Is there a difference between "common problems", and 'inherent issues', or 'weaknesses'?

In the same way that many cars and trucks have certain things that are considered to be an issue, motorcycles are no different. The 300 6cyl, Ford is a great motor, and many people never wore them out, but you could find an exhaust manifold in the parts departments of practically every Ford house on the country, if they hadn't just used the last one. Did they all break,...no. Did enough break to call it a weakness?...yes.
The 1600's 99-03 had enough problems with the trannie locking up, that it required a recall. It is still being done for free.
The charging system on the 1600's was upgraded, not just because people loaded their bikes down with after market voltage hogs like extra lights and radios, but because it was borderline.
Not everybody has ripped up the rear shock mount, but a few have. Is it heavy two up riding and potholes, jumping ladders on the freeway, or is it something that should be checked when changing oil on the scoot etc..
How about the front suspension. Stock is fine to a point, it'll never leave you on the side of the road, but it has been a nose diver from day one...is that a "common problem", or a weakness????? beats me, but its on my list of things to upgrade.
What about the early oil pump drive shafts. The factory upgraded those, and although there isn't a recall, I think most who have an early roadie, and get the chance, replace them. As a qualifier, I don't think I remember reading about this failure from a member here, but it's on the "Tech Articles" pages as something to look for.

We see alot of problems that stem from the manifolds on the Roadies. Not all of them are from somebody tampering with a product that was just fine, before they messed with it. This is from something posted several days ago...
-------------------------------
"davej wrote:
Erbman02 wrote:
info that was given to me yrs ago about the 2 needles are the tapers are just about the same, but the length is different, the DJ is shorter by the thickness of 1 washer.

So if putting the e-clip on the same groove and the standard set-up (spacer, 1 washer)the DJ will be a half-step richer than the Barons.

But you would have to have both of them setting side by side to see the difference. Any way you know of if you only have 1 of the needles and just want to know ?

Unfortunately he never passed along the measurement info to me nor to anyone else that I know of. But he knew the insides and out of the Roadie. At one time he was a Yamaha tech, he also helped quite a few riders at his home with repairs and never charged a dime....

""As a tech, he said he found 4 out of 5 roadies had leaks at the manifold to head joint right out of the crate."" ......

At the house he avg'd working on approx 50 to 100 roadies a yr. He tried all the manifolds out there, used 7 different air kits as well. He tested Ben Herrs manifold before it was brought to market too. He also informed me that the Nemesis coils were nothing more than The 1.5 ohm Dyna coils in a Nemesis packaging."
--------------------
This sounds like a great guy, and I'm sure he is missed by many people.

Now, I realize that by the time I read this, we have already made the trip from a qualified experienced mechanic, who was probably venting, and then it was passed to us(and by the time I repeat it, we're to 4th person It's the internet.). When this is combined with the wealth of years of experience and issues by thousands of bike owners who are, or have been on this site, it would certainly qualify as a "weakness".
I personally think it is more of a good solution to a tough problem....ie how do you mount a carb to two heads on a V-twin, and make it last, but still be flexible and tough enough to handle the job. This had to be a head scratch-er for the engineers(the combination of metal and plastic is testimony to that), but it would also qualify as the proverbial "weak link in the chain".
How many dealers let something like this out the door, knowing that the purchaser probably will sell the bike long before he ever has a real problem with it, or, how many of them don't even know to check? Or, are to lazy...."if it ain't broke, don't fix it'....shhhhh!
That this mechanic recognized this problem, and put a number to it probably means he went to the trouble to check each and every one. I think he's probably in the minority.

Does that mean, that everybody's bike has a problem? Nope. Does it mean that it is something that should be suspect in issues of Roadie reliability and performance?...Yep! Do I think that it is something people should lose sleep over?....No, and if they are, the problems not the manifold. Even if it is a problem, you'll still get home.

