Jerky Power: RE Thunderbird. - Team-BHP

bblost · 17th March 2008, 14:37

My July 2003 ThunderBird with about 65k done has a slightly weird issue.

If I gun the engine heavy, then she starts to stutter in the power climb.
Its like, she is On now Off and this cycle continues with power coming in jerks.

However if I accelerate linear with an easy throtle action, building speed,
there is no problem and she goes fast.

Also there is no jerking when raising power in neutral.

The bike is completly stock, clean air filter, good oil and in good shape.

This jerky power delivery is driving me crazy.

any tips on what might be wrong.

himanshugoswami · 17th March 2008, 14:54

dont know much about the changes to teh T'Bird engine from teh earler iron lumps we had on the bull, but check to see if the "slow running" jet in your carb is clean, normally if this is clogged, that causes jerky power delivery under hard accelleration in bulls.

O.T. how do you know your bike has done 65K

bblost · 17th March 2008, 14:58

My rough estimate is I have definatly crossed 60k kms
I am not sure if I have crossed 70k kms.
Hence for this year, I will refer my bike having done 65k kms.

shldn · 17th March 2008, 15:36

Check the rubber manifolds from the air filter to the carb and from the carb to the engine block.

A crack or cut in the manifold may cause this problem.

Sam Kapasi · 17th March 2008, 15:44

A T-bird is a bike? I always thought... Oh what do I know anyway?

Anyways if it's a bike, what is it doing in the under-the-hood section? What hood? This should be in the bike section.

Technocrat · 17th March 2008, 15:54

Thansk for pointing Sam.

Btw as per purist only the Std 350 & 500 are Bullets rest all are RE bikes

Coming to topic, get your carb & jets checked & cleaned. Does this happen all the time or at particular time of day i.e. morning etc?

bblost · 17th March 2008, 16:06

I also searched where to post this thread. Found a question on RE500 in this section and posted it here.

This occurs irrespective of the time.
Occurs in the morning, evening, whenever I accelerate hard.
Except when I am trying to show it to my mechanic.

@Technocrat. I guess your question was based on the battery being the culprit.

My battery is as old as the bike. My mechanic advised me to keep the headlight on when this happens, But it has not really helped.

I will check up on the rubber cracks as mentioned by shldn.

Also, sometimes I will not get power jerks but instead the engine sound and performance sounds very rough.

OT: technocrat, thats the reason why my original post does not mention the word bullet anywhere.

Technocrat · 17th March 2008, 16:22

I was answering Sam on the bullets part.

Actually I asked about time of the day as I thought that this might be a cold start issue or even a vapor lock in tank.

Your mech's advice suggests that he is pointing to some problem with the CDI.

vabs78 · 17th March 2008, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

A T-bird is a bike? I always thought... Oh what do I know anyway?

I think Sam was refering to Ford Thunderbird which was a car. Sam this is India

kcstheg · 17th March 2008, 16:57

Ford thunderbird is still a car, and a beautiful one at that

revvedup · 17th March 2008, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

A T-bird is a bike? I always thought... Oh what do I know anyway?

I know what you were thinking here, no baba he is not referring to the classic FORD T-Bird of the 50's but to a Royal Enifield Standard 350 CC bike with fancy cruiser bodywork.

gendarmee · 17th March 2008, 17:03

I had a similar problem, but with the activa. Right after the 1st servicing, and get it after every servicing.
The engine felt like it started to cough, when i given a heavy throttle. But with slower throttle it seems fine.
Adjusting the air screw on the carb fixed the problem.

vabs78 · 17th March 2008, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcstheg

Ford thunderbird is still a car, and a beautiful one at that

I know. But you can't compare it with the origenal thunderbird.

highwayblaze · 17th March 2008, 18:58

I had a similar problem on my Kinetic GF125 (the worst 2 wheeler i've ever owned).
It was the carburettor jets. They replaced the jets to larger ones and the problem went away.

jkdas · 17th March 2008, 20:02

If you are sure that this happens only during early morn and eve, then I guess a good tuning should set it right.

Is it like you are 'running with choke on"?

