Author Topic: Losing power after 1 hours riding on 600 K3 (Read 4123 times)

mattt · « **on:** January 30, 2006, 11:03:11 AM »

Hello, I have had my 600 K3 for about a month. I haven't had the chance to do many miles on it since the weather has been pretty crap. But ive noticed when ever I go on a ride for an hour or more I start to loose power and when I accelerate while cruising it starts to splutter and sound like its not running right. Does anyone have any ideas ?

rider123 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2006, 06:57:51 PM »

Usually but not always when a bike starts to run worse when warmed up it means it's running a little too rich. However it would happen sooner than an hour. My guess is you have a fuel delivery system problem.

Have you tried putting the petcock on prime when it starts its sputtering?

You may want to try to get the fuel down to half a tank then ride around with the fuel cap off to see if you have an air blockage in the tank. If you're running fine then that was it. (sounds like it)

Does the bike run perfectly fine for an hour then bang it starts to act up?

You're running the fuel level close to the reserve level and any turning, stopping and starting is swishing the fuel around momentarily cutting off fuel supply.

Your petcock is getting a little sticky and after the fuel is burned down enough that it's not giving as much possitive gravity pressure it's getting cut off because the vacuum assembly of the petcock is broken. Hence try "prime" when it goes all wonky.

This sounds dumb I know!! You're running out of fuel after an hour or two?

mattt · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2006, 09:18:06 AM »

ahaa, i'll give that a try, thanks. Yeh now you mention it is does seem to happen when i have about a quarter tank left or maybe less. I did have a race can on with the baffles removed and decided to put the standard can back on as i thought it was causing the problem. But i have had the same problem with the standard can. So would you recommend I keep the tank toped up till at least half full or do u think there is a problem? I will give the "Prime" a go , not such what that will do? (im a biker newbie btw).

tacoman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2006, 02:38:38 PM »

Check all your vent hoses. You may have a kink somewhere and not getting proper ventilation or vacuum. If its not venting properly you can get an air lock (gas leaves tank but no air gets in to replace it).

rider123 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2006, 05:13:19 PM »

think of it as dipping a straw in water and having your finger over the top, the water will not come out of the straw even under gravity unless you allow air to replace it by lifting your finger off the top.

You may first want to try the "reserve" setting before "prime". You may be miscalculating when reserve comes on which is usually around a quarter of a tank on most bikes. But some bikes I've owned likes reserve to come on even sooner.

Just as a hint, when something gets amiss on your bike try the "dumb" solutions first, they are usually the ones that are the problem. Now you've changed your can back to the standard and if the jetting is not changed it will screw it all up. Put that "race" can back on, it's easier than rejetting back to stock and you'll have more power. You must be horribly rich right now unless you never rejetted to the "race" can in the first place then stick with the standard can.

Changing the exhaust needs to be followed up with rejetting to take into account the freer flowing exhaust. Not doing so will make the bike run badly and could cause damage in extreme cases.

Let us know how you make out good luck.

mattt · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2006, 01:37:34 PM »

ahh thanks, youve been a great help, I will check as soon as I can (work away from home). Yes, the bloke I bought the bike off gave me a race can with it that he never fitted, not sure what make it is just a stainless with no baffles, i tried it for a bit sounds far too loud, and pops like mad lol. Ok it may have just been me running out of fuel, I have a K3 600 with the digital fuel gauge. I thought when it gets to a quarter would that be including fuel in reserve aswel? or fuel level until it gets to reserve? . Also another newbie question, Cheers for your help.

rider123 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2006, 02:14:43 PM »

The switch to the new electronic fuel guage is weird at best. You only have 5 bars in which to guage how much fuel you have. Mine seems to be a little pessimistic. When it gets down to the last bar its ok till the little fuel icon starts blinking then I know I'll need to switch to reserve soon just so the sloshing fuel doesn't cut out the engine sporatically. Sometimes it's better to put reserve on before you need it just so you don't get jittery at a bad time.

I had an '84 GS750EF with an analog fuel guage and it was much better and it was a little pessimistic too. It may be that it's fuel left till reserve I don't know, I usually go by odometer reading as well. Set one of your trip meters to zero when you fill up.

As far as the race can goes leave it off untill you get a jet kit, stick to the stock jetting for now untill you're ready to do both. The popping you hear indicates a lean condition because you'll need more fuel to be able to run that race can properly.

mattt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2006, 01:44:23 PM »

Cheers, you've been a great help. I'll start using the odometer, aswel.