Most of the people on this site, are here for one of two reasons. Their bike has a problem, or they are in love with the Roadie, and want to know as much about it as possible, and to bounce ideas off of other like minded people. Tweaking and improving.....who was it that used that word..."anal"
The majority of bike owners that post on here are tinkerers to one degree or another, most of us are grey enough to recognize our limitations. We own them, because we can deal with the problems for ourselves and we love the whole two wheeled thingie. Then, there are those who like to ride, and can afford to have the dealer fix and work on it when they want something done(More power to them. I love people with money, who spend it because they want to. It makes the world go round).

I doubt that anyone comes here just looking for things that are wrong with their bike, in a hand wringing hypochondriac sort of way. There are people, who came here looking for general info about the bikes.
They would be like I was, when I was looking at bikes. What they would find is that the Roadies are well designed, well put together, and have very few problems that are not easily handled, or somebody hasn't already come up with a remedie for.
It is almost a perfect bike..."beauty in the eye's" and all that. Since joining this site, I can think of only one outright failure of a stock motor..ie more then likely lower end issues.

Regarding the pumpless mod, which is mentioned on here a lot, especially its relationship to the carb puking from heat issues.
I think there are far more people here who have had the problem, and have cured it by going pumpless then we realize. Many simply read the tech tips, and do the mod, and we never hear from them. Some people do the mod, and contribute occasionally in the threads. Some of us who are on here more often, mention it more. Some folks will read about the pumpless solution, and read about turning the fuel off for awhile before shutting down the bike, and opt for that method. Its all good.
As HotRodStar pointed out, if your going to operate your bike at the very extremes of its limits, then you may have a problem even with the 3.0 grizzley valve.....I would guess though, that if you do that to much, you'll have a whole basket full of problems(or pickup full)or you'll get to ride in an M-er-gency vehicle.

I didn't ditch my fuel pump because the carb puked and I didn't like it. I got rid of it because I don't operate my bike at the edge of the envelope, and I like the idea of not having my day interrupted...its the same reasoning behind "Ride On" for tires....I don't want a flat on the side of the road if its avoidable. I think it's a great concept. So it was either throw a piece of fuel line in the bag, carry an extra pump, or let gravity do its thing. Then there's the bonus of the added cooling and cleaner look. It was a win win for me...and still is.
Is it something that people should do to make their bike run better....that'd be up to the individual.

Hey my bike only has a windshield....does that mean there's something the matter with it because it doesn't have a radio?

.....okay, Start!

SKWEARpeg wrote:
Is there a difference between "common problems", and 'inherent issues', or 'weaknesses'?

In the same way that many cars and trucks have certain things that are considered to be an issue, motorcycles are no different. The 300 6cyl, Ford is a great motor, and many people never wore them out, but you could find an exhaust manifold in the parts departments of practically every Ford house on the country, if they hadn't just used the last one. Did they all break,...no. Did enough break to call it a weakness?...yes.
The 1600's 99-03 had enough problems with the trannie locking up, that it required a recall. It is still being done for free.
The charging system on the 1600's was upgraded, not just because people loaded their bikes down with after market voltage hogs like extra lights and radios, but because it was borderline.
Not everybody has ripped up the rear shock mount, but a few have. Is it heavy two up riding and potholes, jumping ladders on the freeway, or is it something that should be checked when changing oil on the scoot etc..
How about the front suspension. Stock is fine to a point, it'll never leave you on the side of the road, but it has been a nose diver from day one...is that a "common problem", or a weakness????? beats me, but its on my list of things to upgrade.
What about the early oil pump drive shafts. The factory upgraded those, and although there isn't a recall, I think most who have an early roadie, and get the chance, replace them. As a qualifier, I don't think I remember reading about this failure from a member here, but it's on the "Tech Articles" pages as something to look for.

We see alot of problems that stem from the manifolds on the Roadies. Not all of them are from somebody tampering with a product that was just fine, before they messed with it. This is from something posted several days ago...
-------------------------------
"davej wrote:
Erbman02 wrote:
info that was given to me yrs ago about the 2 needles are the tapers are just about the same, but the length is different, the DJ is shorter by the thickness of 1 washer.

