Honda Varadero, compression issue. not running correct.

[glub]

So I bought A Honda varadero 125

i choose this bike because i thought it would be reliable.

Anyway, Yesterday when i bought it it rode home completely perfect about 10 miles.

Then in the morning after i tried to ride it and it back fired a bit and went sort of sluggish on acceleration, I immediately thought it hasn't got enough fuel.

Filled it up then it started getting worse when i tried to start it. So i thought could be spark plug.

Changed both to brand new plugs it then worked for about half a hour, and then it proceeded to happen again, usually after starting it or slowing down.

I was close to a Honda garage so i stopped in and spoke to one of the mechanics he fiddld with the coils and had a look but nothing he didnt have a clue either.

then we took spark plugs out to see if they were fine in case of a mixture issue, they looked fine had no way to check for spark as the battery is dead bought a new one today, but they looked clean and shiny still.

What actually happends

So i will bump the bike and it will slug like there is nothing happening will get to about 10mph then suddenly it will just work again and be perfect.

sometimes slowing down causes it, and not sure if its is coincidence but soemtimes gearigndown sorted it for a while.

Then it was doing it continuously on the way home got to 10mph i tried to pull choke and it just killed the bike after bumping it again it worked fine for about 2 minutes and went back to being crap.

as i was pulling into my drive which is slightly sloped it picked up again. rode down the street and died.

i managed to get to 5th gear and only reach 20mph.

So what im asking is for someone to help me any ideas or if you have had the problem, just spent out on this bike no money to go to a garage specially as the Honda one didn't seem to have much idea.

Greatly appreciate any help i can get thanks

[Tango]

Sounds like a coil (s) breaking down to me......back firing would be unburnt fuel in the exhaust igniting.....and if it's OK at higher revs but dies at lower revs it's typical of coils in my mind.....

[glub]

at one point it was constantly back firing. So if its the coil how do i tell which one? and hwo do i determined it is the coil? cheers.

[Tango]

OK....you can pull the HT lead of each of the plugs in turn.....if it runs with one of them removed but not with the other removed then it's the one associated with the plug that stops the bike running.....

Another thing it could be is valve clearances.....if you've got a valve that's not closing correctly you can get the same sort of thing....especially the backfiring bit.....

[glub]

OK....you can pull the HT lead of each of the plugs in turn.....if it runs with one of them removed but not with the other removed then it's the one associated with the plug that stops the bike running.....

Another thing it could be is valve clearances.....if you've got a valve that's not closing correctly you can get the same sort of thing....especially the backfiring bit.....

Okay ill go try that now. so if it starts with one or other its not the coil. what if neither of them make it start

how would i know its the valves and what would i have to do?

(sorry im a noob)

[Tango]

If it won't start with either plug cap off......well it could be both coils on their way out......unlikely, but not impossible.....

To check the compression.....pull one spark plug out at a time.....stick a finger over the plug hole and turn the engine over. There should be enough compression to lift your finger off the hole on each cylinder. If not....then it could be that on the cylinder that is low on compression one of the valves isn't closing correctly. This is when you'd need a Haynes manual to check the valve clearances......

[glub]

If it won't start with either plug cap off......well it could be both coils on their way out......unlikely, but not impossible.....

To check the compression.....pull one spark plug out at a time.....stick a finger over the plug hole and turn the engine over. There should be enough compression to lift your finger off the hole on each cylinder. If not....then it could be that on the cylinder that is low on compression one of the valves isn't closing correctly. This is when you'd need a Haynes manual to check the valve clearances......

Okay so i tried the first thing multiple times, I did Allot of bloody running.

results; starting with front coil off = worked

starting with back coil off= worked

after it was switched on;

pulling front plug off= killed the engine

pulling back plug off= killed the engine

I took a video of it running this was full throttle

">

p.s Cheers for all your help! will try compression thing tomorrow

[glub]

If it won't start with either plug cap off......well it could be both coils on their way out......unlikely, but not impossible.....

To check the compression.....pull one spark plug out at a time.....stick a finger over the plug hole and turn the engine over. There should be enough compression to lift your finger off the hole on each cylinder. If not....then it could be that on the cylinder that is low on compression one of the valves isn't closing correctly. This is when you'd need a Haynes manual to check the valve clearances......

 

actually i cant test that because i have no kick start or battery..

[glub]

Does anybody know how to drain the petrol easy? and is there any guides on taking the carb off and apart? thanks

[acting_strange]

Could it be the timing/Timing sensor?..that would give that kind of problem if it was too retarded...

