Ginny sudden loss of power?

[sunhuntin]

scuffs been a running a bit funny this week, so i took her out for a 40k ride in the country to try and blow whatever shit out of her.
stopped for a drink and made to come home. took 3 tries to start [she refused to turn over] headwind on the return journey.
coming around a corner, there was like a "block" in the engine...dunno how to describe it really. revs died instantly, had enough momentum to get me off the road. took about 4 tries to start, during which i flicked to reserve....i knew it wasnt petrol, as she jumps and struggles when shes running low.
got back into town....got petrol, took another 3 tries to start at the station. went to a mates house for a few hours, took 2 tries to start.

shes due for a service [9900-odd ks] so will get her booked in this week. but in the mean time, has anyone else experienced this? i did on my old bike, but that was crap in the carb from the tank...scuffy is less than a year old.
rather worrying being stopped about 20k from town with no cellphone. i stayed on 80k the whole way back, just in case.

[Ixion]

When you say "refuses to turn over" , do you mean like a flat battery - 'uhh uhhh uhhh uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ". Or do mean that the engine was "tight".

I assumne it seems OK when it is running ? Since you were able to maintain 80kph? Or does it seem down on power also.

Does turning the lights on and off make any difference?

[MVnut]

sudden loss of power..............didn't know they had any:lol: :banana:

[sunhuntin]

When you say "refuses to turn over" , do you mean like a flat battery - 'uhh uhhh uhhh uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ". Or do mean that the engine was "tight".

I assumne it seems OK when it is running ? Since you were able to maintain 80kph? Or does it seem down on power also.

Does turning the lights on and off make any difference?

think the engine was tight...shouldnt be battery...she runs every day, literally, and usually in 100k zone once a week.
seems ok when running, other than shuddering now and then. kinda like when getting low on petrol, when not as violent, and been going a week or so now.
power does seem low around town, sorta like theres a blockage.
80k was mainly cos of the worry of conking out and being stuck, plus headwind prevented me going any faster.

[Ixion]

Got plenty of oil in it ?
No funny noises ?
When it died on the road, did the motor just stop . No misfires, coughing etc?
Did the rear wheel lock up?

[paturoa]

when you stopped did it smell different?

when was the last time it had a service and a new plug?

[sunhuntin]

Got plenty of oil in it ?
No funny noises ?
When it died on the road, did the motor just stop . No misfires, coughing etc?
Did the rear wheel lock up?

yes...oil was checked prior to leaving...done nearly 5000k and hasnt needed any.

no funny noises...engine just stopped...revs dropped instantly. no rear wheel lock up. would have likely fallen over, as i was coming out of a corner.

thanks ixion :chase:

paturoa, service due this week for 10,000k. last service was 5000k. is likely a tad overdue as lost speedo for 5 weeks, but shouldnt be out by 1000k. didnt have time to do any smelling, but didnt notice anything.

[paturoa]

has it been out in any heavy rain lately?

[Ixion]

Hm. Could be nothing much, but I don't quite like the sound of it.
Sudden loss of power usually indicates electrical problems , which would tie in with hard starting.
But the "tight engine" thing sounds worrying.
Having said that , I've known such things be as simple as a plastic bag in the tool box coming loose and blocking the air intake.

But, if it's going in for service this week I'm sure they'll sort it.

[sunhuntin]

has it been out in any heavy rain lately?

no more so than usual...i ride in all weather, but havent had any major rain lately.

ixion..im not certain in the tight engine...it was the closest out of that and battery. tool kit is kept in the top box, so not that. ill book it in monday after work, and hopefully drop it in tuesday morning...walk to work and pick it up after.

only thing ive done different is give it a thorough clean, but that should have any affect.

[DingDong]

You rode it 40k... I dont think its doing what Ixion's suspecting... (but I might be wrong)

It's a simple engine... If you ride in the rain alot or leave it parked outside, it could just be a rusty (and shorting) solinoid (sp?) or condencer, maybe a starter switch problem.

The service should pick those up easy... could be as simple as a faulty plug or lead too.

Worse case... generator,starter motor poked or Ixion's theory... but Id think those engines would run more than 10,000k before you had to go there.

Hope it works out for the best

[sunhuntin]

You rode it 40k... I dont think its doing what Ixion's suspecting... (but I might be wrong)

It's a simple engine... If you ride in the rain alot or leave it parked outside, it could just be a rusty (and shorting) solinoid (sp?) or condencer, maybe a starter switch problem.

