Won't stay running - Backfires

Saavy · Jun 13, 2011

My 97' FE 400 E will not run right. I can start it but to keep it alive I have to keep it at about 1/4 throttle. It spits and runs hard while occassionally back firing and then it just completely dies - and then sometimes slowly emits a white/gray smoke out of the exhaust. To fix this I took apart the carb and replaced all jets, needle and seat, needle, and all gaskets. Well, still the same problem. I've also replaced the spark plug, air filters and made sure the intake manifold is tight as well as the neck connecting the air intake to the carb. Would dropping the needle (raising the clip) help? Also back before it sat for 6 months it did run o.k. but I found that it was running really rich (black sprk plug). I'm about to bring it to a dealer but don't want to pay $80/hr for something I can fix. Please, please, please help!!

birdwoodburg · Jun 14, 2011

100% broken valve spring

Crispin · Jun 14, 2011

If it is a broken valve spring, I can highly recommend Taffy's dual valve spring kits. I had I think 4 separate valve spring failures over 2 years (although perhaps the folks that fixed it only renewed the broken spring instead of the entire set each time....), and they are known to be a bit of a weak design feature.

Since fitting the dual springs, well, I'm touching wood, and not saying any more, but they're well worth the investment!!

Crispin

birdwoodburg · Jun 15, 2011

I broke one exhaust valve spring but replace both exhauast springs just incase was about $40 a spring used a special tool to do them with out removing the head easy. I was interest in the dual set up but not sure on the quality compaired to ktm/kebble white ect. Did the duel make it go any better or start better????

Crispin · Jun 15, 2011

Both. They reduce engine drag, so up the performance a bit, and its been starting well since too (although I have also fitted a lithium high-energy, lightweight battery which has helped enormously with e-start (I bought an E-BATT, but they have since gone out of business, the alternative is http://www.turntechbattery.com/TurnTech ... lcome.html).

Crispin

zachhill · Jun 17, 2011

Crispin said:
Both. They reduce engine drag, so up the performance a bit, and its been starting well since too (although I have also fitted a lithium high-energy, lightweight battery which has helped enormously with e-start (I bought an E-BATT, but they have since gone out of business, the alternative is http://www.turntechbattery.com/TurnTech ... lcome.html).

Crispin

Also SHORAI battery is incredible.

I was wondering if anyone had a description of how to replace a valve spring. I was going to do mine but became discouraged when I took the valve cover box off and could not see where to go from there. I also could not find a master link of the cam chain so even if I wanted to take off the top end I would not know how to separate the chain. Oh yea, one more thing is I took of the valve cover box and there was no gasket between the valve cover where the cam is located and the head. I found that strange

birdwoodburg · Jun 17, 2011

I used a tool like they use for gm ls1 engines to replace valve springs and compressed air to hold valve up this way you dont need to take head off.
Also they dont have a gasket there only use thrre bond to form a seal.

zachhill · Jun 20, 2011

birdwoodburg said:
I used a tool like they use for gm ls1 engines to replace valve springs and compressed air to hold valve up this way you dont need to take head off.
Also they dont have a gasket there only use thrre bond to form a seal.

Sweet that is what i was thinking i would do when I looked at it, but i thought everyone had said a bunch of stuff about not dropping the cam chain down into the bottom end so i thought it had to be done for some reason. THANKS!!

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Won't stay running - Backfires

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