Honda Hornet - no top end, no pull - ideas?

[Richie46]

Hi chaps, any ideas, - I have a [not very well] Honda Hornet 600cc '98 42,000miles

Starts ok, recent new battery and plugs and air filter about 4k ago.

Noticed the acceleration was a bit sluggish, particularly in 4th/5th and now is very unwilling to pull beyond 4,500revs (in gear) hence top end is a sad 50mph or so - less so going up a hill.

Obviously something wrong but before I go diving in and wasting my time on the wrong part, does anybody have any ideas?? I'd rather sort myself rather than throw good money after bad by checking it in to a garage.

thanks in advance,
Richie.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Richie46]

Not revved it as far as 13,000revs(red line), but in neutral it revs out well beyond of what it can do in gear...

[FreshAL]

With my limited mechanical knowledge, it sounds like a fuel issue.

Did it used to work fine, and this problem has only recently started to happen?

Did it work fine after the air filter and plugs?

Assuming yes to the above, it's probably a carb problem and most likely a blocked main jet


Other, less likely things that I would also check (experts probably will be along soon to say these could not be the problem)
* blocked/clogged fuel filter
* blocked/clogged tank breather

[Kickstart]

Hi

It requires very little power to rev out without any load, so revving it in neutral just really shows that there is no electrical rev limiter cutting in.

Has the idle speed dropped or is it still running perfectly normally at very low revs? When it lacks power is it still fairly smooth or is it misfiring?

If it is still idling normally but just getting breathless as the revs rise then I would first check the flow of fuel (ie, look for a blocked fuel filter, tank breather, kinked fuel pipe) and also air (look for a blocked air filter). If it was fuel flow related I would expect the problem to get worse rapidly if you tried using revs (as the fuel in the float bowls got used up).

If it is misfiring then I would look at the plugs, valve clearances, individual carbs, ht leads, etc.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Richie46]

[Marcg868]

My Hyosung is also doing a very similar thing. Its had spark plugs changed,oil changed,air filter and spark plugs. Carbs have been cleaned also.

It idles well, but bogs when revving in neutral and has a lack of power and very jerky when riding.

So will be watching this topic with intrest.
____________________
JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[FreshAL]

[Marcg868]

[MarkJ]

Definitely just check for kinked/blocked lines first

[chris-red]

[MarkJ]

Good idea chris but a bit difficult with Hornets, the entire filler cap comes off when you unlock it as it's not hinged onto the tank. Suppose you could hold it on with a bit of gaffer tape though