Who let the horses out?

[Gingernutz]

My poor old fzs600 foxeye has a problem. Someone snuck in overnight and left the barn door open so half the horses have focced off. She is fine up to 60 then slower than normal getting to 75 and then tops out at 80. Power delivery is smooth - no lurching or funny noises - but she feels  like a restricted bike. On the plus side I havent seen mpg figures like these for ages. 240 to a tank. The bike is a 2003 and done 60k miles.

So gurus whatcha reckon? 

[stevierst]

You need to pull the wire a bit more :D:D:P

[BBROWN1664]

carb icing? Is the problem there all the time?

Blocked airbox?

Blocked exhaust?

[Gingernutz]

Thanks Bob - she lives in the garage so won't be iced. Exhaust is bog standard and not messed with so should be okay. I'll change the air filter at the weekend and see if that helps

[noggythenog]

Im pretty sure ive read a few posts recently giving simillar symptoms and it was just down to the air filters needing changed.


Managed to find one of the threads but im sure theres been mire than that recently.


http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,14147.0.html

[darrsi]

+1 for air filter


K&N time i reckon. 

[Gingernutz]

Thanks guys - sounds like my problem is early stages of the one described. New k&n ordered will fit this weekend

[BBROWN1664]

Thanks Bob - she lives in the garage so won't be iced

Carb icing happens when your riding it. Damp air going through the carbs causes ice to build up inside the carbs. The FZS has water heating to stop this happening but it sometimes gets blocked.

[Paul]

It sounds like it's more than a partially blocked air filter.

[Jules-C]

Fuel pump problem or dirty fuel filter?

[richfzs]

I was wondering fuel supply - but dismissed as that would lead to stuttering, which Paul says he isn't getting?

[darrsi]

Could always just pull the filter out and take it for a quick spin, preferably not in a sand storm. 

[His Dudeness]

I was wondering fuel supply - but dismissed as that would lead to stuttering, which Paul says he isn't getting?

It wouldn't have to stutter at lower speed, it could be that the fuel supply can't keep up with the demand at higher speed/revs. Happened to me once on a long motorway ride, it just ran out of puff above a certain speed and then it started to slow and eventually it ran the carbs dry. If it was a blocked air filter you'd probably see a drop in mpg which you're not so that might point more towards a lack of petrol.

[stevierst]

Slightly kinked fuel hose? Seen it before in another bike where it was restricting revs.
Has the tank been lifted recently?

[darrsi]

Fuel tap fully on?

[Gingernutz]

New k&n filter arrives tomorrow so I'll know soon enough! In answer to the questions - tank hasn't been off for ages ....... The air filter is due to be changed - its a k&n that's been on the age a long time  .

Rather more embarrassingly I have figured out what is partly/mostly responsible. I've had heated grips for three years but now for some odd reason the glue on the throttle side has slipped and the grip moved around 90 degrees. The cable then started fouling at the back so the reason it was smooth and I was getting good fuel economy was I have been at most 3/4 throttle.  I'll know in the morning what the difference fixing it makes- I doubt it's the whole issue but with a new air filter this should sort it. My excuse for not noticing the grip is that I have muffs on -  beware the ginger numpty

[darrsi]

 

[His Dudeness]

I was wondering fuel supply - but dismissed as that would lead to stuttering, which Paul says he isn't getting?

It wouldn't have to stutter at lower speed, it could be that the fuel supply can't keep up with the demand at higher speed/revs. Happened to me once on a long motorway ride, it just ran out of puff above a certain speed and then it started to slow and eventually it ran the carbs dry. If it was a blocked air filter you'd probably see a drop in mpg which you're not so that might point more towards a lack of petrol.....from not turning the throttle enough

^ Forgot to add the last bit At least it was something easy to fix!

[Gingernutz]

Well gave it a decent blast on some private roads obviously -  wouldn't get over three figures but happy enough at that- reckon that was how I dislodged the grip - twisting past the stop point. Will give her a service tomorrow if I get the chance and see if things improve.

[Gingernutz]

Didn't know they made air filters in black ............  glad I changed it - even after fixing the grip the top speed was down to two figures. I reckon that is how I broke the grip trying to push the grip past the stop point.(on that private road I visit)

[noggythenog]

Top results happy times love you long time fair play


You gotta be happy wi that though really.

[Gingernutz]

True enough mate a few days ago I thought it could be properly focced. When they go over 60K you can't be spending big bucks to keep them on the road.

[darrsi]

That private road you obviously frequent a lot, wouldn't be a coal mine perchance?
You have a black air filter, i've never seen that before. 

[darrsi]

You're gonna give your bike a lung transplant, if you got on my bike and gave the throttle a bit of welly you'd be straight on your arse! 

[Punkstig]

Why did you replace the k&n with a new k&n- they're made to be cleaned and re-oiled!
'recharge kits' as k&n call them are readily available from Halfords which includes cleaning fluid and oil enough for several amounts of cleaning of the filter!