'01 SV650 spluttering at low revs

[DarkLord]

Howdy.

I am having an issue with spluttering at low revs when I accelerate - it is as if the fuel is just not getting through or something. I went out for a ride with a mate today and he suggested to take it up to red line as that helps to clean out the carbies, so after gassing up with 98 and putting in half a bottle of carb cleaner I ran it up to red line in first, second and third.

I heard this almighty splutter/backfire type noise as I did this and when we pulled over later my mate tells me that a whole lot of crap came out of my exhaust as I did that, which was kind of a dark brown color, which I am assuming is a good thing as its better off out than in, however it has still been spluttering at low revs since then, although seemingly not as much.

Could it be that there is just a whole lot of crap in the fuel lines and carburetors which just needs to be cleared out, and the only real way to do it is to crack it open and have a look? It had the valve clearances done a week or so ago and they are fine, it is about due for an oil and filter change as well, will that perhaps change things?

Any advice much appreciated!

Cheers

Graham

[DarkLord]

One further thing - the SV redlines at 10 and a half RPM and goes up to 13, I was red lining it today at about 11 and a half/12,000 RPM and it made that same spluttering noise and was lacking in power. I am told doing this is cleaning out the carburetors - am I right in this?

Any advice much appreciated.

Cheers

Graham

[Henk]

If you're trying to clean out the carbs, have you tried undoing the drain plugs and letting some fuel flow through?

[gwigs]

I,d check the plugs first ,dont really think redlining it with the cleaner in will do anything.If the plugs are ok I,d strip the carbs and clean them..
If you got good spark it will be fuel related.

[breakaway]

I had a similar problem with my 99 SV650S - Turns out one of the spark plug leads were lose. After taking it off, cleaning it off and reseating it never happened again.

[DarkLord]

I had a similar problem with my 99 SV650S - Turns out one of the spark plug leads were lose. After taking it off, cleaning it off and reseating it never happened again.

Cheers bro. Did you notice it happening with the silver one at all?

Runs great besides that though.

[breakaway]

Never. The only problem I had with the silver one was the fork seal and sprockets+chains, which were promptly sorted by the suzuki dealership.

[DarkLord]

That's good to hear. Total n00b question but, err.. how do you get the tank off? :o

[breakaway]

There's 2 hex screws (I think) near the steering head, and then go in the boot and grab the metal pole and then lift the tank up (it has a hinge where its bolted to the bike near the seat) - http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/howto/svs_carb_sync/svs_tankup.JPG

Once the tank is up, put one end of the metal pole into the round thing on the triple clamp, and the other end into one of the screw holes on the tank.

[breakaway]

So did you ever end up fixing this dude?

[DarkLord]

Nah man I'm a bit stumped ay. Carbs have been fully cleaned out, sparkplugs checked, oil and filter changed, valve clearances checked and I'm running 91 Octane now instead of 98.

I've taken it to a few different dealers and haven't had any luck. I notice it backfire a bit every now and then as well and when I open the throttle at times there seems to be a drag on it before the revs actually pick up, like it's a flat spot or something.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[CookMySock]

Sounds like its running a wee bit lean to me. Have you recently changed something in the air filter or exhaust department? Is it better with the choke on? What colour is the exhaust tailpipe? Does it have an aftermarket muffler on it?

Failing that, you might be up for a carb strip.

Steve

[breakaway]

Sounds like its running a wee bit lean to me. Have you recently changed something in the air filter or exhaust department? Is it better with the choke on? What colour is the exhaust tailpipe? Does it have an aftermarket muffler on it?

Failing that, you might be up for a carb strip.

Steve

Nothing changed recently, has aftermarket Scorpion can coming off standard extractors. Don't know about choke or exhaust color though.

[DarkLord]

Nothing changed recently, has aftermarket Scorpion can coming off standard extractors. Don't know about choke or exhaust color though.

I reckon that's what's doing it ay. From what I have heard from a few people after the enquiries I have made, even if the airbox is still standard, the carbs need to be re-jetted to match the can.

I'll ring around and ask tomorrow.

[CookMySock]

I reckon that's what's doing it ay. From what I have heard from a few people after the enquiries I have made, even if the airbox is still standard, the carbs need to be re-jetted to match the can.
Perhaps that is so, and everyone talks about whether the bike must be rejetted to suit the new exhaust, but I have never seen or heard of an engine misbehaving this badly because of it.

Anyway, it will be a useful, fun, and inexpensive mod to do.

Good luck!

Steve