Question @ trickle charging mc while riding?

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ocean · #31 Unread post by **ocean** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:36 pm

Sounds great! I put about 1/4 of a bottle 16oz. can of sea foam in my bikes gas tank today, started to drain the oil when i discovered the oil filter removing cap i bought to remove the filter would not fit between the exhaust pipes on the bike running directly in front of the oil filter. So I stopped the draining process, then filled the oil with new oil back up to the top line on the oil dipstick.

There was actually way more oil in the bike when i bought it a few months ago. It was way above the top oil fil line on the dipstick when i bought it, and has been until i drained a little off a few weeks ago. But apparently it was still too much in the bike.
Unfortunately I was not able to get the filter off and do a complete oil and filter change like i intended. Just drained about 1.5 quarts and then added fresh motorcycle 10W-40 oil to top of fill line.

Any suggestions for getting that filter off when the filter removing cap that a socket goes into to rotate it off, wont fit between the pipes?

So I added the sea foam, then took the bike out for a 60 mile, mostly freeway ride and back home.
Funny thing now, whereas before the bike would be really difficult to keep going in low rpms but kick in strongly around 3rd gear and above at higher speeds - today it was still a bit finicky to start. In fact it seemed like the battery was going to drain from failed starting attempts. Finally got it started and let it idle with choke mostly on and throttle keeping it revved so it would not stall. After 5 or so minutes it seemed to calm and stabilize a bit. So i turned the choke down to about half open, and started to drive when it started to stall again. got it to stay running and drove off.

I took city streets for about 3 miles until getting on the I-80 freeway where i discovered that the bike still loves freeway riding - but now suddenly when going into 5th or overdrive gears instead of taking off like a bat out of hell like its usually done on the freeway in these gears it was really sluggish and even felt like it was going to decelerate and maybe even die if i kept it in 5th or overdrive. So i mostly kept it in 4th gear which was moving it faster than 5th oddly enough now.
After 20 or so miles there were a couple short moments on the highways and freeways where 5th gear seemed to momentarily catch up and speed the bike along as 5th gear normally has done. But quickly slowed down again.

Hopefully this is just a temporary cleansing process from the Sea Foam getting rid of gunk in the bikes fuel system? On the way back i stopped at a store and parked the bike for about 20 minutes. When i came back out it was difficult to start again to point it felt ike it was going to drain battery again before it would start. Fortunately it started and I gave it enough choke & throttle to keep it alive then drove off. It stalled within a few blocks, though I got it started with choke on almost full and drove home.

It will be so wonderful when i get this bike simply reliably running where there need be no concern if / when its going to stall or not start again. Just push button to fire it right up and give it gas to go wherever and as long and fast or slow as desired. This is possible right, for these bikes? Guess Im needing a little positive, honest encouragement that this bike will be able to be a truly reliable runner like ive read so many places these brands of nighthawks have a reputation as being.

mydlyfkryzis · Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:23 pm

You have to put the cap on the filter the same way you have to get the filter in. You have to start at the top of the pipes (where they go into the engine) and slide it down over the filter. The My Nighthawk 750 is the same way. The filter has to come out that way also.

Also, put aluminum foil over the exhaust pipes under the filter and form it into a drain. when you loosen the filter, it starts draining all over the exhaust pipes otherwise. It won't hurt, but will smoke a lot later.

The new oil filter also has to be snaked into the space between the pipes and the engine. Try practising with the new filter before removing the old one so you know how to do it quickly and minimize oil dripping all over the place.

ocean · #33 Unread post by **ocean** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:20 pm

I pulled two of the spark plugs this evening from the right side of my bike. Here are photos of them. Seem fairly oily.?
Does this signify an issue with them or the bike, as it seems like it might? Something easily resolvable would be nice

I am going to pull the other plugs tomorrow, and install new ones. I just want to ride me bikey

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Question @ trickle charging mc while riding?

blackish spark plugs...