The service should pick those up easy... could be as simple as a faulty plug or lead too.

Worse case... generator,starter motor poked or Ixion's theory... but Id think those engines would run more than 10,000k before you had to go there.

Hope it works out for the best

lives in a lean to...it is parked outside at work cos there is no sheltered parking, but have never had any problems starting, other than taking longer to warm up. even when camping i put the fly over her and not the tent, lmfao.

hopefully nothin too major...

[Ixion]

No, I don't really think so. If it tootled back home at 80kph there can't be too much wrong .

No chance that you knocked something loose in that cleaning ? Like a spark plug cap or something?

[sunhuntin]

dont think so...i stay pretty well clear of the engine, other than the lower cases. the fins dont clean up easy, so they stay dirty, lol.

[gamgee]

Any chance of the carbs being blocked?

[gamgee]

I'm just thinking along the lines of the shitty chinese build quality, I wouldn't be suprised if the tank is rusting out and blocking the carbs

[MidnightMike]

3 words,

GET A VOLTY.

Hahahah ahaha. :p

[Mom]

I'm just thinking along the lines of the shitty chinese build quality

It really is a shame the GN is a seemingly poor quality, mass produced, cheap import bike.......cos they are a great starter ride.
they used to be so good......
mine was housed inside, cleaned, serviced, polished.......you name it
I had,
rust (shit that pisses me off) nice shiney chrome with rust showing through
head light bulb blown first 200 kms
gear position indicator light not working
intermitent miss.......back fires on de-acceleration (that was funny though)

would still recommend one as a cheap introduction to the commuter market though

[DingDong]

The engines are sweet tho... It could be an air prob, idle screw has wound out, the inlet manifold is loose (it'd back fire) or the float pin is stuck in... I'm sure a service will sort it out... or a KB member with a little know-how

[Titanium]

Sounds like it could be a bad fuel fill, old fuel, water in the fuel or something along those lines. could be a dirty or failing plug, loose spark plug cap .... Loose earth wire?

[WINJA]

Check The Battery Terminals Are Tight , Throw A Cup Of Meths In The Tank , If That Dont Fix It Seek Profesional Help

[sunhuntin]

cheers guys. she was running fine today, so could have been petrol related i guess....maybe old fuel? been a couple of weeks since i last filled [around town due to work riding only lately...no time for a good blat] but i buy my petrol from work, and have had no complaints from customers on that end...

[Mr. Peanut]

Are you riding with the tap on reserve? - Dont

[sunhuntin]

Are you riding with the tap on reserve? - Dont

nope...tap stays on full time...only on reserve if i know im running out, or like yesterday, and am unsure. i never ride on reserve unless im going to fill the tank cos its dead empty. hardly ever need that side of things cos i generally keep her well topped up.

[kro]

Start with the basics. My experience is the most simple explanation is often the right one. Rip the spark plug out, and make sure it's not carboned up, and giving a weak spark. When single cylinder bikes get a carboned plug, the spark is weak, and there are no extra cylinders to help keep the bike going, so you notice it immediately.

There could be a crack in the insulator of the plug (the white ceramic part that the black plug cap sticks onto), as that is more common than you realise, and will produce symptoms like yours. After that i would pull the fuel hose off the carb, and make sure a good flow of fuel coming out.

After that I would look at the carburettor, and then the electrical system.

That's all I can offer.

[sunhuntin]

Start with the basics. My experience is the most simple explanation is often the right one. Rip the spark plug out, and make sure it's not carboned up, and giving a weak spark. When single cylinder bikes get a carboned plug, the spark is weak, and there are no extra cylinders to help keep the bike going, so you notice it immediately.

There could be a crack in the insulator of the plug (the white ceramic part that the black plug cap sticks onto), as that is more common than you realise, and will produce symptoms like yours. After that i would pull the fuel hose off the carb, and make sure a good flow of fuel coming out.

After that I would look at the carburettor, and then the electrical system.

That's all I can offer.

cheers kro....had her serviced a week ago... they mentioned nothing out of the ordinary, they did replace the spark plug though.

having a minor bit of trouble with the battery now... [see thread under electrical in the repair boards] she failed to start going to another station, got jump started by a manager, and my boss brought his charger in and charged. shes run sweet since, but had trouble starting tonight.
im gonna try and get out for a long run tomorrow, weather permitting [its raining right now, was hailing].