KawasakiTrax Community
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mswyka on December 31, 2012, 04:23:39 PM
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Took our 79 Intruder for a ride yesterday - well actually I went out on the 78 but then switched for the ride home and brought back the 79. It idled fine, and ran OK, so long as it was going slow, but really refused to do anything past half throttle.
Pulled the plugs today. Both plugs look good. Compression test shows 135 on both cylinders. Swapped in a set of freshly rebuilt carbs and she ran the same way today.
Sled has 2,5XX miles and we added fresh pistons and seals in 2006.
Thoughts?
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Just wondering .. exhaust resticted?
sticky clutch?
bad bearing in the drive train somewhere?
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Does it rev up with track lifted? That may help determine if the problem is in the clutch(s), bearing, track etc.
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try using the choke or primer and see if it is a fuel related problem.
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Thank you for the suggestions. I didn't think about a clutch problem. I will check that out.
Jim, I did play around with the enrichener a bit and with the engine running adding fuel knocked down RPMs.
We also thought about an exhaust restriction. we will have to swap in a nicely tuned exhaust to see what happens.
Thanks.
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Over the weekend we were able to spend a little time with the sled. Continues to start and run reliably up to 1/2 throttle. Popped on a different primary clutch and at first I thought it ran a little better, but after a little riding I concluded that it had made no difference. That was as far as we got.
The good news for the day was that we got our 80 Intruder running after swapping in a fuel pump that would actually pump fuel.
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i'd swap exaust pipes.....
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i'd swap exaust pipes.....
Tom, glad to have you back. I will try that. I also want to talk with you about our power trim ;-)
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Spent some more time with the sled today. Our temps are warm and the snow is soft. Pulled the exhaust with the intent of swapping in another. The other one that we have with the same mounts was a little too short to fit onto the exhaust manifold. But checking the exhaust with a fish wire and blowing it out did not reveal a restriction. So it went back on and I took it for a ride. Early part of the ride it seemed to run well and could go past half throttle easily - not as much pep as the 78, but not bad. As the ride got longer it fell back to the same behavior. I am confident that it is not carbs since the carbs we took off went onto another sled and run just fine. So at this point I am suspecting that the engine needs to be torn down. Well, before I do that, the one last thing that I should probably check is whether or not the primer is leaking.
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I have '79 intruder that is behaving exactly as you have described the problems you are having with yours. I have swapped many parts with another intruder and nothing has really changed the performance. I have changed carbs, clutches, exhaust pipe, in addition to replacing the plugs and coil with new. I am suspecting air leaking in from somewhere, but carb gaskets and mounts look good. My next step was going to be to eliminate the primer lines, but now I am waiting for some snow. I am wondering if I have an engine seal leaking since this motor has been sitting for ten years?
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If the sled has been sitting, and if it has not been torn down and inspected there is a very good possibility that the sled could have one or more issues. I would encourage you to take it apart and check everything, and while it is apart to change the crank seals.
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So this evening I get a few free minutes and go out to check on whether the sled is sucking fuel through the primer. I don't know what I was thinking or expecting since all our snow is gone and I can't ride it anywhere. But I check none the less and nothing is obvious, no bubbles pulling through the system. But I put a clamp on it anyway and no major change in operation. But what I started to notice is that the engine has a distinctive "clack" It is running well enough, but there is this clacking sound like something somewhere is vibrating. Checking just about everything that I could everything points back to the engine - nothing that I check around the outside is vibrating or shaking. We need more snow.
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I have had loose bushings in a clutch make a clacking sound.
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I have had loose bushings in a clutch make a clacking sound.
I will change the clutch again and see what I get.
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Mark
Did it make the clacking sound at all rpms? or just low rpms?
The clutch would likely quiet down at higher rpms.
Lloyd
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When it runs decent cold. I would still suspect the clutch. But you did change it didn't you?
