Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
As the title states, I went to stand the bike on the side stand and didn't realize it was pulled up, talk about a DUH! moment. Anyway, I noticed it was running a little odd, like the carbs were flooded or something and there was a slight bog. I didn't think too much about it since it was early morning and when it fell over, it was still running until I shut it off. It rode fine after a couple of miles. On my ride home, it seemed to still be acting up again. When I got home, it idled around 500 rpm, has a rattling sound from the timing belt area that goes away when I pull in the clutch and the exhaust smells maybe rich. Timing belts are new last year by the way. If I roll on the throttle, I can hear maybe some pinging and the exhaust note "could" be different than normal. I also noticed when I pulled it in the garage, having it on the center stand and idling, it would simply shut off, no sputtering or anything, as if the key were turned off. It does seem that it behaves a lot like it did last fall when I had a vacuum leak, the one hose between the throttle throats.
I feel real stupid about laying it down and am not in the mood to tear into it tonight. I thought maybe someone could add some insight into what I'm experiencing. I'm not sure if there are some knock sensors or something similar on the engine. The rattling sound however does concern me more than anything else.
If it makes any difference, when it fell over I was parallel to my garage door and the bike landed on the left side, with the slope of the driveway, it actually heeled over past the roll bars and landed on the mirror. I'm concerned that the impact may have done something to the engine although there are no leaks anywhere. I have floor boards which did fold up into the shifter but it shifted fine all during my 60 mile commute. Any thoughts or comments about the bike, not my stupidity, would be appreciated.
I feel real stupid about laying it down and am not in the mood to tear into it tonight. I thought maybe someone could add some insight into what I'm experiencing. I'm not sure if there are some knock sensors or something similar on the engine. The rattling sound however does concern me more than anything else.
If it makes any difference, when it fell over I was parallel to my garage door and the bike landed on the left side, with the slope of the driveway, it actually heeled over past the roll bars and landed on the mirror. I'm concerned that the impact may have done something to the engine although there are no leaks anywhere. I have floor boards which did fold up into the shifter but it shifted fine all during my 60 mile commute. Any thoughts or comments about the bike, not my stupidity, would be appreciated.
- Rambozo
- Posts: 490
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
- Location: Disneyland
- Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
If it was a California model, you may have leaked some fuel into the carbon canister. It will run rich until that is cleared out of the system.
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
It's a 48 state bike but good thought. Still wouldn't explain the rattling sound though.
- Erdeniz Umman
- Posts: 966
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:33 am
- Location: Ankara Turkey
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
It is not normal for the bike to be still running when fell over. Have you checked the bank angle sensor?
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
That's what I thought and no, I have not looked at anything yet.
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1687
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- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
With the engine running on its side - Wondering if maybe a stuck carburetor float....
Try this: Disconnect fuel pump power at the tank, disconnect and plug vacuum line at the petcock, start engine and run the carburetors out of gas.. Use the choke when engine starts to sputter to use the last of the fuel in the bottom of the carbs. After it dies, reconnect vacuum line and fuel pump.
This exercise "Should" drop the floats to bottom of travel and maybe restore normal operation if one was stuck.
Try this: Disconnect fuel pump power at the tank, disconnect and plug vacuum line at the petcock, start engine and run the carburetors out of gas.. Use the choke when engine starts to sputter to use the last of the fuel in the bottom of the carbs. After it dies, reconnect vacuum line and fuel pump.
This exercise "Should" drop the floats to bottom of travel and maybe restore normal operation if one was stuck.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
Now that's an interesting thought, will try that.
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
Update:
I pulled the carbs off today and have not found any possible reason for the low idle. The rattling noise only happens around 500 rpm, at normal idle speed it's fine. The orange stripped hose that goes between the intakes under the carb is fine, as are the rest of the vacuum hoses at least as far as I can tell. To check the floats I blew into each fuel inlet and rotated the carb until the needle closed, they don't appear to be stuck. I have spark at all 6 plugs, however the left side plugs are a little black and sooty whereas the right side plugs are a more normal tan/whitish. I'm a little stumped, I have spark, I have fuel and I have compression - except it seems that something is not quite right. Any more thoughts while it's all apart?
Anyone know where the bank angle sensor is? Can't seem to find it in my manual.
I pulled the carbs off today and have not found any possible reason for the low idle. The rattling noise only happens around 500 rpm, at normal idle speed it's fine. The orange stripped hose that goes between the intakes under the carb is fine, as are the rest of the vacuum hoses at least as far as I can tell. To check the floats I blew into each fuel inlet and rotated the carb until the needle closed, they don't appear to be stuck. I have spark at all 6 plugs, however the left side plugs are a little black and sooty whereas the right side plugs are a more normal tan/whitish. I'm a little stumped, I have spark, I have fuel and I have compression - except it seems that something is not quite right. Any more thoughts while it's all apart?
Anyone know where the bank angle sensor is? Can't seem to find it in my manual.
- Erdeniz Umman
- Posts: 966
- Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:33 am
- Location: Ankara Turkey
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500SE
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
Thank you, will add to my list for tomorrow.
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
Turns out it was fouled plugs. When I started thinking about it, the fact that my bike will sometimes put out a puff of smoke if left on the side stand for a few days got me thinking. When it fell over, it went past the roll bars and really laid down. That allowed oil to flow into the left valve cover, when I righted the bike and went to start it, some of that oil leaked past the valve guides an went into the left cylinders which then allowed the left plugs to get fouled with oil. New plugs and she's purring like a kitten.
Thanks to all who replied, having a bunch of ideas does help.
Thanks to all who replied, having a bunch of ideas does help.
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 4:10 pm
- Location: York, SC
- Motorcycle: 2007 Honda Goldwing
Re: Dropped bike and now it runs poorly
Check your air filter also, new plugs, new air filter means a lot, so often taken for granted.
- fibersport
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Valparaiso, IN
- Motorcycle: 2001 Goldwing 1800
1990 Goldwing 1500 - SOLD!
2002 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe - sold
1986 Rebel - sold
1972 Trail 70 (still have it!)