So I've been chasing an engine performance issue which manifests itself as a light surging at low revs 2500 -3000 and a big flat spot when rolling on throttle lightly from cruising speed, as in transitioning form a downhill to an uphill. In hotter summer weather it gets worse.
Idles fine and accelerates hard and smooth.
I replaced the fuel pump and strainer and am waiting for a filter and packing gasket which are on back order.
Tank was spotlessly clean.
Did yet another starter valve sync (no change).
All vents are clear, and plugs replaced last year, (along with air filter), were checked and re-gapped.
While waiting for parts I thought I'd strip the body work and check ignition coil, mounts and terminals.
Found some corrosion and cleaned that up.
Next I thought I'd do a vacuum leak test around the throttle body intake boots.
Well, I found a leak, seems like it's on #1.
So I proceeded to tighten up all the boot clamps and to my disbelief I found that the lower clamps on #1 and #2 have been installed backwards with the screw heads facing the front of the bike, from which there is no access that I can see to adjust them with a long screwdriver.
Before I start contemplating TB removal to flip the clamps does anyone think it's possible to access them with the air box off and the rubber mat lifted at the front?
Either with a long screwdriver or 8 mm socket and extension(s)?
Also if i can get a tool on them do you think I can remove the screw and thread it from the opposite side so that the head is correctly oriented allowing access from behind the boot as it is supposed to be. Otherwise it's TB's off (sigh).
I'd like to tighten them up first and see if that cures the leak before proceeding further with replacement. From what I can see they look ok, not cracked.
Perhaps they were already replaced by a PO. Or a chimpanzee.
Bike is an 04 with only 17,000 km (10,500 miles).
Idles fine and accelerates hard and smooth.
I replaced the fuel pump and strainer and am waiting for a filter and packing gasket which are on back order.
Tank was spotlessly clean.
Did yet another starter valve sync (no change).
All vents are clear, and plugs replaced last year, (along with air filter), were checked and re-gapped.
While waiting for parts I thought I'd strip the body work and check ignition coil, mounts and terminals.
Found some corrosion and cleaned that up.
Next I thought I'd do a vacuum leak test around the throttle body intake boots.
Well, I found a leak, seems like it's on #1.
So I proceeded to tighten up all the boot clamps and to my disbelief I found that the lower clamps on #1 and #2 have been installed backwards with the screw heads facing the front of the bike, from which there is no access that I can see to adjust them with a long screwdriver.
Before I start contemplating TB removal to flip the clamps does anyone think it's possible to access them with the air box off and the rubber mat lifted at the front?
Either with a long screwdriver or 8 mm socket and extension(s)?
Also if i can get a tool on them do you think I can remove the screw and thread it from the opposite side so that the head is correctly oriented allowing access from behind the boot as it is supposed to be. Otherwise it's TB's off (sigh).
I'd like to tighten them up first and see if that cures the leak before proceeding further with replacement. From what I can see they look ok, not cracked.
Perhaps they were already replaced by a PO. Or a chimpanzee.
Bike is an 04 with only 17,000 km (10,500 miles).
