What did you do to your motorcyle today?

[jetta90]

Yea Mark,......I was thinking of cutting half inch from each plug wire where the plug cap screws in.  This along with a set of plugs should help things along a little.  Pulling the carbs on this bike will not be pleasant.......actually, pulling them won't be that bad.  Putting them back on will be about as much fun as poking your eyes out with a fork.

Shawn, that could be the issue.  If so, guess I'll be poking my eyes out with a fork.

[jetta90]

If the seat assembly is pressed in and has an o ring check them. I had a 88 zx10 years ago. Bought it in in 96 with 12k ! Ran well for a few tanks and then went on a nasty miss miss blubber blubber. Gas weeping etc. Thought it was stuck floats. It ended up the bike had sat for long periods of time and the orings dried out, cracked and when some fresh gas to them they basically disintegrated. Chased my tail on that one for a while. Carbs came off easy on that as they were downdraft and the airbox hid under the tank. Concourse will be more complicated. Try the easy stuff first. Maybe even nip the high tension back a bit with a new cap?

I'm looking at spending some time with the bike later this week.  I haven't decided whether I'll pull the carbs off it right away, or just go to new plugs first and see how it works out.  Forgive my whining and procrastination, but pulling off and installing the carbs is not all that palatable to me at this point in time.

[kaw74]

Plugs and Seafoam will fix it

And don't forget the Italian tune-up ,drive the S#*t out of it,  worked for a sticky injector on a Jetta diesel  

[1000J]

My new $600 Kerker comes with barbecue paint that doesn't react well with gas from floatbowl overflow so what I did to my motorcycle today was pick up the exhaust from ceramic coat today...happy with that...not happy with Kerker

[Glenn]

 Yikes! I've done the bbq paint thing a couple times. Will do it again soon, didn't know about the gas issue, make sense though. Look forward to hearing how the ceramic works for you.

My new $600 Kerker comes with barbecue paint that doesn't react well with gas from floatbowl overflow so what I did to my motorcycle today was pick up the exhaust from ceramic coat today...happy with that...not happy with Kerker

[bear]

I used the ceramic coating on my CB1100f Vance and Hines header. So far so good. It is holding up well and looks pretty serious. Like the BBQ paint it is a bit tough to clean if riding in bad weather but the finish seems to hold up well and really requires little or no cure time. - no smoke or acrid fumes.

Bear

[1000J]

Always had good luck with ceramic, used Koolcoat in Langley for years,my headers on the Roadrunner were coated 15 yrs ago...no issues. Expected more from SuperTrapp, the Vance&Hines chrome header quality is better at half the price.

[jetta90]

If the seat assembly is pressed in and has an o ring check them. I had a 88 zx10 years ago. Bought it in in 96 with 12k ! Ran well for a few tanks and then went on a nasty miss miss blubber blubber. Gas weeping etc. Thought it was stuck floats. It ended up the bike had sat for long periods of time and the orings dried out, cracked and when some fresh gas to them they basically disintegrated. Chased my tail on that one for a while. Carbs came off easy on that as they were downdraft and the airbox hid under the tank. Concourse will be more complicated. Try the easy stuff first. Maybe even nip the high tension back a bit with a new cap?

I'm looking at spending some time with the bike later this week.  I haven't decided whether I'll pull the carbs off it right away, or just go to new plugs first and see how it works out.  Forgive my whining and procrastination, but pulling off and installing the carbs is not all that palatable to me at this point in time.

Spent a little time on the Concours tonight to see how the number 4 plug was fouling.  The end synopsis:  carbs are going to be coming out for clean and look see. 
Had lots of strong spark on all 4 cylinders.......including #4 using the fouled plug. 
Started looking at the # 4 carb - opened up the float bowl drain capturing the float bowl fuel in a clean container.  What came out wasn't all that clean. 
So decided I would remount the fuel tank and put the petcock on prime and once again opened the float bowl drain.  Drained out about 1/4 liter and the fuel was coming out cleaner towards the end of the exercise.
Left the petcock on prime to see if the needle valves/floats would hold the fuel......no go.  Pretty quick I had fuel draining out of the air filter box.  Switched the petcock to another position from prime and flow stopped, as expected.
Here is the kicker.......Kawasaki (thank you EPA) decided to eliminate the carb overflows on this model.  Without overflows and once a valve needle no longer seals in its seat, fuel will flow continuously until the fuel tank is drained.  Where will the fuel go without the existence of overflows on the carbs?  Into the air box and into the cylinders.  Number 4 cylinder had a lot of fuel in it.  This would point the finger in the direction of the needle valve/float mechanism being stuck or worn. 
Guess the carbs are coming out, I'll take a look at what the air filter looks like with all the fuel flowing into the air box, and obviously I'll change out the oil and filter.
This bike is turning out to be a lot of work....

