Vulcan 1500 issues

Digifox · 03-17-2010, 09:18 PM

Uhg, Well i spent the whole day working on my Fathers Vulcan 1500.

Thought he had a carb issue. So what do I do?
Play with the needles and Jets and throw a set of pods on it.

Got it running PERFECTLY in the driveway. He killed it to put bolt everything back up and when he started it again is cloud of "white smoke" and a shit-ton of raw gas was blowing out of the rear cylinder(top pipe)
We just figured it was a little flooded so he took it around the block.

Got on the throttle real hard, and it started "gargling" like it was REALLY rich, but NO black smoke just the gas mist blowing out the rear cylinder.

Came back and sitting in the driveway the rear was missing really bad and just cutting out completely then started up again....like hitting the kill switch over and over again.

So Would this be me fucking up the carbs or could it be the coil dying? since there are two coils..

Its really got me baffled since its got both rich and lean symptoms...

BTW its got V&H dual pipes, and now it has Emgo pod filters.
with 120 jets are the needle on the 2nd from the top slot.

Also it's a Cali. bike and he decided to pull off the Evap shit
(it had problems prior to today...like cutting out on the road and just losing all power)

Input/thought?

No Worries · 03-17-2010, 11:01 PM

I can't remember ever seeing a Vulcan, but white smoke from the exhaust is usually antifreeze getting into the combustion chamber. I would pull the spark plugs. If the rear is clean white, I would see if the antifreeze level is low. If so, I would do a compression check and go from there.

BobTheBiker · 03-18-2010, 12:43 AM

I would just suspect a compression issue anyhow. alternately, it could be an electrical issue. have you checked the connections on the coils?

either way, its not a little thing to ignore, for certain.

Tmall · 03-18-2010, 07:09 AM

Sounds like a fouled plug to me. Obviously it could be something else, but check the little things first.

Digifox · 03-18-2010, 10:56 AM

I don't know about the coolant, I'll check it today(if i go work on it)
But he told me he did a compression test and it was within the usable range.

Last time we pulled the plugs they where just a little carboned up...well 2/4 where.
Front plugs look good..

He wants to pull the coils and check them...
Said the manual say you can do it with an ohm meter?

I'm mostly going by what he says.

Tmall · 03-18-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digifox

I don't know about the coolant, I'll check it today(if i go work on it)
But he told me he did a compression test and it was within the usable range.

Last time we pulled the plugs they where just a little carboned up...well 2/4 where.
Front plugs look good..

He wants to pull the coils and check them...
Said the manual say you can do it with an ohm meter?

I'm mostly going by what he says.

If you look at the plug, you'll be able to tell if it's firing or not. If it is, the coil should be good. If it's not, you've narrowed it down to no spark, and then all you have to do is find the cause.

Amber Lamps · 03-18-2010, 04:03 PM

For me I'm looking at the fact that it ran until you "buttoned it up"... I keep thinking about a loose wire or pinched vacuum line...

I must have multiple carbs that feed the different cylinders right? If one carb is messed up, only those cylinders would be affected.

Digifox · 03-22-2010, 12:25 PM

Well seems it was a problem with something i didnt even touch....the float.
It was just seeping past the needle and flooding out. + the plugs were fouled..
So its running good now, I am assuming since I'm not allowed to leave

03-17-2010, 09:18 PM	#1
Digifox Cl4p-Trap Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Moto: Your mom. Posts: 734	Vulcan 1500 issues Uhg, Well i spent the whole day working on my Fathers Vulcan 1500. Thought he had a carb issue. So what do I do? Play with the needles and Jets and throw a set of pods on it. Got it running PERFECTLY in the driveway. He killed it to put bolt everything back up and when he started it again is cloud of "white smoke" and a shit-ton of raw gas was blowing out of the rear cylinder(top pipe) We just figured it was a little flooded so he took it around the block. Got on the throttle real hard, and it started "gargling" like it was REALLY rich, but NO black smoke just the gas mist blowing out the rear cylinder. Came back and sitting in the driveway the rear was missing really bad and just cutting out completely then started up again....like hitting the kill switch over and over again. So Would this be me fucking up the carbs or could it be the coil dying? since there are two coils.. Its really got me baffled since its got both rich and lean symptoms... BTW its got V&H dual pipes, and now it has Emgo pod filters. with 120 jets are the needle on the 2nd from the top slot. Also it's a Cali. bike and he decided to pull off the Evap shit (it had problems prior to today...like cutting out on the road and just losing all power) Input/thought? __________________ Firm as cherries.

03-18-2010, 10:56 AM	#5
Digifox Cl4p-Trap Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Moto: Your mom. Posts: 734	I don't know about the coolant, I'll check it today(if i go work on it) But he told me he did a compression test and it was within the usable range. Last time we pulled the plugs they where just a little carboned up...well 2/4 where. Front plugs look good.. He wants to pull the coils and check them... Said the manual say you can do it with an ohm meter? I'm mostly going by what he says. __________________ Firm as cherries.

03-22-2010, 12:25 PM	#8
Digifox Cl4p-Trap Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Moto: Your mom. Posts: 734	Well seems it was a problem with something i didnt even touch....the float. It was just seeping past the needle and flooding out. + the plugs were fouled.. So its running good now, I am assuming since I'm not allowed to leave __________________ Firm as cherries.

03-17-2010, 11:01 PM	#2
No Worries Keyboard Racer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mile High City Moto: Old Superbikes Posts: 1,016	I can't remember ever seeing a Vulcan, but white smoke from the exhaust is usually antifreeze getting into the combustion chamber. I would pull the spark plugs. If the rear is clean white, I would see if the antifreeze level is low. If so, I would do a compression check and go from there.

03-18-2010, 12:43 AM	#3
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	I would just suspect a compression issue anyhow. alternately, it could be an electrical issue. have you checked the connections on the coils? either way, its not a little thing to ignore, for certain.

03-18-2010, 07:09 AM	#4
Tmall Aspiring Rapper Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Halifax, NS Moto: '12 CB1000R Posts: 3,569	Sounds like a fouled plug to me. Obviously it could be something else, but check the little things first.

03-18-2010, 04:03 PM	#7
Amber Lamps Moto GP Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,556	For me I'm looking at the fact that it ran until you "buttoned it up"... I keep thinking about a loose wire or pinched vacuum line... I must have multiple carbs that feed the different cylinders right? If one carb is messed up, only those cylinders would be affected.