Loud engine pop?

[Anonymous]

Hey,

Someone decided to be funny last night and knocked over my bike in the parking lot, which I'm not too happy about. :x I've tried to get it going again, but am having some trouble.

The battery still has all its liquid. A little gas leaked out of the bike while it was on its side. I tried to start it up, and for a while it sounded like only one or two cylinders were banging...not enough to keep the engine going without the starter. Finally it caught (with choke all the way out). It wasn't warmed up, so I let it continued to rev at about 3000 rpm with the choke. After maybe 20 seconds, I heard a loud pop from the engine, followed by another about five seconds later. I killed the bike and am scared to try again.

The sound almost sounded like a sledgehammer hitting a wedge (or something metal)...or like a hammer hitting a big nail...something metal hitting metal, forcefully. I don't think it was a backfiring noise, but I'm not an expert on what that should sound like.

Does anyone know what the problem might be and/or how to fix it?

Thanks.
--Tyler

[luc8421]

Because it was knocked over, I would guess it is a backfiring noise, they can sound like that sometimes. With all the gas that moved around when it was tipped over, and when you were cranking it, it'll burn off in the first few minute or two of running. I wouldn't say I'm an expert with backfiring noises either, but I've heard plenty from my bike, even seeing flames 2-3 inches out of my carbs, and 5-6 inches out of my exhaust

So are you saying you left it at the store where it got knocked over?

[Anonymous]

So are you saying I should just keep running it until it stops? I don't want to hurt anything in there, and it sounds pretty forceful.

I'm in college and my bike is kept in a big parking lot just outside of the apartment where I stay. Plenty of drunk kids around looking for fun to mess with it.

--Tyler

[DMPLATT]

Could you tell where the POPPING is coming from?

I agree, sounds like a backfire issue. If the engine is running smoothe.
Since the bike was Knocked over (fricken drunk college kids: LOL :twisted: ) You may want to check your exhaust. If it came loose, it could be causing the backfire as well. That'd be my first place to look.

BTW, my bike pops pretty good on Decel. Always has. Even with a new exhaust. Doesn't pop while running though.

Good Luck.

An idea you might try, put a cooler full of beer each night on your seat, bet they don't knock it over then. However, that'd get awful expensive. 8) 8) Cheaper just to fix the bike each time.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't tell where the popping was coming from exactly. The first time, I almost felt like I caught something moving out of the corner of my eye near the end of the right exhaust (I was standing on the left side, so I couldn't see the left side of the bike well), but by the time I reacted, I couldn't see anything. Could have been a flame.

The engine was running smoothe once I got going. I don't think the exhaust was knocked loose at all, as that wasn't even hit. I have shorter exhausts on there than the stock. The impact went to the end of the handlebars, the case guard, the rear tail light (shattered), the driver footpeg, and the passenger footpeg (since it was down). On the passenger footpeg, it actually bent it such that it tore the metal on the frame where it is attached. Made about a 3 mm hole. There's nothing important back there, so I'm hoping I can just get it welded ($$) and it won't be a problem. If they keep doing damage like that, the beer idea might not be bad, although that means I'd probably have a whole drunken party around my bike each night.

--Tyler

[DMPLATT]

If they keep doing damage like that, the beer idea might not be bad, although that means I'd probably have a whole drunken party around my bike each night.

Heregoes my idea. Then your bike will become the Temple. LOL 8)

Ok, if it was running smoothe, then the Popping won't hurt. Fire her up and check it out. You need to get her warm and ride it. Then see what you hear.

Probably going to be ok.
However, if you have some really cute Frat girls nearby, I'm sure some of these GS'rs can come and help.

[Anonymous]

I tried it again and didn't get any popping. It started up pretty quickly and I was able to drive it around the parking lot a few times with no problems. Tried some fast accelerations and decelerations as well. Must have just been burning off the extra gas.

However, if you have some really cute Frat girls nearby, I'm sure some of these GS'rs can come and help.

DMPLATT - I'm going to assume you mean sorority girls on that. And of course, wherever there's a man on a motorcycle, the girls come flocking.

Thanks for the help guys!

--Tyler

[DMPLATT]

DMPLATT - I'm going to assume you mean sorority girls on that. And of course, wherever there's a man on a motorcycle, the girls come flocking

8) 8)

[Nobby 'C ']

Tyler, if your bike gets knocked over again, prime the carbs before trying to start her as they may have drained whilst she was on her side. This would cause the bike to back fire as the float bowls fill up whith petrol while the engine is running.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I figure something like that must have been the issue. When I picked the bike up, there was some gas on the ground that had leaked out, but it hadn't come from the gas cap region, meaning it had to have come from somewhere like the carbs. Before it was knocked over, the tank was only about 1/3 full of gas.

--Tyler