Loss of power

[BrianH]

I'm new to the group and in no way a mechanic. I have an 83 Venture royale that seems to run pretty decent at an idle and up to about 3500 rpm. When accelerating on flat ground or climbing even small grades it just seems to bog down. I have tried adjusting the carbs enough to get the bike running at all. The fuel tank vent seems to be good as is the backflow preventer. Previous owner said they changed the plugs, ( I have not looked at them). The carbs have not been synced yet. Hate to spend the money at the shop if it's something simple I have missed. It's a pretty clean bike, and for $150.00 I can't go wrong. Just dying to put some miles on her. She runs really good putting around town but that's about it.

[CaseyJ955]

Loss of power... Are you sure someone didnt steal it and leave a gen2 in its place?

 

Ok, just messin' about!

 

Seriously though, a synch is a good thing but first, before paying for a synch, i have never had one so far out as to have it do what you describe. I may throw out some bassics first. It sounds more like a different fuel management issue.

 

Good fuel?

How does the air filter look?

Plugs as you said, rich or lean they will hopefuly all look consistent with each other. One easy backyard way to make sure your actually firing on all 4 is the downpipe spit sizzle test when hot idling. These bikes run fairly well on only 3 cyl. More than anything else this may tell us you have spark from all 4 coils (30 yr old coils with venerable caps and connections). I have a pretty decent amount of tools at home but the only socket I have that fits the plugs is the one from the bikes onboard tool kit, hopefuly you have that.

 

I think 3500 is about where the needles start to lift, maybe closer to 4k... While you have the air filter out for inspection you can fire the bike up and look down into the carbs, as you blip the throttle all the slides should be doing the same thing, if you have a lazy one we'll need to know that. Its normal for it to cough and run like crap with the air filter out so dont let that alarm you.

 

I know you said your not an experienced wrench so these things will hopefuly be a straight forward and might give us a starting point. Do you know any other bike people around you, maybe anyone with a synch gauge that may lend a hand?

 

When you said you had to adjust the carbs to get it running at all, can you elaborate on that?

 

Oh yea, Welcome!!