86' 450 missing at high end

[deemark]

My Honda Rebel 450 is "breaking up" on the high end. What I mean is that as I open the throttle especially in gears 2-6 if I don't open the throttle slowly it starts missing, and bogging down.

I have had the carbs rebuilt by the local motorcycle God. I have repalced the coil, and the CDI box. I changed the oil (I did find the current owner had put too much oil in the trans), and I charged the battery. Of course with every attempt the bike ran just a little bit better, but not enough to end the above problem.I changed the plugs (regapped them a few times) and changed the gas twice.

It will start only reluctantly with the air filter off and (hint) it will run just fine if I open the choke and don't have the air filter on. In fact, it runs OK if I increase the choke opening as I increase the throttle, but since I'm selling the bike I want it to run right for the new owner.

Any of you who have taken off the carbs and were able to get the throttle cables off and back on in under 2 hours are more than great mechanics, or at least much better than I am. I feel the bike is gas starved and my next stop with this problem is to take off the gas tank(again # 5) and then check the fuel line and attempt to enrich the fuel by twisting the two screws on each side of the idle screw under the carbs.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Jack

[GearJammer]

Sure sounds like you're on the right track........The Rebel choke being an "enrichener" rather than a traditional choke that cuts off air supply, it would seem that you could enrichen it by the idle screw settings rather than using the choke.

I don't have the manual here, so don't know what the baseline settings for those screws are. Anyone ?

There's also the single idle knob under & between the carbs....1200 rpm + or - 100 rpm is ballpark for that one.

[Snorebaby]

Sounds to me like the adjustment screws on the bottom of the carbs needs to be set. For the life of me I can't think of the correct term for the screws are!! Anyway, you turn the screws in until they just seat....DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!!! Then back them out 2 1/4 turns. If it has been sitting a while the tank may have some rust/junk in the filter. The filter is inside the tank and is just a fine brass screen. Take the petcock off and check the filter. I removed mine and added a small inline filter between the carbs and petcock. $2 at Autozone. And you can see the fuel flow.

Hope this helps! :)

[deemark]

Thanks,

I do auto detailing on the side so I will try again on Sat. Also, in the air filter box(?) there is an area in the right rear as you view it where oil from the trans seems to splash up. Is this normal or was there at one time something that covered that area. As I look at the air filter it is to the right. I like th eidea of a fuel filter. I did not know the tank had an additional filter (screen) in front of the petcock.

I guess I will take the gas tank off again (5X) and look for it and add the fuel filter.
Thanks,
Jack

P.S. I bought gear oil -what do you use to clean the chain?

[deemark]

Thanks,
My library actualy has the manual and I will try to adjust the screws under the carbs. God, I hope I don't ever have to put those throttle cables back on the carbs again.
Thanks,
Jack

[GearJammer]

Jack......Pretty sure we determined that the Rebel petcock doesn't have a filter on the stem going up inside the gas tank, but there should definitely be a screen in the petcock fuel bowl.

If you're removing the chain from the bike & if it's not O-ring chain, I immerse the chain in stale gasoline, which cleans hard parts very well. Then I let the chain soak in a container of cheapo oil. After a good soak, remove chain, wipe off excess & reinstall.......

[jack b.]

there is a plastic tube that fits up inside the tank and is part of the petcock assembly. it is screened. judging by the information that i have read here about the problem you are having, you might have a petcock problem. how does the diaphragm look? you could also be experiencing a 'sticking" carb accelerator pump.

jack b.