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quacker_boy |
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quacker_boy Cuddle Bitch
Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 22:59 - 05 Oct 2017 Post subject: DRZ400 S low on power |
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*Tips cap*
Evening boys and girls, been a while.
Won't bore you all with a life update and just cut to the chase.
The old man has got an '03 DRZ400S which he is planning on riding from Alaska to Argentina in 2018 (Hopefully I'll be joining for some of it) and has asked me to do a couple of jobs for him.
One of the things he mentioned was that the bike was low on power. Took it for a "hoon" around the local B roads and he wasn't kidding. My '08 CRF450R was the last 'similar' bike I rode....which you could wheelie with a tug on the bars and a handful in 3rd gear. I knew the DRZ wasn't going to be that arm rip-ingly fast but Jesus, it was almost comparable with a 125 for want of a better description.
Since I was last on BCF I worked as a bike mech in a garage for 4 years so my skillset has improved considerably and I'm not afraid of tearing it apart to get to the bottom of it but before I do, I wanted to see if anyone had come across anything similar and what the solution was...a quick Google seems to throw up threads on other forums which died with no answer, or completely ridiculous solutions (one guy held the throttle open for 3 minutes, 4 times, whilst the bike was turned off, failing to see how that would achieve anything?).
Had a quick look at the plug colour and it looks like the air/fuel ratio isn't a million miles out, so I'm less inclined to think it's a fuelling problem, when idling the throttle response is reasonably quick but under load you try and wind it on for an overtake and it starts to rev, just extremely slowly....the only way I can think of describing it is it's almost like the crank flyweights are too heavy and I actually weigh 20 stone rather than 11
God knows I'm going to miss working in an actual workshop with my full toolbox and a bike lift, hence why I don't want to take it apart unless I absolutely have to ____________________ wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here. |
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jaffa90 |
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jaffa90 World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Apr 2016 Karma :
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V2 |
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V2 Nearly there...
Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Karma :
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mattsprattuk |
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mattsprattuk Super Spammer
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :
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Posted: 03:55 - 06 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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S's have the gay carb.
Get the E one.
I don't rate DRZ's from the ones I've seen out here. They burn oil and have an unjustified rep.
Compression test it. ____________________ Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith
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G The Voice of Reason
Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :
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quacker_boy |
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quacker_boy Cuddle Bitch
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G The Voice of Reason
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 12:25 - 06 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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Sorry, can't specifically help you, however when I had my DRZ400E I found this place very helpful:-
https://thumpertalk.com/forums/forum/17-dr-z-400/
My E did not have the FCR carb, it was an early model!
I seem to recall there being specific problems with the accelerator pump on the carb.
I also seem to remember there being problems with valve clearances tightening up on a regular basis.
Has the bike had the air box mod done?
Can't be any more helpful than that, never really had any running issues with mine. ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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quacker_boy |
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quacker_boy Cuddle Bitch
Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 18:17 - 06 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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G, seriously? A thumper enduro bike like the DRZ would surely be capable of wheelies. Ok I admit how well a bike pulls a wheelie isn't exactly a scientific way of measuring it's power output, but honestly man, it feels pathetic!
Suntan Sid, thanks dude...been a while since I've taken one of the diaphragm carbs apart but I didn't think they had an accelerator pump? That was what I first thought but when I had a look at the carb and saw it wasn't an FCR I ruled it out.
Valve clearances is an interesting one, I'll definitely be looking at them anyway
No airbox mod....or anything mod to the fuel/air system or exhaust system either...I just refuse to believe they feel that slow and sluggish, need to ride another one for a comparison more than anything I think. ____________________ wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here. |
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G The Voice of Reason
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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G The Voice of Reason
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 11:59 - 07 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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Relative sluggishness.
I'll offer a point of reference, my E would pull hard from a near standstill in second gear.
IME if the bike is not doing that then there's a problem.
As I recall, the stator windings can be a bit flaky, although It's unlikely that would be causing the OP's problems, especially if it's starting easily on the button. ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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G The Voice of Reason
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
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G The Voice of Reason
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 16:51 - 07 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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So OP, what sprockets does the bike have on it?
Has it been geared up and gutted for road use? ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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quacker_boy |
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quacker_boy Cuddle Bitch
Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 21:57 - 07 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies Suntan and G.
Not sure on gearing...but let's say for argument's sake it's on stock ratios. I tried to wind it on along a straight section of asphalt and it struggled to get to 55 mph.
Riding up anything more than 5/6 degree (potentially an exaggeration, but your average hill on a country B road) hill means you actually have to drop it through the box as the revs start to fall to pretty quickly.
Maybe I should have left out the bit in the OP about comparing it a CRF then but hopefully that clarifies exactly how 'sluggish' it is
I've read about the stator as well Suntan, going to be replaced before the big adventure but I doubt it's capable of causing THAT much of an issue. ____________________ wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here. |
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Suntan Sid |
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Suntan Sid World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 May 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 22:28 - 07 Oct 2017 Post subject: |
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quacker_boy wrote: | Thanks for the replies Suntan and G.
Not sure on gearing...but let's say for argument's sake it's on stock ratios. I tried to wind it on along a straight section of asphalt and it struggled to get to 55 mph.
Riding up anything more than 5/6 degree (potentially an exaggeration, but your average hill on a country B road) hill means you actually have to drop it through the box as the revs start to fall to pretty quickly.
Maybe I should have left out the bit in the OP about comparing it a CRF then but hopefully that clarifies exactly how 'sluggish' it is
I've read about the stator as well Suntan, going to be replaced before the big adventure but I doubt it's capable of causing THAT much of an issue. |
Well that doesn't sound right.
When it was on the standard gearing it had no problem pulling up steep gravel track hills.
I changed from the standard gearing, (can't remember what that was), down to 14/47. I down geared it only to get up nasty boulder strewn, narrow, steep, tracks in second gear rather than risking looping it in first!
If it starts easy enough, I'd be looking at the carb.
If it's difficult to start, as well as being down on power, I'd be looking at the valve clearances, valve timing, (is it on the original automatic cam chain tensioner or has it been swapped for a manual one), as well as checking the air filter, air box for leaks, the exhaust for leaks, cooling system, etc. etc.
Mine was an E, so I don't know if the S has a side stand cut out switch, might be worth checking that. ____________________ "Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!" |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 202 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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