rude you will have to talk to the masses as they converge on you...lol....have fun and enjoy it........

oh any pictures?

[Cricket]

We'll I believe we got her fixed. Got air filter changed and left the choke out a little bit longer and she runs great. Ty for comments. Looking forward to riding it this year. I'm new to this so I'm learning as I go..love my bike..

[CDNRatMan]

 If you took the pipes off, then check the head gaskets and that they are on tight. I had issues at the end of the season with popping and back firing but it was due to the pipes having loosened off over the summer.

[Cricket]

It has new fuel in it. I'm going to get new filter today and try that for sure. The only other thing we did is took the pipe off and took a home made baffle out of it. We wound up putting it back in to. When we pushed the plug wires back on they are all the way down and pop.

[greenbarn]

Seems odd it was OK for the first 15 miles, but then of a sudden, NOT OK. Did you change ANYTHING else?  add fuel?  adjust carb?  have any hoses off?  Sure you have the "choke" knob pushed in?  Check the plug wires to make sure they're on all the way and not switched?

I once added about a half-gallon of fuel to the bike to make sure I could get it into work, and re-fuel at the gas station.  Turns out someone had previously put diesel fuel in the gas can.  The Drifter didn't like that too much...

[CDNRatMan]

  ok not a mechanic but try to help you with this till Troll or one of the smart lads show up.......
how old is the fuel in the bike? in the carb?
If the air filter is dirty it will not hurt to change it or at least clean it.
I would run a bit of Seafoam through the fuel lines and see if that helps.

[Cricket]

I just recently bought a 2003 Drifter 800. It ran good when I got it. We changed the oil, filter and plugs top off coolant. Now I rode it bout 15 miles it was fine. Parked it for about 3 hours got on it to come home it wouldn't idle it popped and cracked backfired and missing really bad. When I would go up a hill I had problems get up it. So when I finally got home we checked the new plugs and they we're sutt black. So that means it's running rich. What do I do? The Ir filter is dirty. Do u think if I change air filter it will clear up or is it something else?