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Kind of a stupid title, but that's basically the issue.
I use my 78 550 as a commuter, which generally consists of a 10k round trip jaunt to work and back (makes for a rusty tailpipe) during which it runs like a top. On weekends or evenings I sometimes take her for a rip along the coastline, nothing more than 30k or so, for which she runs awesome. Yesterday I rode from here in Victoria B.C up to the north end of Nanaimo, about 120k from my door. Fun ride, nice day, so I really gave 'er. She started acting fuel starved at about the 100k mark, but I new I was pushing the bottom of the tank, so I flipped it to reserve and things got a little better. Shortly before getting to my destination, I was getting some crazy clatter above 5000 rpm, coming from somewhere in the engine... still plenty of power tho, so I took it easy...
After about a 20 minute rest while I bartered for a banjo, I went to fire her up. Stalled out with the first try, so I hit the starter again and used more throttle and she ran fine. Little high idle (1500) but ran fine.
Running home I took it easy, as I was wearing a banjo for a backpack, but during the trip I got colder and more impatient to get home and wound the cruise speed up to about 130. I was going up a particularly steep part of the Malahat and the motor started sounding really clattery, loud enough to hear at 130k. I backed off and made it home, dropped off my banjo then got back on to go grap a six pack. REALLY hard start. I was kicking it, which usually works first kick, but this time it took 4 or 5, kind of like when she's been sitting for a while. Ran fine power wise, but still clattery above 5000.
Started her up this morning, and she was fine. Exploded to life instantly, and ran exactly as always.
Bit of a novel, but anyone got some ideas? I'm embarrassed to say I've never adjusted the valves since ownership and I've put 10000k on her, which due to that alone is my first guess... Plugs are fine, caps and points are fresh, air cleaner's fine, good volts...
thanks for any advice
I use my 78 550 as a commuter, which generally consists of a 10k round trip jaunt to work and back (makes for a rusty tailpipe) during which it runs like a top. On weekends or evenings I sometimes take her for a rip along the coastline, nothing more than 30k or so, for which she runs awesome. Yesterday I rode from here in Victoria B.C up to the north end of Nanaimo, about 120k from my door. Fun ride, nice day, so I really gave 'er. She started acting fuel starved at about the 100k mark, but I new I was pushing the bottom of the tank, so I flipped it to reserve and things got a little better. Shortly before getting to my destination, I was getting some crazy clatter above 5000 rpm, coming from somewhere in the engine... still plenty of power tho, so I took it easy...
After about a 20 minute rest while I bartered for a banjo, I went to fire her up. Stalled out with the first try, so I hit the starter again and used more throttle and she ran fine. Little high idle (1500) but ran fine.
Running home I took it easy, as I was wearing a banjo for a backpack, but during the trip I got colder and more impatient to get home and wound the cruise speed up to about 130. I was going up a particularly steep part of the Malahat and the motor started sounding really clattery, loud enough to hear at 130k. I backed off and made it home, dropped off my banjo then got back on to go grap a six pack. REALLY hard start. I was kicking it, which usually works first kick, but this time it took 4 or 5, kind of like when she's been sitting for a while. Ran fine power wise, but still clattery above 5000.
Started her up this morning, and she was fine. Exploded to life instantly, and ran exactly as always.
Bit of a novel, but anyone got some ideas? I'm embarrassed to say I've never adjusted the valves since ownership and I've put 10000k on her, which due to that alone is my first guess... Plugs are fine, caps and points are fresh, air cleaner's fine, good volts...
thanks for any advice
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