• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

weird backfiring all of a sudden

  • Thread starter Thread starter defwack
  • Start date Start date
D

defwack

Guest
As of today, my 1980 GS850G is making a wierd backfiring noise. It sounds high-pitched, almost like it's got a bit of a whistle to it. I just changed the oil and filter yesterday, so could that be causing this? It seems to be coming out of the left side only.
 
The head gasket looks good, and there's not even any seepage coming from it. I don't know much about the mechanical stuff though, so it could be that and I can't see it.

I just went and took it around the block, and the sound only seems to happen when I'm slowing down or idling. It sounds like a backfire, but not quite. It's not as deep or booming as that, and actually it's quite high-pitched and sudden.

If you ever listen to mp3 music, it sounds like when an mp3 "skips" and that's the best way I can describe it.

As for the air leak... what is that and is there anything I can do to fix it?
 
Check the exhuast over for holes. He is referring to an airleak on the exhuast system. It may be at the header gasket. An air leak will cause a backfire on decel.

Allen
 
What about a hole in the exhaust under the bike? I did notice a small hole right around where the H-shaped exhaust connector is under there. That's also kind of where it sounds like the noise is coming from.

Can I repair that easily, and will it cause damage to the bike when it pops like that?
 
mine has popped before, I have holes in the exhaust. Since the weather has gotten warm it has gotten worse. I think its just something ill have to deal with untill I fix my exhaust and adjust the valves.
 
That could be your problem. If they are small you may be able to seal it with JB weld or exhaust putty. JB Weld runs about $6 at Walmart.

My old virago had straight pipes that would make it pop on decel. With the holes down there that is essentially what you have.

Allen
 
Thanks for the input. I'm going to clean it all up and take a good look down there tomorrow. It just surprized me how sharp and loud that noise was... sounds like a bottle-rocket firecracker going off. I thought a piston was about to come shooting up through the gas tank the first time I heard it!
 
That is an exhaust leak for sure. Take a good look and try to seal it all up. I have made patches from tin cans and used JB weld to glue them on. Some tape to hold it while it sets up it a must. There is also JB Quick which is 5 minute weld. The other stuffs needs 24 hours to cure.

You may find that the entire crossover is rusted out.

Allen
 
Just out of curiosity, what causes the noise when it backfires like that? I mean, how does a hole in the pipe cause it to do that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top