RVF 400 Engine Chugging on acceleration HELP!

[jamieleemc]

hi, i started my rvf up a few days ago. i only bought it the day b4 and it was fine on the short ride home, no issues at all. put it in the garage overnight at a friends, started it up the next day after work and as soon as i took off, the engine was chugging in every gear, no power in low revs, wouldnt accelerate right at all so slow. even at high revs there was still chugging noise. i rode it at 50mph the whole way home sh*tting myself incase it blew up lol! The guy i bought it from had it in his gargage and only done 50 miles in 7 months.

my thinking was the fuel needs drained, the carbs drained and cleaned, new air/oil filter and oil change would fix this problem as it may be old fuel causing the problem and dirty carbs? someone help me please im a novice with these old bikes, mine is in mint condition otherwise, not sure on year. only has 17k miles on the clock and previous owner had since 06. he didnt put many miles on it from owned, maybe 2000k at most.

is there anything else this could be? also im nearly sure (though it could have been other cars/lorries) that i smelt a very brief like burning oil smell, and it went away in seconds, and when i had stopped 13miles after at home there was no burning smell. bike starts first time with choke on 1st start and 1st time after that with no choke once warm. doesnt seem to be running rich or lean.

[skinnydog0_0]

Hi,
It could be a number of things i think.
Does the noise come from the engine itself if so where?
Is the battery fully charged?
Is the speedo working correctly?
Did it do anything when you first rode it to suggest what it may have been?
Is it out of fuel (need to go on to reserve)?
Do you have a haynes manual, it could be your rectifier/genny playing up and you may need to test it?

Good luck with it i am sure it will be something fairly easily fixed

[jamieleemc]

It was coming from the front of the bike more so like under the steering if you know what i mean.

The guy had it on a trickle charge every night for years i think, on an off but i never got to check the battery b4 buying so maybe! prob could do with being changed it was on the to do list anyhu!

Speedo fine, nothing first time i rode it, and took it out 7 months ago as well when he first had it for sale and it was fine then, the back brakes are a bit crap but ill fix that in time when i get the money, front brakes are fine.

I know the reg/rec causes problems most time in these bikes so that was on the list to change anyways. but getting a multimeter tonight and checking the battery!

No the guy said it had a near full fuel tank, which makes me think its being sitting from last year! needs drained i think. didnt think to ask at the time how long it was in there.

how do i test the rec/reg?

[jamieleemc]

i think i may maybe have guessed something..

the day i bought it it was warming up for a couple of mins b4 the choke was put off, but yesterday i put it off near staright away and it was still cold, like after 30 seconds, so im thinking now it was running rich?

[CMSMJ1]

You need to be more specific dude.--we'll sort you out, but chugging?

Does it idle OK?
Does it rev (up to say, 6k) in neutral?

With it sitting for so long you need to change the fuel and you are probably going to have to clean the carbs out too. it is not too much of a ballache, you do it once...and then the job is a good'un

Is it actually making any clacking or clunking noises? Have you checked oil level?

Be concise, eliminate the obvious issues - shit fuel, clocked carbs, no oil...

[jamieleemc]

it DID idle ok, but took it out a run today and warmed it up and now the idles a bit off, ive the bike apart now after that ready to clean the carbs.
it revs right up, but there is a like drilling noise around the 5-6k mark, and it makes that noise and chugging noise when on the road, front end/handle bars feel like there vibrating??..
i looked in the fuel tank, it was full but completely spotless inside, near like new no rust at all. i put fuel additive in it when i stopped at a bike shop. made no dif.
ive looked into the cams they arent apart yet, but the inner tubes look clean, no sign of anything, just a a bit of clear grease on them, but they could have been cleaned with just carb cleaner and they havent been taken apart to do it right?
The air filter is bogging, ive taken it off and will replace it. havent checked the oil filter yet. but the oil level is dead on and the oil is clean. so is the collant.

It always starts first time i just dont get it!

I checked the battery and it is fine to, does 13 on off and 13.95 when running, that is ok?

[Cammo]

it revs right up, but there is a like drilling noise around the 5-6k mark, and it makes that noise and chugging noise when on the road

You sure it's not just the whining sound of the gear driven cams?! That noise is more noticeable at certain revs.

Are you letting it warm up properly before trying to rev it out or ride it? All of mine won't rev properly at all when they're cold, and often run like turds if you try to ride them rapidly when cold.

Cleaning out the carbs and jets would be a smart move.

I think your best bet would be to take it to someone that's familiar with these bikes to put your mind at ease. There might be a forum member nearby to you that's willing to help out?

[trademe900]

I think you have to give a more accurate description of 'chugging'... what the hell is that?

For this kind of thing, I reckon it's good to get up a quick video because it could literally be anything.

[CMSMJ1]

you have a dirty air filter? and you have removed it ? Is that what you wrote?

Get a filter asap - you cannot ride these without one unless you fuck about with the jetting.

Keep it standard, it will work

[Drunkn Munky]

Yes i think the drilling sound you refer to is the gear driven cams as cammo said. To me there seems a simple course of action,

Dump the fuel, use it lawnmower or chainsaw
Clean/check and adjust carbs
New air filter and plugs
May aswell do the oil and filter while your there
Fully check the electrical system

If that doesnt sort then youve brought a lemon but i seriously doubt that