| VTX 1300 Troubleshooting |
| ENGINE DOES NOT START OR IS HARD TO START |
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Possible Causes |
| 1. |
Check fuel flow to
carburetor |
Not reaching
carburetor |
- Clogged fuel line and filter
- Clogged fuel tank breather
- Sticking float valve
- Faulty fuel pump
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Reaching
carburetor |
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| 2 |
Perform a spark test |
Weak or no spark |
- Faulty spark plug
- Fouled spark plug
- Loose or disconnected ignition system wires
- Faulty ignition pulse generator
- Faulty ignition coil
- Faulty ignition ignition control module (ICM)
- Faulty engine stop switch
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Good spark |
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| 3 |
Remove and inspect spark
plugs |
Wet plug |
- Flooded carburetor
- Starting Enrichment (SE) valve ON position (open)
- Throttle Valve open
- Dirty air cleaner
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Good Condition |
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| 4 |
Start by following normal
procedure |
Engine starts but
stops |
- Improper choke operation
- Incorrectly adjusted carburetor
- Leaking carburetor insulator or manifold base
- Improper ignition timing (Faulty ICM or ignition pulse
generator)
- Contaminated fuel
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Engine does not start |
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| 5 |
Test cylinder compression |
Low Compression |
- Valve stuck open
- Worn cylinder and piston rings
- Damaged cylinder head gasket
- Seized valve
- Improper valve timing
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| ENGINE
LACKS POWER |
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Possible Causes |
| 1 |
Raise wheel off the ground
and spin by hand |
Wheel does not spin
freely |
- Brake dragging
- Worn or damaged wheel bearings
- Final gear bearing damage
- Make sure it's in neutral dummy :)
- Buy a vowel
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Wheel spins freely |
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| 2 |
Check tire pressure |
Pressure low |
- Faulty tire valve
- Punctured tire
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Pressure normal |
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| 3 |
Accelerate rapidly low to
second |
Engine speed doesn't
change accordingly when clutch is released |
- Clutch slipping
- Worn clutch disks/plates
- Warped clutch disks/plates
- Weak clutch springs
- Additive in engine oil -
like what?...chunks of concrete?
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Engine speed reduced
when clutch is released |
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| 4 |
Accelerate lightly |
Engine speed does not
increase |
- Starting enrichment (SE) valve in ON position (open)
- Clogged air cleaner
- Restricted fuel flow
- Clogged muffler
- Restricted fuel tank breather
- Go on a diet
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Engine speed increases |
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| 5 |
Check ignition timing |
Incorrect |
- Faulty Ignition control (ICM)
- Faulty ignition pulse generator
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Correct |
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| 6 |
Test cylinder compression |
Low Compression |
- Valve clearance too small
- Worn cylinder and piston rings
- Damaged cylinder and piston rings
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Normal compression |
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| 7 |
Check carburetor for clogs |
Clogged |
- Carburetor not serviced frequently enough
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Not Clogged |
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| 8 |
Remove and inspect spark
plugs |
Fouled or discolored |
- Plugs not serviced frequently enough
- Incorrect spark plug heat range
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Not fouled or discolored |
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| 9 |
Check oil level and
condition |
Incorrect |
- Oil level too high
- Oil level too low
- Contaminated oil
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Correct |
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| 10 |
Remove cylinder head cover
and inspect lubrication |
Valve train not
lubricated properly |
- Clogged oil passage
- Clogged oil orifice
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Valve train lubricated properly |
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| 11 |
Check for engine overheating |
Overheating |
- Coolant level too low
- Fan motor not working (Faulty fan motor or fan motor
switch)
- Thermostat stuck closed
- Excessive carbon build-up in combustion chamber
- Use of poor quality fuel
- Clutch slipping
- Lean fuel mixture
- Wrong type of fuel...yep...Diesel
will do funny things to a gasoline engine
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Not overheating |
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| 12 |
Accelerate or run at high
speeds |
Engine knocks |
- Worn piston and cylinder
- Wrong type of fuel
- Excessive carbon build-up in combustion chamber
- Ignition timing too advanced (Faulty ICM)
- Lean fuel mixture
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STILL not running right |
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You're screwed - buy a new
bike |
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| POOR
PERFORMANCE AT LOW AND IDLE SPEEDS |
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Possible Causes |
| 1 |
Check carburetor
pilot screw |
Incorrect |
- See section 5 of the VTX service
manual
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Correct |
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| 2 |
Check for leaking carburetor
insulator |
Leaking |
- Loose insulation bands
- Damaged insulator
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No leaks |
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| 3 |
Perform spark test |
Weak or intermittent
spark |
- Faulty spark plug
- Fouled spark plug
- Loose or disconnect ignition system wires
- Faulty ignition pulse generator
- Faulty ignition coil
- Faulty engine stop switch
- Faulty ignition control module (ICM)
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Good spark |
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| 4 |
Check ignition timing |
Incorrect |
- Faulty ignition control module (ICM)
- Faulty ignition pulse generator
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| POOR
PERFORMANCE AT HIGH SPEED |
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Possible Causes |
| 1 |
Disconnect fuel tube at
carburetor |
Fuel flow restricted |
- Restricted fuel tube
- restricted fuel tank breather
- Clogged fuel filter
- Faulty fuel valve
- Faulty fuel pump
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Fuel flows freely |
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| 2 |
Check carburetor for clogs |
Clogged |
- Carburetor not serviced enough
- Try boots or sneakers...Clogs
just look a little funny on a motorcycle
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Not clogged |
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| 3 |
Check valve timing |
Incorrect |
- Cam sprockets not installed properly
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Correct |
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| 4 |
Check ignition timing |
Incorrect |
- Faulty ignition control module (ICM)
- Faulty ignition pulse generator
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Correct |
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| 5 |
Check valve spring |
Weak |
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| POOR
HANDLING |
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Possible Causes |
| 1 |
If steering is heavy |
- Steering stem adjustment nut too tight
- Damage steering head bearings
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| 2 |
If either wheel wobbles |
- Excessive wheel bearing play
- Bent rim
- Improperly installed wheel hub
- Excessively worn swingarm pivot bearings
- Bent frame
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| 3 |
If motorcycle pulls to one
side |
- Front and rear wheels not aligned
- Bent fork
- Bent swingarm
- Bent axle
- Bent frame
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