Virago suddenly gutless!

**sunhuntin** · 27th December 2009, 18:03

mods, feel free to move to the right place... im not sure what the problem is, so just stuck it here for now. cheers.

ok, so ive been having a few troubles with the ol girl over the last few months. refusing to start etc. put a brand new battery in it about 3 weeks ago. she then failed to start on that, so borrowed the charger off a neighbour, which seems to have fixed the starting issue.
she feels like she running at about half power. normally, its fine after shes gone to the giveway 2 blocks away. today, however, she ran bad the entire way into work and home again. almost like something is strangling her. normally, pulling away from the lights, im half a block away before the cars have even moved. today, i was lucky to get across without stalling. lucky to pull away from anywhere, actually.
started her after work and put the choke on to see if it might be cold. normally, on choke, it revs like hell. today however, she was running how she normally would. tried going to reserve, even though i know the tank is full, and that made no difference either.
theres next to no reason to change gear now, as the only thing it does is stop the revving noise, no increase in speed or power. can have the throttle wound almost right round and still only going 30k. its bloody horrible. ive taken her on the open road last week and up a steep hill yesterday to try and blow out any possible blockage, but no change.

going to take her to mechanics tuesday, but i would prefer not to, so if anyone could throw some possible solutions my way, it would be appreciated. dad thinks spark plug, but we dont have the tool to change it.

thanks in advance,
signed, very frustrated

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th December 2009, 18:05

It's fouled a plug and is running on one cyl.

**sunhuntin** · 27th December 2009, 18:06

so a new spark plug should fix the issue? thanks for the quick reply.

**98tls** · 27th December 2009, 18:07

Would start with changing the plugs,clean the air filter and drain the tank,carb.

**Latte** · 27th December 2009, 18:08

+1 - when the nisser drops a plug I have to flintstone it to get off the lights

**Maha** · 27th December 2009, 18:09

I knew he was gutless right from the get-go.....

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th December 2009, 18:11

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

so a new spark plug should fix the issue? thanks for the quick reply.

Start it up...and check which header pipe is cold. Then you only need to replace the plug in that cyl!

**FJRider** · 27th December 2009, 18:15

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

Theres next to no reason to change gear now, as the only thing it does is stop the revving noise, no increase in speed or power. can have the throttle wound almost right round and still only going 30k.

thanks in advance,
signed, very frustrated

If it's reving ... but going nowhere ... it may well be the clutch..

No revs at any time ... may be the plug.

But sounds like the clutch. (my bet anyways ... )

**98tls** · 27th December 2009, 18:18

Originally Posted by FJRider

If it's reving ... but going nowhere ... it may well be the clutch..

No revs at any time ... may be the plug.

But sounds like the clutch. (my bet anyways ... )

The other plugs probably fine,and will rev,had an issue with water that turned mine into a TL500,the rear cylinder reved fine but

**sunhuntin** · 27th December 2009, 18:25

rear pipe is cold, but i always thought it was a dummy pipe and not actually hooked up? theres exhaust coming out of it though, but the two could be connected somewhere?

i shot a video detailing the noise, using choke and taking it off again. seems to be running better than it was this afternoon, but its hard to tell without taking it on the road.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th December 2009, 18:42

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

rear pipe is cold, but i always thought it was a dummy pipe and not actually hooked up? theres exhaust coming out of it though, but the two could be connected somewhere?

i shot a video detailing the noise, using choke and taking it off again. seems to be running better than it was this afternoon, but its hard to tell without taking it on the road.

On muffler may run cooler than the other...but check the pipe closer to the cyl head. Be careful not to burn your hand! If the header pipe is cold...that cyl ain't firing. I'm sticking with a fouled plug in one cyl!

**sunhuntin** · 27th December 2009, 18:57

i checked the pipes right next to the motor, and the rear didnt even get a bit warm, whereas the front was hot to the touch. gonna see if supercheap or similar are open tomorrow and get the tool to take the plug out and put a new one in. gonna be interesting. lol.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 27th December 2009, 19:00

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

i checked the pipes right next to the motor, and the rear didnt even get a bit warm, whereas the front was hot to the touch. gonna see if supercheap or similar are open tomorrow and get the tool to take the plug out and put a new one in. gonna be interesting. lol.

That being the case...you've got yaself a fouled plug alright! Nice cheap fix at least! Give me a call when you tackle the job if you need help.

(04) 8018 666

Pete