a definite miss on one cylinder

[Hummingbird]

I bought a 2009 RSV w/Hannigan kit yesterday knowing it had a miss. I can hear and feel it when accelerating and I was hopeing it would clear up on the 220 mile ride getting home. The bike only has 7000 miles on it, starts immediately but has that miss and Im sure it is because of lack of use. I'm gonna try seafoam today but if that doesn't work I guess I'll have to replace the wires and plugs.

Is there an outlet other than dealers for GOOD wires for the RSV 1300 ? and will I need to go to tech school to change them out without screwing them up ?

 

thanks

[bongobobny]

Dick, unfortunately the wires are part of the coil and have to be replaced as an assembly. The issue may be the "guts" inside the plug cap. there is a spring and a disc inside the cap...

 

Welcome to the Hannigan club!!

[Hummingbird]

Thanks Bob

I've been running some seafoam in it today, about half a can to half a tank of gas. Took it out and ran it fairly hard for a few miles and it might be my imagination but I think some of the miss is going away.

My neighbor down the street is a jet ski mechanic and he said to run injector cleaner thu it. He said it does a better job of cleaning than seafoam. I'll try it when I get the current tank ran out.

I'm still kicking myself for selling my 2007 Venture but I'm happy now that I've got another one and with a HANNIGAN on it.

[93 venture]

Nice, hey you still have the wing?

[Carbon_One]

You're on the right path. My 09 had to have two of the coils replaced. Fortunately my 09 was still under warranty but still cost me $100 at the dealership. They charged me extra labor for it being a trike. Bummer but after them having it a month I wanted it back yesterday. LOL

Larry

[Hummingbird]

Nice, hey you still have the wing?

 

no I sold both of the Wing trikes and bought a bass boat and was watching this Venture - we finally got together and I drove it home (300 miles) Konw anybody looking for a nice Bass Boat ?

[RSTDdog]

I would be surprised if a bike with only 7000 miles on it had a bad wire or coil. Now a six year old bike with 7000 miles having a fuel related issue is much more likely. Did you get any history on the bike from the seller? Did it sit? That year and those miles it almost had to have sat at some point. That's an average of only ~20 miles a week. At that rate your are only buying gas every 8 weeks on average. If it did sit (highly likely) and carbs weren't gone through properly and thoroughly, that's most likely your issue.

 

Your troubleshoot logic is a bit flawed IMO. If seafoam doesn't fix it (treats a fuel issue), why immediately jump to plugs and wires (spark issue)? Seafoam won't fix all fuel issues. It won't clear a plugged pilot jet. Plugs may help , but only if you have a fouled plug that won't clear up/clean out. Looking at plugs will probably tell you which cylinder or cylinders are suspect because the plug(s) on the miss should look different from the others. Have you checked for cold/cool/ not as hot as the others exhaust pipes yet? That will also point you to the offending cylinder.

[Hummingbird]

I would be surprised if a bike with only 7000 miles on it had a bad wire or coil. Now a six year old bike with 7000 miles having a fuel related issue is much more likely. Did you get any history on the bike from the seller? Did it sit? That year and those miles it almost had to have sat at some point. That's an average of only ~20 miles a week. At that rate your are only buying gas every 8 weeks on average. If it did sit (highly likely) and carbs weren't gone through properly and thoroughly, that's most likely your issue.

 

Your troubleshoot logic is a bit flawed IMO. If seafoam doesn't fix it (treats a fuel issue), why immediately jump to plugs and wires (spark issue)? Seafoam won't fix all fuel issues. It won't clear a plugged pilot jet. Plugs may help , but only if you have a fouled plug that won't clear up/clean out. Looking at plugs will probably tell you which cylinder or cylinders are suspect because the plug(s) on the miss should look different from the others. Have you checked for cold/cool/ not as hot as the others exhaust pipes yet? That will also point you to the offending cylinder.

