big red backfires

[BeastMan]

i got an 83 big red, not sure if its the original motor or not, but i likes to backfire alot.
and when i was riding i was going in 5th gear pretty fast, and it backfired really loud and lost alot of power. its done this twice. what could be the problem? rings maybe? im pretty sure it burns oil, not quite sure though, can *Edited* please help? running to lean?
i dunno, just please help me, i really need it, thanks guys

[crackshot]

Sounds like valves or timing. If it needs rings, topend needs to be rebuilt.

[crd00]

I would say its the timing because my friends xl 600 does the same thing and it was the timing, but before you get into anything serious just check all the obvious things first like the carb,plug,etc

[Tri-ZNate]

if its the stock motor and no changes to the intake and exhaust, you probably just looking at a timing issue. Its an easy fix if you have a manual.

[BeastMan]

for the timing, dont i just take of the timing chain and adjust the chain, or how would i do that, and im not sure whats on this thing, wheater its stock or not.

i went for a ride today though, it seeems that once it gets a little warm, that it wants to bog down and run really bad, maybe the carb?

[Unclediezel]

When was the Carb "REFRESHED " last?---
Get a piece of paper -draw little pictures and take notes on everything you do,this will give you a place to return to--
Sounds like lean fuel--Move the needle clip down one position and see if the symptom changes, this may not fix the problem , in fact it may make things worse, but for a start your looking for a CHANGE----you can always go back to where you started.

[xman23]

yea id say its running to lean, my 200x was doing the same because of the cold weather so i went to a bigger jet and fixed the problem

[BeastMan]

i really apeaciate the help, but im a noob at this stuff, i know some stuff about motors and what not, but i dont know how to fix it if its running lean, or how to move a needle clip, so can someone please explain?

[xman23]

well you could try putting in a new jet, on the bottom of your carb there will be a big nut and its like 17 mm and take that off, turn the gass off before you do that, then you will be able to see the jet, its 6mm and take that out and put in a little bigger jet, there like a few bucks, its preety easy to do

[Big D]

I would check for the obvious first, frayed or loose wires. Try a new plug and then look for a air leak around the carb or the intake manifold. Check the rubber thingy on top of the carb where the cable enters it and make sure it is sealing good. If you have a air leak you wont notice it as much with the choke on but once you warm it up it will become more apparent that something is wrong. If you run through all that I would then check timing and the valves. Maybe all you have to do is adjust the timing chain. jmo

[BeastMan]

well, its out and being torn down, im goin do a top end rebuild, maybe redo the whole thing im not sure yet, but ill try and get picks up, maybe on another thread