Took my bike for a longish ride and it started popping

[bobotech]

I drove about 8 miles to my buddy's house and stopped there for a few minutes. Then went back to my house. While going back, there was a huge headwind that was making me really work the bike (remember, I'm a BIG guy on a GT550). I was going along and I couldn't hear much due to how much wind noise there was. It was buffeting me all over the road.

As I got near my house, I came to a stop light and the bike stalled on me while coming to the stop. I popped it in 1st gear while coming to the stop and it started back up and I had to hold the throttle at around 2k to keep it running. It was popping and just didn't sound right. Took off and about 3 blocks from my house, it started running perfectly normal again. No smoking issues even when it was popping and spitting.

Went inside and did a few things and then went back out. Started the bike up and it started up just fine and idled fine. Took it for another 1 mile ride and it was acting just fine.

What the heck could have been going on?

[Cliff]

You might just fouled a plug.

[bobotech]

Well i do know that my left cylinder runs cooler than the middle/right one. I went ahead and pulled the left and right plugs since they are easy to get at. Both of them are a nice dry chocolate brown. They look great.


Will a fouled plug clean itself or can it be caused by lugging the engine?

[Suzsmokeyallan]

You could have had whats known as a plug 'whisker'. Basically a piece of loosened old carbon partially bridges the electrode to the ground edge and the spark jumps randomly to the side and not across the gap itself.
Depending on how big it was etc, it can break away or stay there and make your life miserable until you physically remove it.
Since you've have had so many issues and the bikes obviously not been ridden any distance for such a long time these sorts of things can happen.

[bobotech]

You could have had whats known as a plug 'whisker'. Basically a piece of loosened old carbon partially bridges the electrode to the ground edge and the spark jumps randomly to the side and not across the gap itself.
Depending on how big it was etc, it can break away or stay there and make your life miserable until you physically remove it.
Since you've have had so many issues and the bikes obviously not been ridden any distance for such a long time these sorts of things can happen.

LOL "so many issues".

I sure have but I think that is just the nature of the beast with refurbishing a motorcycle that has sat for 31 years without being started.

I'm just amazed at how far I have brought the motorcycle from the brink of death. The original owner was getting ready to junk the motorcycle at our local junkyard when he asked me if I wanted it first. He was just sick of looking at it and said that "it will never run again".

[bobotech]

Took the motorcycle out for another ride today. Just about 4 miles, nothing major. It actually seems to be running better than it has been and had no hiccups. Idled fine at the stop lights and had plenty of get up and go.

[H2RICK]

Yep, you'll need to work your way through the debris left behind by 31 years of neglect. Work your way up to longer and longer trips and ALWAYS carry 3 NEW plugs AND your tools.

[Cliff]

Took the motorcycle out for another ride today. Just about 4 miles, nothing major. It actually seems to be running better than it has been and had no hiccups. Idled fine at the stop lights and had plenty of get up and go.

I drove about 8 miles to my buddy's house and stopped there for a few minutes. Then went back to my house. While going back, there was a huge headwind that was making me really work the bike (remember, I'm a BIG guy on a GT550). I was going along and I couldn't hear much due to how much wind noise there was. It was buffeting me all over the road.

4 miles? 8 miles? That's not a ride! I live in Toronto and so far this year I've gone to North Carolina, (2400 miles) Montreal, (700 miles) St. Thomas X 2, (300 miles X2) on my GT550L! Going to Montreal again this weekend!
Like Rick says, take a set of plugs and a spark plug wrench and go!! Run a few tanks of gas through the old girl then tell us how she runs!!

[bobotech]

Indeed, 4-8 miles is not a long trip however its what I am comfortable with for now.

I am enjoying the motorcycle more and more as I drive it. Took it out yesterday and today and enjoyed it.

Is the engine supposed to make noises besides the actual exhaust? Just wondering if its normal to hear noise from the engine while driving down the road. It doesn't sound bad, I just don't know what is acceptable.

[H2RICK]

Bobo, you're riding an air-cooled three cylinder two stroke engine. It has HUGE amounts of finning to get rid of the heat. These fins also act as "noise radiators" which actually fling lotsa decibels into the surrounding air. If the engine has ANY piston slap at all, this will increase the noise levels. Then, there's the primary drive noise, the oil pump drive train noise, the intake air drone through the air box and carbs, the roller bearings on the crank, etc etc & etc.
If you DON'T hear any of the above then it's time to worry.
However, if all is well, at a low idle (assuming your exhaust is in primo condition) you can actually hear the rustle of the pistons sliding in the bores if you listen closely. Such a sublime sound !!!
Of course there's some who say I need to get out more.....

[BRP Tourer]

"the rustle of the pistons sliding in the bores" ????
H2RICK, you definitely NEED to get out more!

[rbond]

H2rick, you sound like a closet romantic..... Maybe you should write a new 'Zen and the art of motorcycling'.

[bobotech]

What is the best way to prevent these fouled plugs anyways?

I drove my bike about 10 miles yesterday and again, on the way home, it started to pop and sputter a little bit. This was after driving down a large incline. I revved it up a bunch and it seemed to clear back up just fine again.

Fouled plugs are the only thing i can imagine that would be causing this.

My bike isn't smoking at all or running weird other than this once in a while popping/sputtering that clears up with revving the engine.

[650hardtail]

maybe add a healthy dose of seafoam to your gas to help clean the carbs up

[Cliff]

Pull out your plugs and have a look at them. The insulators should be a tan to dark tan colour. All three should be as you posted earlier "dry chocolate brown". If they're black, wet, soaked in oil, etc..etc.. check your air filters. What plugs are you using? B8ES? Try a set of hotter plugs, B7ES and see what happens.
Also check the screen in the petcock. It may be plugged, starving the engine for fuel! And this is a longshot, but try running the bike with the fuel cap open. It could be a plugged vent. You're only doing short runs with the bike and it's acting up!
Pop and sputter after a long downhill incline? It almost sounds like it's getting flooded, or over fueled with a closed throttle. Check your float height! Then balance the carbs.!
Whatever it is, it'll be something simple!
Keep us posted!