[glub]

Could it be the timing/Timing sensor?..that would give that kind of problem if it was too retarded...

how would i tell?

just took some petrol out second lot seemed to be clear as anything

Now the bike isnt even sometimes working now its always just half compression like it was in the video the whole time.

battery just came

[glub]

Could it be the timing/Timing sensor?..that would give that kind of problem if it was too retarded...

how would i tell?

just took some petrol out second lot seemed to be clear as anything

Now the bike isnt even sometimes working now its always just half compression like it was in the video the whole time.

battery just came

 

My local mechanic is sure it is the jets clogged the carb looks so hard to remove on this bike

[Mr Fro]

What Tango said!

I don't know how you came to the conclusion that it's only running 1/2 compression, can you elaborate on that one please?

If you run it with a dead battery then there's a good chance that you're not getting enough of a spark which will lead to rough running so let us know what happens once you bung the new one on.

It does sound electrical or maybe the valves but without doing some diagnostics on it, it's really difficult to find out anything further - if you have a voltmeter handy then there are a few tests you can do to check the electrical system.

The fact that you rode it home fine on day one makes me think it's just a dud battery so it's worth checking the charging system once you've got the new one on. Also, I wouldn't worry about the state of your plugs just yet, it takes a good few miles to get any colour on them unless you're running outrageously rich! On that note, have you checked the fuel filter? It could be that it's bunged up with crud but that wouldn't explain the backfiring...

Finally, where are you?

Cheers,

Fro

[glub]

What Tango said!

I don't know how you came to the conclusion that it's only running 1/2 compression, can you elaborate on that one please?

If you run it with a dead battery then there's a good chance that you're not getting enough of a spark which will lead to rough running so let us know what happens once you bung the new one on.

It does sound electrical or maybe the valves but without doing some diagnostics on it, it's really difficult to find out anything further - if you have a voltmeter handy then there are a few tests you can do to check the electrical system.

The fact that you rode it home fine on day one makes me think it's just a dud battery so it's worth checking the charging system once you've got the new one on. Also, I wouldn't worry about the state of your plugs just yet, it takes a good few miles to get any colour on them unless you're running outrageously rich! On that note, have you checked the fuel filter? It could be that it's bunged up with crud but that wouldn't explain the backfiring...

Finally, where are you?

Cheers,

Fro

 

No evidence its just what it feels like, as soon as it happened my friend thought a spark plug had gone

I got it second hand with 13k miles on it the guy had charged it a bit before putting it back on, to test if its the battery could i jump start it off my other 125 not sure how long till i can get a battery charger and fit it.

my grandad will have a volt metre what would i have to test?

I'm not sure it has a fuel filter or if it does which im assuming all bikes do? no idea where it is.

is there anyway i can determine its the jets on the carb without going through the hassle removing seat removing tank cleaning carb ect?

and reading Berkshire

[Tango]

Yeah.....agree with Mr Fro.......if your battery is flat then the bike will run rough.....and if the charging circuit is stuffed, then eventually the bike won't run at all unless you charge the battery with an external charger......

[glub]

What Tango said!

I

Cheers,

Fro

 

I think it may be caused by the battery, as when i got it the guy said it has a dead battery and he will put on charge for few hours before i come there which only had enough power to keep the lights on no electric start. But it ran 100% fine

and it seemed to mostly happen when i had slowed down (causing less charge well holding enough power

also the speedo and rev being a bit funny

and maybe when i was going down hill my bike got to the right speed to give the battery enough charge to fire up?

[Mr Fro]

No evidence its just what it feels like, as soon as it happened my friend thought a spark plug had gone

I got it second hand with 13k miles on it the guy had charged it a bit before putting it back on, to test if its the battery could i jump start it off my other 125 not sure how long till i can get a battery charger and fit it.

my grandad will have a volt metre what would i have to test?

I'm not sure it has a fuel filter or if it does which im assuming all bikes do? no idea where it is.

is there anyway i can determine its the jets on the carb without going through the hassle removing seat removing tank cleaning carb ect?

and reading Berkshire

So you previously said your new battery arrived - you should just be able to put the acid in the battery and stick it on the bike (obviously check the instructions!).

When you've got it running put the volt meter in a low range DC mode - anything capable of reading 20V+ and hold the electrodes on the battery terminals. The reading should be 13V to 15V. Also, give it a bit of a rev and let us know what sort of readings you get!

[glub]

battery sorted it really surprising and yeah i presumed i had to charge the battery first haha turns out i didnt.

[acting_strange]

battery sorted it really surprising and yeah i presumed i had to charge the battery first haha turns out i didnt.

 

Brilliant that its sorted

[Tango]

Glad it's sorted mate.......result.......