Pulled the bike out Sunday for a ride after having it garaged for a month or so. Was about an hour in the saddle and noticed the bike backfiring every time I came off throttle. Rode it home (another hour) and by the time I got back it was popping while sitting in neutral at idle. Cranked it this morning to ride and was again popping at idle. I didn't want to ride it not kowing what is wrong so left it home. Any thoughts on what to check?
I have the old style cobra 2 in to 1 exhaust, power commander and have done the Cadmann mod to the air intake with rubber stoppers instead of marbles. No exhaust leaks I can find, and bike was running smooth last time I pulled it out for a ride. I'm baffled as to what is going on. Thought I would ask the board here before I go back and play with the settings on the PC. Shouldn't be the PC anyway, nothing has changed from the previous rides. Backfiring equals rich fuel mixture burning in exhaust, yes? What would change in a month? Hole in vacuum line or such?
All help appreciated. Thanks!
Check the plugs....has a waste spark system, one coil fires the left plugs, one coil fires the right plugs...one bad plug, or fouled one, and this can happen....fouled a plug on my 98" dual plug shovel years ago while on a trip to Wyoming, and it did the same thing.
Thanks, that will be my next check. Haven't had a chance to get back in the garage since I posted so will give that a try this weekend. Was afraid I had sucked a valve or something. Thanks! Greg
im having the same problem with mine,only pops at idle,or on deceledration.i took it to kawi shop,they said it has a bad fuel injector,the real bad news is kawasaki discontinued it,so now i have to find a used one,no luck so far!
interested if you fellas fixed the problem and if so how
Thanks
Quote from: jtuter on August 28, 2011, 21:44:22 PM
im having the same problem with mine,only pops at idle,or on deceledration.i took it to kawi shop,they said it has a bad fuel injector,the real bad news is kawasaki discontinued it,so now i have to find a used one,no luck so far!
That really sucks, Kawi discontinuing the injectors; I also heard that they have discontinued the fuel pump. Does anyone out there in Drifterland know of any aftermarket suppliers so we can keep our trusty bikes up and running? It would be a shame to have to park a bike over so small a problem.
Regards and such,
49Reo
The injectors are available from Bike Bandit, and the fuel pump has been upgraded to a newer design, not discontinued.
49033:
NOZZLE-INJECTION
828109 $73.00.........
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/kawasaki-motorcycle-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500r1-us-2001/o/m4418#sch66733 (http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/kawasaki-motorcycle-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500r1-us-2001/o/m4418#sch66733)
I have a question.......... can backfire / popping be caused to lean of a fuel mixture
Thanks
Yes.
TY
Tomorrow I'll be putting the bike away for the winter :'( I'll check my plugs
Tim; you can check the color of the soot in your tail pipes to see if it is running lean; I have done this by running at highway speed, say 60mph, for a few miles, then pulling in the clutch, hitting the stop button and closing the throttle all at the same time. Coast to a stop, run your finger around the inside of your pipe; there should be almost no black. Also this is a good time to check your plugs; they should be a nice tan color; sooty is rich, white is lean.
Good luck and happy Gremlin Hunting!
Regards and such,
49Reo
Quote from: Troll on November 10, 2011, 15:46:58 PM
The injectors are available from Bike Bandit, and the fuel pump has been upgraded to a newer design, not discontinued.
49033:
NOZZLE-INJECTION
828109 $73.00.........
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/kawasaki-motorcycle-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500r1-us-2001/o/m4418#sch66733 (http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/kawasaki-motorcycle-vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500r1-us-2001/o/m4418#sch66733)
Thanks, good to know.
Regards and such,
49Reo