95 500 Ninja... Power Loss?

Jasonx · 07-14-2005

Hey guys, I'm new here and I found you guys because I was searching for a answers to what happened to my bike.

My background: I just got into the sport and I bought a 95 500 off ebay and the owner put on a Yoshimura exhaust and bigger jets. I have put on about 2000 miles and the only problem I have ever had is a few backfires... not sure why. I use 87 gas and I only get about 40mpg and I'm not sure if thats normal with bigger jets or an indication of the problem I'm about to describe.

My problem: I'm not much of a mechanical guy so I really appreciate any help. I was driving home from work going 70 and all of a sudden I began to lose power and I thought I ran out of gas so I pulled over and checked everything out and it seemed fine. I could not start my bike without using a full choke and I've never had to use the choke before really. I managed to drive hom and do 30-50 but I hardly have any power, it drives rough and when I pull back on the throttle it doesn't do much. I pulled out the spark plugs and the ends were black so I put new ones in but I have the same problem. Rough idle, not much power and my exhaust note sounds raspy. I can start my bike and drive it, I managed to do about 70 on a little stretch but it just doesn't have consitant power and does not run well. Please Advise.

Redline · 07-15-2005

Way too rich. Careless carb rebuild, most likely. People don't do any sort of tuning when they put pipes on those things, they just throw a pipe on and bigger jets. I'm dealing with a somewhat similar problem myself, except mine runs up to 110 just fine, but still way too rich.
Close the pilot jets more and see if that helps. If the rebuild was done half-way properly, the caps should be off the adjustment screws. The pilot jet adjusters are under the carbs, somewhere over the starter, one on each side. They face upwards, the screws facing out the sides are the float bowl drains, don't touch those.

73_F7E_175 · 07-19-2005

what about your compression. that sounds exactly what happened to my cuz's PW50.
check the compression. i believe redline is right, but still you should check compression and gaskets.

canigetin · 09-06-2005

Wondering if you figured out what the problem was. I'm having the same problem on my '90 zx6. Acceleration is crappy and when I get to 70 mph it starts hesitating and won't go much faster. If I baby the throttle I can get it to about 80 mph tops.

99Saki500 · 09-06-2005

Sounds like some1 should buy my bike? What's mileage and what not on the bike? I've never had my bike do that. Improper tuning when put stuff on it I believe. He was probably driving it into the ground, that's y he sold it. How much money did you spend on it?

btob · 01-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonx

Hey guys, I'm new here and I found you guys because I was searching for a answers to what happened to my bike.

My background: I just got into the sport and I bought a 95 500 off ebay and the owner put on a Yoshimura exhaust and bigger jets. I have put on about 2000 miles and the only problem I have ever had is a few backfires... not sure why. I use 87 gas and I only get about 40mpg and I'm not sure if thats normal with bigger jets or an indication of the problem I'm about to describe.

My problem: I'm not much of a mechanical guy so I really appreciate any help. I was driving home from work going 70 and all of a sudden I began to lose power and I thought I ran out of gas so I pulled over and checked everything out and it seemed fine. I could not start my bike without using a full choke and I've never had to use the choke before really. I managed to drive hom and do 30-50 but I hardly have any power, it drives rough and when I pull back on the throttle it doesn't do much. I pulled out the spark plugs and the ends were black so I put new ones in but I have the same problem. Rough idle, not much power and my exhaust note sounds raspy. I can start my bike and drive it, I managed to do about 70 on a little stretch but it just doesn't have consitant power and does not run well. Please Advise.

Don't know for sure, but the black soot on the plugs signify that you're supposedly running rich, however, it could also mean that the electronic ignition could also be faulty. I'm assuming that this is a 4 cyclinder? Are all your plugs comming out the same, or is it limited to one or two? If it's like 1 and 4, or 2 and 3, it could signify that one of your coils could be faulty or just a loose connection. That would make your situation erratic.

wiredgeorge · 01-16-2007

Most fold interpret sooty plugs as "too rich"... I have a chance to see a lot of carburetors in my line of work and most of the "too rich" carburetors are ignition problems and/or lack of valve clearance. Btob mentioned checking all the plugs. If you find ALL the plugs equally sooty, then perhaps you should check your voltage at your coils. We have a tech article on our web site on "coil repowering" that is often useful for older bikes especially. We also have a tech article on valve clearances. If valves hang open, you lose compression... not only power is lost but you will get INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION which is the soot really points to. You can get plug fouling from "too rich" jetting but also from the wrong heat range spark plugs or wrong grade of gasoline. Before mucking with your carburetors, perhaps you should get a service manual and perform a tune up as well as look at coil voltages... Oh yeah, dirty air filters will also foul plugs in no time...

Alizard · 01-16-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonx

I was driving home from work going 70 and all of a sudden I began to lose power and I thought I ran out of gas so I pulled over and checked everything out and it seemed fine. I could not start my bike without using a full choke and I've never had to use the choke before really. I managed to drive hom and do 30-50 but I hardly have any power, it drives rough and when I pull back on the throttle it doesn't do much.

