Rocky's Dog is sick

[BadBrad]

Hey,
Now that I finally got my dog running, Rocky's took a dump today. She has an '03 Mastiff/107cu in with the Wire Plus electronic system. While riding down the interstate, it acted like the motor jumped timing. That's the only way I can describe it. It lost power, spits, sputters and pops. She was able to limp home but I was wanting a starting point for diagnosis. Could a push rod have bent/broke and caused it to do this? I think I remember reading where there is a sensor that helps regulate the timing but I can't remember if it applies to an '03 or not. I'm going to make sure that I have fire on both cylinders and go from there.

 

[mobsta]

did shejust fill up tank?

 

[BadBrad]

did shejust fill up tank?

No, she had filled up Friday night and probably put about 30 miles on it. I had recently changed the front rocker box gaskets because of an oil leak. The bike was running great on the interstate, then out of nowhere, it just started missing, popping and loss of torque. She was able to drive it 20 miles limping to get home.

 

[Steve1028]

My 05 Bulldog had a very similar sounding problem - all of a sudden hardly any power, spitting and sputtering, all it was was the pushrods needed adjusting, plus fouled the plugs. I hope it's something that simple!

 

[BadBrad]

My 05 Bulldog had a very similar sounding problem - all of a sudden hardly any power, spitting and sputtering, all it was was the pushrods needed adjusting, plus fouled the plugs. I hope it's something that simple!

I'm hoping it's that simple. My tools are at the other house, so it will be tomorrow before I can take a look at everything. I put 4 turns from zero lash when adjusting the pushrods after putting new gaskets on the front rocker box. Maybe something came loose. I'm hoping it's something easy like that. I like easy. It's the reason I married Rocky to begin with.

 

[mobsta]

just thinking maybe picked up something in the jets but if yu had it apart maybe something did let go,any noises

 

[BadBrad]

just thinking maybe picked up something in the jets but if yu had it apart maybe something did let go,any noises

Not really any noises that I would think that I would hear with a loose push rod. Just really a bad sounding motor with all the missing and popping. I need to get it to my tools so I can have a look see this afternoon.

 

[narow37]

i would check fuel delivery first

 

[lee]

I had a spark plug lead connector break recently through corrosion - could be something that simple. Many easier things to check first for something like that than a pushrod.

 

[TheDeadOne]

deleted

Request For BDM/BDB Administrative Assistance!

 

[Chopper Dawg]

I am betting that a pushrod backed off. I have seen it many times after a cam change or someone has done an adjustment.




I would:
1) pop push rod covers loose and have a look to see if one backed off
2) Do a compression test and have a look at the spark plugs
3) Check fuel delivery. Clogged jet or maybe trash in the tank.

Let us know what u find.

 

[BadBrad]

Thanks guys, I have a compression tester, so I'll check plugs, fire to plugs and compression first. If all appears to be good there, I'll pull the covers off all the pushrods and see if any one is loose. As for fuel delivery? I'm thinking it's probably not that. Last year I relined her tank and it's clean of debris. When she was limping home, the bike ran with a miss in it and would make a loud pop if you got the rpm's too high. When I felt the exhaust coming out, it appeared that one pipe had a steady blow while the other was less uniform and kind of rough.

 

[BadBrad]

I had a spark plug lead connector break recently through corrosion - could be something that simple. Many easier things to check first for something like that than a pushrod.

Thanks Lee, I'll look for any problems with this too. I can swap my wires off my bike and see if that makes any difference.

 

[BadBrad]

Update! Fix to problem.

Well, it's kinda like I figured. For whatever reason, the locking nut on the front cylinder intake pushrod came loose and the push rod collapsed causing the motor to act like the timing had jumped. YOu older guys know what I mean by that. Anyway, got the pushrod re-adjusted and tightened the shit out of the locking nut......again. Rocky is back in action. Maybe she will show her appreciation tonight. Hell, she always shows her appreciation. Thanks guys for the feedback. What a great forum!!! :2thumbs:

 

[avdhunter]

Good deal Brad!!!!!:2thumbs:

 

[Steve1028]

Yep, good deal! :2thumbs: Glad is was that simple!

 

[BadBrad]

Yep, good deal! :2thumbs: Glad is was that simple!

Me too Steve. We all need "simple" every now and then. A simple fix and an appreciative wife makes for a good day.....night!

 

[mobsta]

i think my wife would have been pissed after all you broke it.:lol::2thumbs:

 

[narow37]

good to hear brad

 

[BadBrad]

i think my wife would have been pissed after all you broke it.:lol::2thumbs:

You gotta break up to make up Mobsta! But you're right! I did put in new rocker box gaskets on that cylinder. Stopped the oil leak! I've never had a lock nut back off a pushrod before. First time for everything.