17th March 2008, 14:37	#1 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 579 View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (7)	Jerky Power: RE Thunderbird. My July 2003 ThunderBird with about 65k done has a slightly weird issue. If I gun the engine heavy, then she starts to stutter in the power climb. Its like, she is On now Off and this cycle continues with power coming in jerks. However if I accelerate linear with an easy throtle action, building speed, there is no problem and she goes fast. Also there is no jerking when raising power in neutral. The bike is completly stock, clean air filter, good oil and in good shape. This jerky power delivery is driving me crazy. any tips on what might be wrong. __________________ My best performance rarely happens for an audience. RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004. Last edited by bblost : 17th March 2008 at 14:51. Reason: do da do da

17th March 2008, 14:54	#2 (permalink)
himanshugoswami BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 891	dont know much about the changes to teh T'Bird engine from teh earler iron lumps we had on the bull, but check to see if the "slow running" jet in your carb is clean, normally if this is clogged, that causes jerky power delivery under hard accelleration in bulls. O.T. how do you know your bike has done 65K __________________ I asked Mom if I was a gifted child...she said they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.- Calvin

17th March 2008, 14:58	#3 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 579 View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (7)	My rough estimate is I have definatly crossed 60k kms I am not sure if I have crossed 70k kms. Hence for this year, I will refer my bike having done 65k kms. __________________ My best performance rarely happens for an audience. RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004.

17th March 2008, 15:44	#5 (permalink)
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but watch this space) Posts: 6,783 View My Garage	A T-bird is a bike? I always thought... Oh what do I know anyway? Anyways if it's a bike, what is it doing in the under-the-hood section? What hood? This should be in the bike section. __________________ Live the YetiLife® *MA-DONNA! MA-DONNA! MA-DONNA!*

17th March 2008, 15:54	#6 (permalink)
Technocrat Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 3,354 View My Garage	Thansk for pointing Sam. Btw as per purist only the Std 350 & 500 are Bullets rest all are RE bikes Coming to topic, get your carb & jets checked & cleaned. Does this happen all the time or at particular time of day i.e. morning etc? __________________ Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't Accidents hurt - safety doesn't.

17th March 2008, 15:36	#4 (permalink)
shldn BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 84	Check the rubber manifolds from the air filter to the carb and from the carb to the engine block. A crack or cut in the manifold may cause this problem.

17th March 2008, 16:06	#7 (permalink)
bblost BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 579 View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (7)	I also searched where to post this thread. Found a question on RE500 in this section and posted it here. This occurs irrespective of the time. Occurs in the morning, evening, whenever I accelerate hard. Except when I am trying to show it to my mechanic. @Technocrat. I guess your question was based on the battery being the culprit. My battery is as old as the bike. My mechanic advised me to keep the headlight on when this happens, But it has not really helped. I will check up on the rubber cracks as mentioned by shldn. Also, sometimes I will not get power jerks but instead the engine sound and performance sounds very rough. OT: technocrat, thats the reason why my original post does not mention the word bullet anywhere. __________________ My best performance rarely happens for an audience. RE TBird 2003, no speedo, no range limits. Wagon R, 2004. Last edited by bblost : 17th March 2008 at 16:16. Reason: comment

17th March 2008, 16:22	#8 (permalink)
Technocrat Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 3,354 View My Garage	I was answering Sam on the bullets part. Actually I asked about time of the day as I thought that this might be a cold start issue or even a vapor lock in tank. Your mech's advice suggests that he is pointing to some problem with the CDI. __________________ Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't Accidents hurt - safety doesn't.

17th March 2008, 16:57	#10 (permalink)
kcstheg Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: hyderabad Posts: 15	Ford thunderbird is still a car, and a beautiful one at that

17th March 2008, 17:03	#12 (permalink)
gendarmee BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 373	I had a similar problem, but with the activa. Right after the 1st servicing, and get it after every servicing. The engine felt like it started to cough, when i given a heavy throttle. But with slower throttle it seems fine. Adjusting the air screw on the carb fixed the problem. __________________ FIAT! 65'JAWA\|95'Rking\|56' FIAT 1100\|59' FIAT 1100(No longer have this, my fav)\| *'97 118NE(FIAT 124+NISSAN engine)\|07' Ikon.*

17th March 2008, 18:58	#14 (permalink)
highwayblaze BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago/Mumbai/Pune Posts: 759 View My Garage	I had a similar problem on my Kinetic GF125 (the worst 2 wheeler i've ever owned). It was the carburettor jets. They replaced the jets to larger ones and the problem went away. __________________ Chill Pill Blaze

17th March 2008, 20:02	#15 (permalink)
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 5,206 View My Garage	If you are sure that this happens only during early morn and eve, then I guess a good tuning should set it right. Is it like you are 'running with choke on"? __________________ "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

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