Oh My, Could it be Coils?

[verboseone]

My bike started acting funny occasionally. It would start acting like the mixture was real lean, and then shutoff at a stop. It would start right back up. And then run like absolute garbage on the way home.

I have since had my carbs cleaned, airbox sealed, all boots (air and carb) have been replaced. Carbs have been professionally synced and adjusted.

My mechanic thinks I need to by some new needles for the carbs to get rid of a lean mixture around the 4-5 rpms. They are gonna cost a little bit. And I'm willing to do it.

But why is this in this forum?
Well I've driven my bike twice since all of this has happened. The way home from the bike shop, where I discovered 4k-5k was lean, and tonight.

Tonight was horrible. I was able to go up and down the street at my house, 1/4 mile) with only the lean 4-5. I then picked up my wife who had finished picking up her gear and attempted to drive into town.

We didn't make it half a mile down the road before we came to a red-light. At this red-light my engine died. I watched the RPM's sink lower and lower than poof. Nothing, the engine had shutoff. I was not running on choke.

I started her back up, this was real easy. I decided maybe it just need to warm up. I began to drive around keeping my RPMs above 2k to keep it from shutting off. The bike was acted horrible through the entire RPM range now. The same way it acts from 4-5k. It stutters and does not want to go. And even after it gets going it has enormous drag like I'm towing a small car. It is difficult to keep up with normal traffic acceleration.

After 10 minutes, the bike was still acting horrible throughout all the rpm's. So I parked it. Considering I just spent around $700 on carbs so I'd like to rule that out in my mind.

Could this possibly be bad coils?

[cowboyup3371]

I'd almost be willing to bet they really didn't clean and synch your carbs as well as they said. I would do that work myself first to make sure it is really done right and then start looking at coils.

But, check the voltage at the coils and make sure everything there meets the right specs.

[SqDancerLynn1]

If the bike has been sitting for a very long time ? Cleaning the carbs should also include cleaning the gas tank and checking the petcock. You could have some junk in your newly cleaned carbs. Start it up and check to see if all the pipes are hot ??

[Gonzo]

$700 on carbs??? Good gravy! What did you do, get them gold plated or something?

[verboseone]

Since I bought my bike almost a year ago, it has been a daily commuter.
The petcock has been replaced. When I sent my carbs off to be cleaned I drained the fuel tank and replaced the fuel line and vacuum line.

I paid $220 to have my carbs cleaned and bead blasted. (some ebay merchant with really good feedback for the same services)
I paid $130 for for new carb boots and orings. (just parts).
I paid $150 to have my carbs synched and new boots installed. Note some of the screws where stuck, otherwise I would have done the boots myself.(locally)
I paid $50 to have carbs readjusted to better fit my bike. (locally)
I paid $50 for new air box boots. (I performed worked)
I paid $15 for new tightening rings for carb boots. (just parts).

Alright, I guess it it closer to $600.
Guess some of the stuff I did didn't related to the carbs. (Replaced handle bar, throttle sleeve, mirrors, and grips.) $110 (I performed worked)

The guy on ebay had good feedback. I even contacted one of the other people he did work for and he said they just put the carbs right on the bike and road off.

My local mechanic didn't say the carbs looked dirty or anything. He did however mention that he can't believe the guy bead blasted my carbs and wonders if there is something stuck in a place their shouldn't be.

Compression is ok on all four cylinders. Spark occurs at all four when the bike isn't haven't problems.

[verboseone]

I contacted the merchant on ebay to let him know of my difficulties. He is willing to go over them again at not charge. (He'll even pay shipping.) So he is sticking by his work.

However, I am not convinced this is a carb problem. Could the stator or coils be causing this? Or am I wasting my time in this arena?

Note: I drove my bike to work today. It acted up the entire way. Even maintaining a steady speed and RPM it seems to hiccup.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Did you do the full rundown check of the charging system?
The tests for the coils are in the manual.

Intermittent bizarre behaviour is usually electrical.
I would guess its bad connection and a depelting battery not getting a proper charge from the regulator.

Read ye now the stator papers and go through the process in the mega welcome.

It also sounds like one coil cutting out. Check the coils, the connections to them, and the plug caps.
I had a marginal positive conncetion to one coil once and a simple spade connector fixed the problem.

[verboseone]

I'll have to test the charging system. I'm not were everything is though.


EDIT:
I think I'm just going to sell the bike.