[kilowop]

Be careful not to try starting the bike if the crankcase is full of gas/oil mix. Check the oil for the smell of gas.   Early CBX's were famous for doing the leak thing when on the side stand.  Result, Hydraulic lock, bent #1 rod.  Honda fixed the problem by putting a vacuum operated petcock on subsequent models.  I had a PINGLE manual petcock on my '81 and once I forgot to turn it off, then put the bike on it's side stand.  I was "lucky" to notice a small gas spill from the overflow, checked the oil, and yup, it was way above normal on the dipstick.  Good Luck.  Once that Concours is sorted, it will be a great bike.

[jetta90]

Be careful not to try starting the bike if the crankcase is full of gas/oil mix. Check the oil for the smell of gas.   Early CBX's were famous for doing the leak thing when on the side stand.  Result, Hydraulic lock, bent #1 rod.  Honda fixed the problem by putting a vacuum operated petcock on subsequent models.  I had a PINGLE manual petcock on my '81 and once I forgot to turn it off, then put the bike on it's side stand.  I was "lucky" to notice a small gas spill from the overflow, checked the oil, and yup, it was way above normal on the dipstick.  Good Luck.  Once that Concours is sorted, it will be a great bike.

You're right Ron.  Many of the Concours 1000 engines that expire prematurely is due to the combination of a faulty petcock and ill operating needle valve(s).  When the combined failures occur, fuel flows into a cylinder and down into the crankcases.  When the unsuspecting owner starts the engine, it's crunch time.  Hydrolocked cylinder with electric starter pumping all it can to move the crankshaft.......not a good thing.  And like you said, will usually result in a bent connecting rod.
Change out your fuel petcock every few years if you own a Concours just to be safe.  My buddy Hank did it as I suggested.
If I keep the bike I just may install overflows.

[Wheels]

Is there no off position on the Concours petcocks?     I am curious now after hearing these stories of their constant flow.
Better I do some googling but sure sounds like a recipe for disaster if they cannot be shut off.
Bad idea on an otherwise good bike??

[kaw74]

Is there no off position on the Concours petcocks?     I am curious now after hearing these stories of their constant flow.
Better I do some googling but sure sounds like a recipe for disaster if they cannot be shut off.
Bad idea on an otherwise good bike??

No shut off, on/ reserve and prime

I changed mine after Jetta told me about the problem.

I still think there is a way to put a small shutoff on them but haven't really looked since the new valve.

[Wheels]

Thanks Henry,  I have just been looking up info on them and makes me wonder why no recall by Kawasaki but I guess they can blame dirty carbs or something and not the petcocks.  A simple mind like mine would think that anytime you store gas above the carbs, or the motor for that reason some sort of gravity effect would come into action.
Was there really a need or desire to replace the off position.

Kind of reminds me of the story about the kickstarter that Trevor, Rob and I had in Gold River last week.  When kickstarters were in their demise most bikes had both options for a while then some bikes like my Z1R had it placed under the seat and tucked away for emergency use then finally most companies made them disappear for good.
Good things when they work but pain in the but when they dont.

[jetta90]

Is there no off position on the Concours petcocks?     I am curious now after hearing these stories of their constant flow.
Better I do some googling but sure sounds like a recipe for disaster if they cannot be shut off.
Bad idea on an otherwise good bike??

No off position on the petcock.  A vacuum operated petcock - has an on position, a reserve, and a prime position.  The run and reserve positions are vacuum operated and would be used when riding.  Not a bad system for people who always neglected to turn their fuel on when leaving, and off when putting the bike away.  To simplify matters, manufacturers built a vacuum operated petcock that did not need to be turned off and on.  The engine vacuum took care of that. 
The problem arises when the petcock fails (vacuum failure) and you have one or more needle valves in your carbs not sealing.  That in itself is not too big a deal.......if your carbs have an overflow to let fuel run onto the ground.  Without overflow lines however, the leaking fuel goes where gravity pulls it, and where there is no resistance........air filter box and cylinders. 
...and that's when it'll get ugly.

[MJ]

too bad you couldn't put a second shut off in the line to make it idiot proof