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Yes, we swapped in a clutch off of an 82 and I didn't see an appreciable difference. Might get some snow tonight so maybe, just maybe by tomorrow we can give it a plugged primer test.
As far as clacking and rpm, I guess I initially thought it was the clutch, but what was curious last night is that none of the other sleds sounded the same. I can't say much about RPMs because I kept it below 3800 so as not to engage.
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Well dog gone, if it ain't almost always in the last place you look! Since we had a little snow this week I was able to take the sled for a trail ride and lo and behold, when the primer was plugged it ran almost like its old self. We will need to get a chance to swap in a new primer and see what happens from there.
After riding the 440 Invader even if the clacking was still there I would not have heard it. That sled is really barking after this most recent rebuild.
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That sled is really barking after this most recent rebuild.
Can't say I've ever heard a Kaw bark! :D
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Once the sled is warmed up, put a hose between the primer barbs on the carbs. it won't suck in fuel and if you leave one side of the hoses extra long going to the Y piece, you can bypass the primer.
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We have had a few days of snow out here in NY. And with guests in town we put this Intruder to work and did not seem to have a problem - until tonight and now I think that we have pinpointed the problem. On a short trail ride this evening we came to a road crossing and the sled just plain refused to cross. Engine running fine, we were getting some really good belt stink. Turns out the brake was locked up. Plenty of play in the brake arm, but the brake disk didn't want to spin for anything. Good thing we were near a road, that sled was not getting home any other way without disassembling the brake caliper first. So this is apparently why the sled would run better cold than hot. After it had a chance to spin the disk must have warmed up and started to stick to the pads - or vice-versa. Some of these problems are really hard to diagnose without a little snow - which is something that we have not had much of over the past few years.
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I know you wanted to grease that rotor up so it moves easier!! (just kidding)
** Warning- this was meant as a joke. If you grease the brake rotor, it WILL NOT STOP when you apply the brakes** for those of you who might think to try this....
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I know you wanted to grease that rotor up so it moves easier!! (just kidding)
** Warning- this was meant as a joke. If you grease the brake rotor, it WILL NOT STOP when you apply the brakes** for those of you who might think to try this....
Jim, hadn't thought of that actually. What I was questioning was whether to replace in kind or to update to 81/82 chaincase, jackshaft and brake system.
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Could you swap a hydraulic brake on it?
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Could you swap a hydraulic brake on it?
I suppose I could if I had one.
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I know you wanted to grease that rotor up so it moves easier!! (just kidding)
** Warning- this was meant as a joke. If you grease the brake rotor, it WILL NOT STOP when you apply the brakes** for those of you who might think to try this....
Jim, decided just to remove the brake caliper. Has no trouble going now!
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Brakes?? we don't need no stinkin Brakes......
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Brakes?? we don't need no stinkin Brakes......
Might as well reverse direction on the track while we are at it!
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HaaHaaHaa I've read interesting things about that. :)
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What else could you do. Take the wear bars off the ski's so there is less resistance. :)
warning do not try this at home
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Had some free time yesterday so the Invader came into the garage - brake assembly cleaned up, lubed and re-assembled with fresh pads. One loop around the field and so far so good, all seems to be doing what it is supposed to do. But one inch of snow does not give us much for a test. Great traction, but the skis don't slide as easy as they should. Need some more snow. Lloyd, send some down here please.
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We have had a good few weeks - enough snow to run. This weekend softened everything up and now it is frozen pretty hard. But last Sunday afternoon was a blast. This particular sled however has decided to continue to challenge us. While we thought the primary problem was brakes, it seems to have a secondary issue. After about a half hour of good hard riding it decided to quit. Not a puff, pop or chortle! We ended up towing it back home and getting out another sled for Harry to ride. Tonight I had a little time to start looking at it - gave it a prime and pulled and off she went! I am convinced that the problem is electrical, but since it runs, we are going to need to take it out on the trail to get it hot enough to replicate the problem. We will be sure to have a tow rope this time.