So if putting the e-clip on the same groove and the standard set-up (spacer, 1 washer)the DJ will be a half-step richer than the Barons.

But you would have to have both of them setting side by side to see the difference. Any way you know of if you only have 1 of the needles and just want to know ?

Unfortunately he never passed along the measurement info to me nor to anyone else that I know of. But he knew the insides and out of the Roadie. At one time he was a Yamaha tech, he also helped quite a few riders at his home with repairs and never charged a dime....

""As a tech, he said he found 4 out of 5 roadies had leaks at the manifold to head joint right out of the crate."" ......

At the house he avg'd working on approx 50 to 100 roadies a yr. He tried all the manifolds out there, used 7 different air kits as well. He tested Ben Herrs manifold before it was brought to market too. He also informed me that the Nemesis coils were nothing more than The 1.5 ohm Dyna coils in a Nemesis packaging."
--------------------
This sounds like a great guy, and I'm sure he is missed by many people.

Now, I realize that by the time I read this, we have already made the trip from a qualified experienced mechanic, who was probably venting, and then it was passed to us(and by the time I repeat it, we're to 4th person It's the internet.). When this is combined with the wealth of years of experience and issues by thousands of bike owners who are, or have been on this site, it would certainly qualify as a "weakness".
I personally think it is more of a good solution to a tough problem....ie how do you mount a carb to two heads on a V-twin, and make it last, but still be flexible and tough enough to handle the job. This had to be a head scratch-er for the engineers(the combination of metal and plastic is testimony to that), but it would also qualify as the proverbial "weak link in the chain".
How many dealers let something like this out the door, knowing that the purchaser probably will sell the bike long before he ever has a real problem with it, or, how many of them don't even know to check? Or, are to lazy...."if it ain't broke, don't fix it'....shhhhh!
That this mechanic recognized this problem, and put a number to it probably means he went to the trouble to check each and every one. I think he's probably in the minority.

Does that mean, that everybody's bike has a problem? Nope. Does it mean that it is something that should be suspect in issues of Roadie reliability and performance?...Yep! Do I think that it is something people should lose sleep over?....No, and if they are, the problems not the manifold. Even if it is a problem, you'll still get home.

Most of the people on this site, are here for one of two reasons. Their bike has a problem, or they are in love with the Roadie, and want to know as much about it as possible, and to bounce ideas off of other like minded people. Tweaking and improving.....who was it that used that word..."anal"
The majority of bike owners that post on here are tinkerers to one degree or another, most of us are grey enough to recognize our limitations. We own them, because we can deal with the problems for ourselves and we love the whole two wheeled thingie. Then, there are those who like to ride, and can afford to have the dealer fix and work on it when they want something done(More power to them. I love people with money, who spend it because they want to. It makes the world go round).

I doubt that anyone comes here just looking for things that are wrong with their bike, in a hand wringing hypochondriac sort of way. There are people, who came here looking for general info about the bikes.
They would be like I was, when I was looking at bikes. What they would find is that the Roadies are well designed, well put together, and have very few problems that are not easily handled, or somebody hasn't already come up with a remedie for.
It is almost a perfect bike..."beauty in the eye's" and all that. Since joining this site, I can think of only one outright failure of a stock motor..ie more then likely lower end issues.

Regarding the pumpless mod, which is mentioned on here a lot, especially its relationship to the carb puking from heat issues.
I think there are far more people here who have had the problem, and have cured it by going pumpless then we realize. Many simply read the tech tips, and do the mod, and we never hear from them. Some people do the mod, and contribute occasionally in the threads. Some of us who are on here more often, mention it more. Some folks will read about the pumpless solution, and read about turning the fuel off for awhile before shutting down the bike, and opt for that method. Its all good.
As HotRodStar pointed out, if your going to operate your bike at the very extremes of its limits, then you may have a problem even with the 3.0 grizzley valve.....I would guess though, that if you do that to much, you'll have a whole basket full of problems(or pickup full)or you'll get to ride in an M-er-gency vehicle.

