Sounds like a lawnmower and pops on the overrun.

[DorsetBoi]

My firestorm doesn't sound as fruity as other v twins, seems down on power, pops and bangs on the overrun and when in town it won't cruise at anything less than 3k revs without surging and stalling.
After a bit of searching it seems the timing may be out?. I'm happy to twirl spanners but would prefer to have someone who's done this before have a crack at this first. So are any of you local, I'm in sherborne, though if its not raining am happy to travel anywhere.
I should mention that she's black which might explain the poor performance, but I plan on changing to red which is of course the fastest colour....





Runs off to hide behind sofa, awaiting barrage of abuse etc

[mattycoops43]

Yep, colour definitely the issue here.

[Wicky]

Sounds like this special Firestorm > http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 6&p=271076

When was it last serviced esp. airfilter, plugs and carbs balancing? Has it aftermarket exhaust cans? What kind of airfilter & has it been rejetted? Is there an air leak in the intake / exhaust system? Instead of lugging it round below 3k try using a slightly lower gear. And try setting idle at about 1200rpm.

[Serlant]

when my cam timing was out it didn't pop anymore than normal, nor did it struggle under 3k, the only thing i noticed was that it may have been down on a little power, and it would not go over 7k rpm, if it will rev over 7k then its not the timing? (if you mean 180 degrees out if you mean out a tooth or two could be)

[VTRDark]

I don't know if he's referring to being 180 out but maybe a tooth or two out on one or more cams.

Popping and banging can be caused by any intake or exhaust leaks anywhere. The stalling and not cruising at low speeds could be put down to the TPS setting and carb balance or even bad jetting, also air leaks. By the sounds of it you need a good service and tune up to get things running better.

What makes you think the timing is out? Have you had the CCT's done or has it had a failure and timing played with in the past? It may be worth ruling out and dealing with the simple things first, but on the other hand there is no point in doing something like dialling in carbs if the timing and/or valve clearances are out as you will just end up doing them again afterwards. What's the mileage on the engine? is it an early modal or the later 19l tank model with the PAIR emission system. Do you know the service history of the bike?

You may be best to give the bike a good service and tune up first, get to know the bike. Do the things that Wicky has suggested. Personally I would remove the carbs, strip and clean them before balancing or adjusting the TPS. You can also verify exactly what jetting you have if you don't know. This will for sure improve things but if at a later date you find out the timing is not quite spot on you will end up doing the carbs again. But at least by this stage you will know what your dong with them.

But note these bike don't like to run at low speeds below 3000rpm and don't perform at their best.

(:-})

[leevtr]

Had the tank off lately?? Reminds me of when I put the vacuum hose back in the wrong place, could it have worked itself loose ??

[VTRDark]

Good thinking Lee.

(:-})

[DorsetBoi]

Thanks for the input everyone. Service history is unknown, air filter is standard and its a pretty pair 1998. I did an oil change when I put the replacement engine in, had the tank off to do the manual cct mod and cable tied the chain to the can sprockets so it didn't slip any teeth. It sounds like a single and won't rev past 7000 revs, feels like it hits a rev limiter. Checked all the hoses on the air box and vacuum take off and they all look fine. Will be off to Tony's asap to do the timing and change the cams to all exhausts.

[VTRDark]

It sounds like a single and won't rev past 7000 revs, feels like it hits a rev limiter

Sounds like the timing is out 180 degrees. Tony will sort it, He will most likely read this but let him know what you have said in my quote as it's not a thing that will get spotted visually. It doesn't explain the popping and banging though, unless it's not the timing but pulse generator.

(:-})

[tony.mon]

Yep, happy to lay a spanner on it to get it sorted.
Easiest thing to do is to retime it from scratch, then go from there.
As we know the cams and tensioners have been worked on it's the best place to start.
After that we can have a look at the carbs, but it's just a process of elimination, one thing at a time.

I'll need to book it in to make sure I'm available, getting fairly busy now.....which is a good thing, as I need to spend loads on the new engine....