 

I certainly appreciate your input because I AM NOT a mechanic - I'm pushing the envelope to change the oil which should probably happen pretty soon. Checking the plugs will come lastly as I understand nealy everything above them has to be removed just to look at them. But when/if that happens, I will most likely replace them - needed or not

[Hummingbird]

UPDATE - I just took it out to get gas, still had a miss so I filled the tank (4 gallons) and dumped about 1/3 bottle of injector cleaner. I went for a quick (and hard) 10 mile ride and upon returning to my driveway I pulled in and sat there at idle - no miss, no hesitation on acceleration.

What was the cure ? have no idea, don't really care because the injector cleaner won't do anything but clean the carbs better than the seafoam had already done.

If the miss re-appears then I guess I need to look at the plugs.

[JetMech]

Had the same problem on my RSV a few months ago. Bike started good, idled good but stumbled on acceleration and had a noticeable miss at about 55-65 in fifth. Above 65 not so noticeable. To make a long story short, I was able to determine that something was not right with the #4 cylinder. Note that the bike idled well but after starting it cold the #4 cylinder took forever to get warm. Determined this by carefully touching and I use the word carefully the exhaust pipes where they come out of the head. Within 5 minutes #1,2,and 3 were already becoming untouchable. #4 even after 10 minutes I could still touch.

 

When I pulled the tank off to pull the #4 plug to see what type of story it was going to tell me found the wire to the coil had come slightly adrift. Not far enough away that it would never fire but close enough that it would intermittently fire. Tightened up the crimp on the blade connector and reinstalled, problem solved.

[videoarizona]

Dick,

 

I just got finished replacing plugs on my 05 RSV. It looked like a daunting task but was quite easy.

1: Driver seat

2: gas tank

3: two top engine braces on front cylinders

4: plugs

The important thing is to have the tools and patience. Take your time and think about what needs to be done next.

Oh, the front plugs come out with small socket extension to loosen, then use factory tool kit tool to remove. It has the rubber holder to hold plug and remove it or put it back. Easier than trying anything else....at least for me. Lift plug straight up into hole in frame area, tilt then pull out.

 

Lots of info here on forum...

[Hummingbird]

Had the same problem on my RSV a few months ago. Bike started good, idled good but stumbled on acceleration and had a noticeable miss at about 55-65 in fifth. Above 65 not so noticeable. To make a long story short, I was able to determine that something was not right with the #4 cylinder. Note that the bike idled well but after starting it cold the #4 cylinder took forever to get warm. Determined this by carefully touching and I use the word carefully the exhaust pipes where they come out of the head. Within 5 minutes #1,2,and 3 were already becoming untouchable. #4 even after 10 minutes I could still touch.

 

When I pulled the tank off to pull the #4 plug to see what type of story it was going to tell me found the wire to the coil had come slightly adrift. Not far enough away that it would never fire but close enough that it would intermittently fire. Tightened up the crimp on the blade connector and reinstalled, problem solved.

 

I mentioned to somebody earlier that I'm not a mechanic but your touch method makes a lot of sense (even to me) gonna go out and try it. I used to use that same method when dealing with electricity (120v) just a quick touch to see if a metal box had the short. A lot of fun on a 277v security light - ouch !

[Hummingbird]

Dick,

 

I just got finished replacing plugs on my 05 RSV. It looked like a daunting task but was quite easy.

1: Driver seat

2: gas tank

3: two top engine braces on front cylinders

4: plugs

The important thing is to have the tools and patience. Take your time and think about what needs to be done next.

Oh, the front plugs come out with small socket extension to loosen, then use factory tool kit tool to remove. It has the rubber holder to hold plug and remove it or put it back. Easier than trying anything else....at least for me. Lift plug straight up into hole in frame area, tilt then pull out.

 

Lots of info here on forum...

 

Absolutely correct - my problem is that I can never seem to find the right search word - wrong terminology I guess

 

Thanks for the info, I did get a factory tool kit when I got the Trike