I didn't ditch my fuel pump because the carb puked and I didn't like it. I got rid of it because I don't operate my bike at the edge of the envelope, and I like the idea of not having my day interrupted...its the same reasoning behind "Ride On" for tires....I don't want a flat on the side of the road if its avoidable. I think it's a great concept. So it was either throw a piece of fuel line in the bag, carry an extra pump, or let gravity do its thing. Then there's the bonus of the added cooling and cleaner look. It was a win win for me...and still is.
Is it something that people should do to make their bike run better....that'd be up to the individual.

Hey my bike only has a windshield....does that mean there's something the matter with it because it doesn't have a radio?

.....okay, Start!

========================

SKWEARpeg,NICE!!!!

But one comment on the pumpless mod stoppig carb puke,its getting the left side of motor opened up for a lot more cooling that gets rid of the carb puke in many cases ,its not always an issues with f-pump.

Same goes for dumping lrg stock airbox off carb & going with smaller aftermarket aircleaner assembly also allowing for additional cooling on opposite side of motor.

The Carb would puke on 06 R* without even turning on ign to activate pump,it happened often on my 06 & friends 05 silverado when we would shut them down hot and then post 1-2 mins heat soak you could hear the fuel boiling in float bowl (make gurgeling sound) then shortly after that hot fuel would come out of the float bowl thru the carb vent.

And thats 2x worse when winter blend fuels in the area which boils at lower temp then simmer blen fuel.

Then theres some R*'s dont puke fuel untill ya turn ign on activating the f-pump ,it can go both ways.

I insulated my fuel system which stopped the puke but someday i may go pumpless when i feel like going thur the time/money/hastle to do it fully/properly.

Scott

scottw wrote:

But one comment on the pumpless mod stoppig carb puke,its getting the left side of motor opened up for a lot more cooling that gets rid of the carb puke in many cases ,its not always an issues with f-pump.

Same goes for dumping lrg stock airbox off carb & going with smaller aftermarket aircleaner assembly also allowing for additional cooling on opposite side of motor.

The Carb would puke on 06 R* without even turning on ign to activate pump,it happened often on my 06 & friends 05 silverado when we would shut them down hot and then post 1-2 mins heat soak you could hear the fuel boiling in float bowl (make gurgeling sound) then shortly after that hot fuel would come out of the float bowl thru the carb vent.

And thats 2x worse when winter blend fuels in the area which boils at lower temp then simmer blen fuel.

Then theres some R*'s dont puke fuel untill ya turn ign on activating the f-pump ,it can go both ways.

I insulated my fuel system which stopped the puke but someday i may go pumpless when i feel like going thur the time/money/hastle to do it fully/properly.

Scott

The increased air circulation, is a really big plus. Getting rid of the AIS on the front, and changing from the factory airbox are great improvements where these aircooled engines are concerned.
My thoughts on the pump where the carb puking was concerned, was not so much that the pump wasn't operating normally, as much as it was the pump slamming the back door, so the fuel had nowhere else to go other then out thru the carb when it gets hot. When all of the heat under the tank creates a volume issue in the enclosed space...ie the fuel system from the back of the pump, to the floor/throat in the carb, the puking occurs. The gas expands and looks for a way out. That way out is thru the jets, and the bowl vent until the pressure equalizes, or the temperature drops.
With the pump gone, the fuel can simply expand back to the tank.....or, the temp difference with the left side open is significant enough to let the heat dissipate a lot quicker so the gas doesn't expand nearly as much. Whatever the reason, the results are happy faces, unless your HotRodStar, and the ding dang bike can't handle WOT through all the gears WOT in fifth with no issues is good enough for me. Heck I've still got the stock ignition module.
It's not that I think the F-pump isn't working correctly, as much as it is a nature of the beast where heat and fuel are concerned, when you add a Road Star.
I would imagine that many members who have upgraded to the BAK's or KN's, and ditched their AIS, don't have the puke issue, and are still running the pump. In the stock configuration, the carb sits in an oven.