I had similar symptoms once when some crud from the gas tank clogged one of my main jets.

elr658 · 01-16-2007

Wiredgeorge is the voice of authority. Adjust your valves.

RomSpaceKnight · 01-17-2007

1. get a manual and some basic tools
2. check ignition system including battery, coils and pickups
3. do a valve lash adjustment
4. remove carb bowls and look for goob, grime and such this may require carbs to be removed
5. remove carbs and inspect main jets

A manual will give you step by step instructions woth good pictures. I suggest a Clymer.

07-14-2005	#1 (permalink)
Jasonx Newbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1	95 500 Ninja... Power Loss? Hey guys, I'm new here and I found you guys because I was searching for a answers to what happened to my bike. My background: I just got into the sport and I bought a 95 500 off ebay and the owner put on a Yoshimura exhaust and bigger jets. I have put on about 2000 miles and the only problem I have ever had is a few backfires... not sure why. I use 87 gas and I only get about 40mpg and I'm not sure if thats normal with bigger jets or an indication of the problem I'm about to describe. My problem: I'm not much of a mechanical guy so I really appreciate any help. I was driving home from work going 70 and all of a sudden I began to lose power and I thought I ran out of gas so I pulled over and checked everything out and it seemed fine. I could not start my bike without using a full choke and I've never had to use the choke before really. I managed to drive hom and do 30-50 but I hardly have any power, it drives rough and when I pull back on the throttle it doesn't do much. I pulled out the spark plugs and the ends were black so I put new ones in but I have the same problem. Rough idle, not much power and my exhaust note sounds raspy. I can start my bike and drive it, I managed to do about 70 on a little stretch but it just doesn't have consitant power and does not run well. Please Advise.

07-19-2005	#3 (permalink)
73_F7E_175 Foil Inspector BTK Intermediate Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: MI Posts: 122	what about your compression. that sounds exactly what happened to my cuz's PW50. check the compression. i believe redline is right, but still you should check compression and gaskets. __________________ ride 2 live, live 2 ride

01-16-2007	#7 (permalink)
wiredgeorge Vintage Motor Mechanic! BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 507	Most fold interpret sooty plugs as "too rich"... I have a chance to see a lot of carburetors in my line of work and most of the "too rich" carburetors are ignition problems and/or lack of valve clearance. Btob mentioned checking all the plugs. If you find ALL the plugs equally sooty, then perhaps you should check your voltage at your coils. We have a tech article on our web site on "coil repowering" that is often useful for older bikes especially. We also have a tech article on valve clearances. If valves hang open, you lose compression... not only power is lost but you will get INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION which is the soot really points to. You can get plug fouling from "too rich" jetting but also from the wrong heat range spark plugs or wrong grade of gasoline. Before mucking with your carburetors, perhaps you should get a service manual and perform a tune up as well as look at coil voltages... Oh yeah, dirty air filters will also foul plugs in no time... __________________ wiredgeorge Texas Hill Country

01-16-2007	#9 (permalink)
elr658 Eddie Lawson is God! BTK Expert Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seymour,CT Posts: 4,645	Wiredgeorge is the voice of authority. Adjust your valves. __________________ 1982 Kawasaki KZ1000R1 #658 1983 Honda CB1100F Blue. www.myspace.com/79cb750f

07-15-2005	#2 (permalink)
Redline Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denver Colorado Posts: 459	Way too rich. Careless carb rebuild, most likely. People don't do any sort of tuning when they put pipes on those things, they just throw a pipe on and bigger jets. I'm dealing with a somewhat similar problem myself, except mine runs up to 110 just fine, but still way too rich. Close the pilot jets more and see if that helps. If the rebuild was done half-way properly, the caps should be off the adjustment screws. The pilot jet adjusters are under the carbs, somewhere over the starter, one on each side. They face upwards, the screws facing out the sides are the float bowl drains, don't touch those.

09-06-2005	#4 (permalink)
canigetin Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 40	Wondering if you figured out what the problem was. I'm having the same problem on my '90 zx6. Acceleration is crappy and when I get to 70 mph it starts hesitating and won't go much faster. If I baby the throttle I can get it to about 80 mph tops.

09-06-2005	#5 (permalink)
99Saki500 Haulin In Seventh Gear BTK Expert Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marina, CA Posts: 618	Sounds like some1 should buy my bike? What's mileage and what not on the bike? I've never had my bike do that. Improper tuning when put stuff on it I believe. He was probably driving it into the ground, that's y he sold it. How much money did you spend on it?

01-17-2007	#10 (permalink)
RomSpaceKnight Uncle Bob's Love Child BTK Intermediate Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, Ont. Canada Posts: 253	1. get a manual and some basic tools 2. check ignition system including battery, coils and pickups 3. do a valve lash adjustment 4. remove carb bowls and look for goob, grime and such this may require carbs to be removed 5. remove carbs and inspect main jets A manual will give you step by step instructions woth good pictures. I suggest a Clymer.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)