Four Cylinder Misfire and Bearing Knock Revisited

[Mike Cobine]

Thanks to a lack of Internet and a bit of time to think, I realized I was cruising full speed ahead in the wrong direction, or for football fans, I had a clear field and headed for the wrong goalpost.

Dave Suesz is the one that got me thinking. I realized I was thinking the opposite direction of what he mentioned. He is right, this is an old trick for used car lots and such, cut the fire to the cylinder with a bad bearing and you get no (or little) knock.

As such, I was thinking in the wrong direction. Duke and Michael were on the right track, I was backwards.

If you have a cylinder misfiring, it won’t be knocking and will probably hide any knock.

If you pull a heavy vacuum, like running downhill with the throttle closed, you will get knock, but not on the firing stroke but the intake stroke.

I guess what this really points out is I have not been around an engine with a bad bearing in quite awhile. So I guess really I’m pretty lucky.

Chuck’s noise is more likely gear noises in the transmission due to the lack of power on one stroke, which would show up more in a four cylinder (25% vs 12.5% of a V8) since Chuck cleared up it is a Goldwing.

[Chuck R.]

Re: It makes good sense Mike

Just for grins and giggles, I purchased new spark plug leads and plugs to clear up the diagnosed mis-fire.

It will be interesting to hear the possible difference in "slap" eminatinting from the drive case after.

You think Vette parts are steep, just say "1980 Goldwing" to a counter guy and watch their eyes light up

Chuckster

[Clem Z.]

Re: It makes good sense Mike

you will be lucky if honda has parts for a 1980

[Steve Pettit]

Re: It makes good sense Mike

I've had good success with these guys on my 83 550 Nighthawk-only made in this configuration one year.

http://www.bikebandit.com

[Chuck R.]

Re: Well let me just say this

I called my local (and very large) Honda dealership to inquire as to servicing costs for a machine this size and was told rather bluntly that it was too old and they didn't even have service manuals for them any longer!

Talk about being left to your own devices!

No wonder motorcycle recyclers are so popular now.

I had to go to California for a side cover!

Kinda takes the fun out of owning Clem

Chuck

[Chuck R.]

Re: Great site Steve, Thanks

At least I have options.

Chuck

[Mike Cobine]

Bike dealers have been a royal

pain as long as I can remember. We have a tremendous amount to be thankful for with GM, something that is alien to almost all bike shops.

GM used to run the same parts from year to year and keep them in stock for a long time.

Those parts were not astronomically priced.

If a dealer didn't have it, in most cities he could check the locater, and find it at another dealer for you.

If you didn't want to drive over, he could have it the next day.

But walk into a Honday dealer, ask for a part, and when he says it has to be ordered, just try asking if any other dealer has it.

Motorcycle parts rarely get carried from one year to another. We think early production/late production is bad on some minor trim items, this is how motorcycle companies run the big items.

Instead of being part of the big corporation parts network, you are asking him to go to his competitor. I always thought a competitor was the other brand. In a Chevy parts department, Ford is the competitor. In a Honda parts department, any Honday dealer is a comperitor, not Kawasaki, Harley, or so on.

[Chuck R.]

Re: It really takes the joy out of it

I for one really bristle when I get the B.S. treatment, get treated like a moron or get attitude!

I really REALLY get irritated when I'm told "take it or leave it"

Time to call O.C.C.

Chopper Chuckster