[Guitarman]

Hi guys,



I'll have my first ride with my TW next weekend (can't ride legally on the roads before March 16 here). Today I drained the old fuel, put some new in(91 octane -> I know it's not necessary) and about half a can of seafoam in order to clean the carb (the previous owner did not drain it before leaving it in the shed 4 months ago). I went ahead and changed the spark plug for a brand new NGK. I started the bike and as it warmed a small pinging sound developed in the engine. When I give it some gas it seems to go away. That sound was not there last Sunday when I changed the oil and filter.



I'm wondering what can cause that sound. Bad gas? Bad plug? Bad seafoam? Bad what?



I've searched the forum and red many posts. I understand that it's "normal" for this engine to make "funny noises". But that one was not there before my little "tune up".



What do you think it is? Any idea?



My bike is a 06 with about 1500 miles on it.



Thank you!

 

[small's]

I dont think four months would do any harm to your carb. It might be the mix of 91/seafoam. I wouldnt use the sea-foam but thats just me. You put your oil filter in correct right?

 

[Rainman]

Thats a lot of Seafoam. I think its 1 oz. per gallon.

 

[rm_hm]

I second "that's a lot of seafoam" but I really doubt it hurt anything.







My bike sounds different every time I change helmets. It also likes regular unleaded (non ethanol blended) the best.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQP51za9BmM&feature=related[/media]





Fun old thread on gas



http://tw200forum.co...4/ShowPost.aspx

 

[JagLite]

Too much of a good thing, is not a good thing.

The more additive in the gas, the less gas the engine gets to burn.

Many a 2 stroke has seized because the owner mixed more oil in his gas thinking it would help lubricate.

Instead the engine runs lean and under hard use, seized.



I would drain the tank and put that gas in my car tank, then put fresh gas in the bike and go for a ride.

 

[Rainman]

It may be the higher octane gas too. I'm no rocket surgeon, but some motors don't do well on the high octane gas and actually tell you not to use it. This may be one of those cases. Plus the excess of Seafoam.

 

[assquatch20]

Drain your gas, install a fuel filter, try some 87 octane, preferably ethanol-free. After that, chase carb problems. I suppose if you're new to the bike, you could be mistaking valve noises a bit. Once you get on the throttle the taps get more constant and a bit less noticeable. So adjust your valves and cam chain just in case. Make sure you bled the screw on the head with new oil as well.

 

[TeeDubs]

Sounds like you've upset the unicorn that lives in your engine, probably why you hear that pinging noise when its horn hits the cylinder walls....I'd try putting some grass in your tank to see if he's hungry

Aaactually I agree with the rainman, my drz knocks when I put higher octane gas in...





Congrats on the TW btw, you're going to love it!

 

[Guitarman]

Thank you very much guys!



I'll definitely drain that gas and put some 87 without seafoam in it. The main reason I went for 91 is that we here too have alcohol in our gas, that's the law.



It put that much seafoam in the tank mainly because I red somewhere here on the board that it did the trick for some guys. I thought that might be a bit much too...



I don't think it's a valve noise. As I said, the four or five times I warmed the bike in the previous two months the sound was not there. It's not my first bike. I have two other Hondas and do the valves (and everything else) by myself. Checking the ones on the TW was something I was about to do. I'm just waiting to have a bit more time and better weather/temp. It's still pretty cold here (just a tad over 0C this week).



Thank you again guys, I'll drain that potion tomorrow and report here for some updates! ;-)

 

[Gerry]

Guitarman, you sound like a pretty conscientious fellow. As had been said, I would not be overly concerned about having the bike sit for 4 months. I have not used 'that' much Seafoam, but I had some issues with an XR200 and put WAY more than an ounce per gallon in it. All in all it turned out fine and now starts much easier, but still not the one kick that got it going the day I test rode it.



The TW engine is very noisey, and perhaps like a new parent, when the kid coughs it presents alot of 'what-ifs'. Sounds like you have it all under control. Enjoy. Gerry

 

[jontow]

My TW coughs a lot.. still haven't managed to figure out where the volume knob is on the radio: turning it up in in the old jeep seems to make the noises go away.

One thing I will note: my bike's engine makes a lot of hideous noises that frighten me, and the worst thing I ever did to make myself pay attention to them was install the ricochet skid plate. I love the plate, but if you, like me, have an issue with odd noises: keep in mind that skid plate reflects ALL OF THE HIDEOUS NOISES RIGHT TO YOUR EARS. Sure does help in the rocks though

As above, I'd say drain it, put some new fuel (and only a small amount of seafoam), then take it for a ride or a few and see if it evens out.

 

[Guitarman]

I drained the fuel yesterday and went for a ride this afternoon.



The noise (ping) is gone!



This kind of bike doesn't seem to like big shots of Seafoam.



I still think it's a great product!



I'm glad I learned something new ;-)



Thank you for your help guys!



It was really appreciated!

 

[jbfla]

Guitarman,



I may have to plead guilty to the 8 oz of Seafoam. I've done that before on several bikes with really gummed up carbs. On bikes with multiple carbs (inline 4's come to mind), the last thing I want to do is disassemble them. So the Seafoam is worth a shot.



These days the most I use is 2 oz per gallon, or double the standard dose, about 4 oz on a standard 1.8 gallon TW tank of regular gas.



If the carb is bad enough to need more, it really should be taken apart to do a proper cleaning.



jb

 

[Rainman]

I drained the fuel yesterday and went for a ride this afternoon.



The noise (ping) is gone!



This kind of bike doesn't seem to like big shots of Seafoam.



I still think it's a great product!



I'm glad I learned something new ;-)



Thank you for your help guys!



It was really appreciated!

Sweet. I am glad you got it running well!