[kelleyj]

ok maybe one of you guys that have more experience with the "mechanics" of the big v-twin can help me out
i have an 01 RC 51, BONE STOCK w/the exception of -1 front sprocket.
the last few weeks ive noticed on closed throttle decelaration ( engine braking) i get a popping thru the pipes, i can even feel in the foot pegs and some times under hard decel. it gives off an audible POP or backfire, the bike runs fine makes good power and pulls good starts fine, i have noticed the exhaust dosent sound as smooth as it used to and i get a lil bit more vibration that i remember.
the oil was changed about 2000 miles ago and the plugs were changed about 7000 miles ago as were the air filters. i run premium pump gas at all times and on occasion i might run a 50/50 mix of 110/93 ( only did this like 2 times though) bike idles like normal. excelerates fine without a hint of lag or misfire and it has yet to "pop" while in the throttle easy or hard. even under engine braking if i give it just a minimum amount of throttle makes the "popping" stop. i remember reading on mikes ROUGE site the the RC likes plugs every 3-4000 miles. im tempted to think that maybe i need some plugs, but i was hoping to find out what some you guys think. am i on the right track, could it be a small exhuast leak? the bike does have close to 15-16K miles on it and its probably getting close to time to get the valves adjusted. i for the most part ride the bike pretty easy. for just cruisng around town and back and fourth to work i usually run it in 4th or 5th gear and keep it around 4-5 grand, i rarely "crank it up" although it does happen on occasion.

any ideas or advise would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Kelley

[abtech]

This is usually caused by the PAIR system. Removing it and blocking the ports should resolve the problem.

[kelleyj]

Originally Posted by abtech

This is usually caused by the PAIR system. Removing it and blocking the ports should resolve the problem.

what would cause the problem to arise? has it has not always done this?
are there any adverse effects to the ridability and reliability of the bike by removing them? and is it something that i can do at home with basic hand tools?

[Red Rider]

Check the exhaust system for leaks, starting at the headers.

[kelleyj]

thats what LDH told me too. im gonan start there. whats an easy way to check for leaks, would one of those "sniffers" for checking leaky air conditioning systems work to help me ind it or will it be pretty obvious?

[luvtolean]

Put your hands over the tailpipes with the bike idling.

If there's a leak, you'll know.

[ccwilli3]

like LTL said, I have always used a wet towel over the exit pipe... You'll know...

[kelleyj]

ok ill try that...if im thinking correctly ill get the hissing/pfft pfft pfft sound elsewhere right?


ok...at lunch i went out and tried putting my hands over the ends of the mufflers, now if me growing up in a garage with my dad and running his auto repair facility while he was sick taught me one thing. you block an exhuast system 1 of 2 things are going to happen, (1) you will blow said blockage out or (2) the motor will die almost immediately....well i used the palms of my hands and ssealed the ends of the cans off....and guess what happened? NOT A DARN THING!!!! it sat there and ran like it was nobodys buisness! and i got the pfft pfft pfft pfft sound but it never even choked the engine down a bit , i had a buddy here at work that rides listen and he found where the majority of the leak was coming from. looking in from the right side of the bike right near the rear shock ( i dont know which side can that pipe goes to) ther is a junction where the mid pipe/can slips on to the header pipe..it sounds as though that is where the most of it is leaking from so i will try to tighten the unions to the mid pipes and i will check the "header" bolts ( i have a hard time callin a single pipe a header lol) at the head and make sure those are torqued as they should be.
i do have one ? though, if the "unions" are tight, what can i do to seal them, if i take the mid pipes off and wrap a single layer of header wrap around the pipe and put them back together, will that do the trick?

[LDH]

Definitely check for burned out gaskets at the rear header junctions. It's a fairly common problem

[kelleyj]

less then $10 a piece thru ron ayers for the gaskets from the header to the difpipe and just over 5 bucks a piece for the header to the head gaskets

im gonna start there

thanks guys!

[kelleyj]

just a quick lil update.....im almost positive its an exhaust leak now, im waiting on the "gaskets" as the more i ride it the more you can hear it while its idling. its getting that pppfffttt ppppfffft sound even at idle without putting your hads over the ends of the pipes