[bwssr]

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Hi All

I have an 86 goldwing. When I go to start it I usually have to give it a little gas to get it going andthen it backfires. It happensabout 80% of the time. I have changed my timing belts and checked the timing. What else should I check?

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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You'll need to check just about everything related to ignition and carburation unless you can give more detail on the bike.

Most likely the accelerator pump is causing the problem.

Does it still backfire when the choke is on full?

Vic

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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BTW, welcome to the site. Redwing should be along soon for the official welcome, but, watch out because his dog Shep drools or is it Redwing that drools. Darn, now I forget what I was told about the drooling.

 

[wingdawg101]

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bwssr,

Welcome to the "WGGWWS"!

You shouldn't have to goose the throttle if the choke is working right!

This time of year in Wis. you shouldn't need but 1/4 choke or none at all!

Check your plugs to see if one is a different color than the others? Maybe one cylinder is loading up?

On the simple side make sure you air-filter isn't clogged up? Vacuum leaks,etc?

 

[bwssr]

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No Choke it is warmed up already when it backfires. When I start with the choke (cold start)closed I don't need to give it gas.

 

[twisty]

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bwssr wrote:

Hi All

I have an 86 goldwing. When I go to start it I usually have to give it a little gas to get it going andthen it backfires. It happensabout 80% of the time. I have changed my timing belts and checked the timing. What else should I check?

Bwssr, try a little enrichener (choke) maybe about 1/2 or 1/4. If it's backfiring througha carb (probably L/H side) that means lean. Choking it a little shouldn't hurt the starting as once you open the throttle to start it (as you said above) the choke doesn't do much with an open throttle but will help the backfire as the throttle is closed then opened again.

If it's backfiring through the exhaust then that is a different problem so let us know if it is an exhaust backfire?

There isn't an accelerator pump or pumps in those 1200 carbs so sometimes they need a little choke even when warm.

Twisty

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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Twisty, please check your notes again. 84-85's did not have accelerator pumps in the carbs but later years of the 1200did have an accelerator pump. If you can find verification otherwise please let me know where you found the info.

Also, for the record, 84-85's had 32mm carbs and 86-87's had 30mm carbs.

Vic

 

[twisty]

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Goldwinger1984 wrote:

Twisty, please check your notes again. 84-85's did not have accelerator pumps in the carbs but later years of the 1200did have an accelerator pump. If you can find verification otherwise please let me know where you found the info.

Also, for the record, 84-85's had 32mm carbs and 86-87's had 30mm carbs.

Vic

Vic, I am riding a 1986 1200 Wing right now with original carbs & no accelerator pump or pumps. I also don't show any accelerator pump or pumps in my service manuals (Honda & Clymer) & don't show any pumps in either my parts fishe or parts books.

I wish my 86 1200 had accel pumps as that would allow me to lean out the off-idle some more & pick up better fuel economy.

Where did you find the info on the 1200 having pumps? I haven't ever worked on a late 1200 California emission Wing so maybe something there but my books sure don't show it.

Twisty

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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It's good to keep the tech info precise on this site. If you look at Gold Wing history on this site you'll find reference to the accelerator pump, but, I will also check my manuals. With so many different models it leaves the door open to confusion.

Vic

 

[oldschoolgoldwing]

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does it smell rich?

And you may have an exhaust leak as another possibility.


You got raw fuel which is igniting in the exhaust system. If your bike
runs fine without a miss then i would rule out ignition. It is possible
your timing is off and it is allowing partial burn to happen in the exhaust
and burn the left over HC from the other cylinders. You can have a bad valve
or valve seat on the exhaust side allowing fuel to escape. Worse case because
you need to pull the head off.

 

[bwssr]

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It backfires thru the exhaust

 

[twisty]

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bwssr wrote:

It backfires thru the exhaust

bwssr, those old Wings use a lost spark type ignition so fire the spark plugs on both compression & exhaust.. Any fuel remaining in the exhaust system or cylinder will fire off on the first spark if air is present. You might try starting it without opening the throttle as that should lessen the air present during starting.

You could also have a slightly leaking carb & allowing fuel to drip into one cylinder.. It can also pull fuel/air into a cylinder & exhaust system from a carb on any cylinder that stops with both the intake & exhaust valve open, the hot exhaust can use convection to keep drawing through the cylinder & carb.

Things to try--

Try turning the kill switch off, then start cranking the engine, once it is cranking flip the kill switch on.

Try different choke settings to see if a different setting will kill that pop.

Try starting with less or more throttle opening.

Try either using or not using the center stand when parked hot.

Verify all exhaust joints are sealed & there are no holes in the exhaust system anywhere.

Try a different type/grade of gasoline as maybe you are getting a hot soak boiling of the fuel in the carbs.

Twisty

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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bwssr, does your wing backfire when decelerating from highway speeds?

Also was the backfiring there before you changed the timing belts?

It's not easy to diagnose a problem like this online but if you work with us there is enough knowledge and experience here to get your problem solved if you can bear with us.


Vic

 

[mag]

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You should not be on the throttle at all when starting. Hit the starter, when the bike starts to 'catch,' then open the throttle (instructions from my mechanic). You might be flooding it a little on startup, leading to unburnt fuel=backfire. Any old gas/moisture in the tank could be the culprit too. If the bike backfires on decceleration, it's probably the air-cut valve(s) on the carb(s).

 

[bwssr]

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I only get the backfire from the cycle when I start while the engine is warm or hot and I give it gas to get it to start. I also noticed that after I get done riding there is a gas smell. Also there is a rapping noise from the area under passenger pegsusually when I am going uphills and when it's hot. Now I am noticing that my starrter stalls when I go to start the bike hot or cold.

 

[wingdawg101]

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Send a PM to "Jason" he's pretty keen on troubleshooting?!:clapper:

 

[bwssr]

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Now I could not start the bike at all with the starter. It was like it didn't have enough umph so I push started it on a flat parking lot. Fun aye!

 

[Goldwinger1984]

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I'm beginning to wonder if your charging system is dying causing a weak spark and slow or no starting. Check the alternator output to be sure.

Have the battery checked by a professional, if good remove the starter and inspect the brushes, ground and lubrication.

Vic

 

[bwssr]

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OK maybe I jumped the gun. I took the battery out added acid to it and cleaned all the connections. PUt it back in and tightened all the conntections hit the startet and it started no problem. Also I put in a ec wiring harness a while back. The former owner had replaced the stator and it starting to melt the plug which prompted me to get the harness.

For the backfire I think I amy need to sync the carbs and I may also have an exhaust leak on the left side which is where it seems that the noise comes from.

 

[SilverDave]

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  Re your "leak" .............................You can tighten up the exhaust stud nuts  with  a small box wrench ... They should be "Torqued "  to 12 ft lbs, or whatever it is /forums/images/emoticons/cool.gif.. but you cannot easily get a socket on a torque wrench   in there, without  removing the fairing and crash bars ... UGH !  /forums/images/emoticons/mad.gif         I use a small  4 inch flat box wrench.. and tighten them "Thumb Tight "  which is about as much as I can easily apply with  just a single digit.. not even two ... there is a crush gasket in there , which you are tightening the headers to ..... I have cured several "Exhaust leaks "  by this simple gentle  tightening .......  a slightly rich carb, and a leaky exhaust will  indeed cause a backfiring ......                                                                                  Re Balancing :  a good mech has the  manometers to cleanly balance your carbs.. and around here, I have had that job done for less than $50  SilverDave /forums/images/emoticons/emoticonsxtra/cooldj.gif