So finally my bike runs.  I'd like to thank all the board members, especially WrecentWryder for the magic 3mm washers and ducatiNolan and anyone else who kept reading and replying with lots of great advice.

My bike was backfiring after lots of carb work and trouble shooting.  I was reading my bible er... clymer and it suggested checking the ignition.  Well before messing with it I checked this board and  most of those posts I got with a search were pointing to tight exhaust valves or general carb issues.  Well I decided to check spark anyways and turned out one of my plugs was serously fouled.  I went ahead and replaced them and it fired right up and ran GREAT.

I'm guessing I fouled them when I was messing with the carbs and instead of rechecking them (which I did in the beginning) I just assumed the plugs were fine and tore my carbs up for another 3 or 4 weeks trying to figure out what was wrong in there.  DOH!

Time to go run it a little (on some expired tags... Shhhh).  And lets pray it passes MD safety inspection this week.

I haven't gotten to ride it much (tags expired

Quote from: mjn12 on October 15, 2006, 12:45:43 PM
So finally my bike runs.  I'd like to thank all the board members, especially WrecentWryder for the magic 3mm washers and ducatiNolan and anyone else who kept reading and replying with lots of great advice.

My bike was backfiring after lots of carb work and trouble shooting.  I was reading my bible er... clymer and it suggested checking the ignition.  Well before messing with it I checked this board and  most of those posts I got with a search were pointing to tight exhaust valves or general carb issues.  Well I decided to check spark anyways and turned out one of my plugs was serously fouled.  I went ahead and replaced them and it fired right up and ran GREAT.

I'm guessing I fouled them when I was messing with the carbs and instead of rechecking them (which I did in the beginning) I just assumed the plugs were fine and tore my carbs up for another 3 or 4 weeks trying to figure out what was wrong in there.  DOH!

Time to go run it a little (on some expired tags... Shhhh).  And lets pray it passes MD safety inspection this week.


I haven't gotten to ride it much (tags expired

Make sure to check your plugs are your first ride. You still may be running rich. 

if it runs rich when you have it emissions tested, theres always the option of putting some alcohol in the fuel, to lean it out a bit  (shhhhhh) 

I was under the impression that MD wasn't emissions testing, I think its just safety.  I don't think my front tire is gonna pass (dry rot). Not sure what else will fail.  My fuel system is a little different too (no frame petock - fuel filter, etc).  Worst case I have another weekend of playing with it before I can get the title.

$$s

Congrats man, glad to heart you're back on the road.  It sucks when you eliminate something as a possiblily and then after fiddling arround it becomes the problem. For a little cheap insurance against having a long walk home, I'd carry a couple of spare spark plugs and a wrench in case it happens again, hopefully it won't.

Get yourself a new tire and you should be able to register it and be back on the road just in time for winter 

Glad every thing woked out in the end 

Ride safe!

Always.  Right now I've just got my shiny new helmet, some work boots and my grandpas riding jacket vintage 1970s (he bought it with his first bike).  Working on getting some gloves and eventaully a better jacket with some armor. I need more $$$.

I have a hard time getting on the bike without a helmet when I'm just moving it in my apartment parking lot.

Welcome. Good to know another GS in Baltimore area.

I drilled mine out. It still locks and opens using the key 

f4%

Even more good news, I can get around the MD inspection by just registering in ohio when I go home next weekend. I have to transfer the title but I'd have to do that down the road anyways.  I was under the impression that they wouldn't send me a title until I had an inspection done, but it showed up yesterday.

%%D

MD!!! That was a major reason for getting my bike through the dealer. It was worth the few extra hundred dollars not to have to deal with the bureaucracy.

D

I have to ask....

What's so bad about Maryland?

I love Maryland, but the MVA is a real disaster. I used to think New York was bad. It seems like there are about 48 didn't bureaucratic procedures to get every step ahead. For me, going through the dealer made life a whole lot easier. But you pay the price.

Bob

In response to rifding without a license. The dealer said to me - with a straight face - cops don't hassle motorcycles much here.

I ^

yep. Right now I'm torn between paying for MD temp plates for one more month and registering my bike in ohio when I go back there or just doing it now through my parents.  Either way I'll save the 75 on the inspection. 

I'm convinced the inspection is just there to help the evil dealers get more work. Not only do they charge for an hour of labor to essentially look at a bike and sign a piece of paper, but few clear requirements are posted and whether or not the dealer passes it seems to be based on whether or not they can trick you into letting them do some work.