After Market Air Box took care of most of my puking.
F-Pump relocation cleared up the left side.
Gone through one Fuel Pump.Still pukes sometimes.
Hell...gets hot here.I just turn my gas off when I stop.
The one time I thought i might have "SVS"...turned out to
be clogged fuel filter.I carry replacement filters for the
one I have now.

SKWEARpeg you have a throttle lock on your keyboard or Dragon naturally speaking voice recognition software? J/K but man you got a lot to read

SKWEARpeg wrote:
The increased air circulation, is a really big plus. Getting rid of the AIS on the front, and changing from the factory airbox are great improvements where these aircooled engines are concerned.
My thoughts on the pump where the carb puking was concerned, was not so much that the pump wasn't operating normally, as much as it was the pump slamming the back door, so the fuel had nowhere else to go other then out thru the carb when it gets hot. When all of the heat under the tank creates a volume issue in the enclosed space...ie the fuel system from the back of the pump, to the floor/throat in the carb, the puking occurs. The gas expands and looks for a way out. That way out is thru the jets, and the bowl vent until the pressure equalizes, or the temperature drops.
With the pump gone, the fuel can simply expand back to the tank.....or, the temp difference with the left side open is significant enough to let the heat dissipate a lot quicker so the gas doesn't expand nearly as much. Whatever the reason, the results are happy faces, unless your HotRodStar, and the ding dang bike can't handle WOT through all the gears WOT in fifth with no issues is good enough for me. Heck I've still got the stock ignition module.
It's not that I think the F-pump isn't working correctly, as much as it is a nature of the beast where heat and fuel are concerned, when you add a Road Star.
I would imagine that many members who have upgraded to the BAK's or KN's, and ditched their AIS, don't have the puke issue, and are still running the pump. In the stock configuration, the carb sits in an oven.

The more open jugs does help keep the carb and lines cooler, but since many of us still get 'carb puke', even if we've insulated the lines and the carb, etc., I am convinced the major contributing factor is the pump not allowing the fuel back into the tank.

My reason for going pumpless was that my pump failed me on the road at 18k. It was just a plus for me that I got rid of the 'carb puke' and was able to move on without the pump for under $60! Besides all that, it looks better too. I have been at WOT and have never personally experienced starvation since changing out the inlet valve and seat. I've also been able use the fuel in auxillary far enough down that I needed 4.7 gallons to fill up with no starvation along the way.

I tend to agree up to a point about not fixing what isn't broke, but I'm not going to ride my drive belt until it's ready to break! Preventative maintenance isn't the same thing. I won't carry a spare clutch cable, because I inspect my cable for fraying at both ends before a long ride and during my routine maintenance/lube/inpsections.

I'm with SKWEARpeg, there are a lot of lurkers out there just reading about how to fix thier problems here at the RSC but not becoming members and commenting on things.

I`ve really like this thread

On here there are all these guys getting these "High Mileage" readings.
And found myself going in and out of the carb trying to achieve them.
My mileage varies from 35 to 40,traveling 50 to 75 miles an hour. About what
Yamaha says I should be getting.The true point of jetting the carb was better
better performance(achieved)she runs like a beast.Then I started thinking, what
have you added to the bike...lets see...

Biggest Windshield Yami makes and a windshield Bag
Fat Engine Guard,Passenger floor boards,Highway Pegs,Doolie Exhaust System,Mustang seats and back rests,
Sissy Bar and brackets,Fender Tips and Rail.
Complete 97/98 Royal Star Hard Bag set-up including "all" the mounting hardware and optional
Front and Side Bag Guards.

And I said to myself Dave(thats what I call myself when I`m talkn to myself)
Dave Maybe your gas mileage ain`t that bad.Quit screwing around and go riding.

And I won`t even go into how on any given ride the elevation can go from between 2000
and 9000 ft.Won`t even But I am gonna carry a spare clutch cable on this ride.

vegasdave wrote:
I`ve really like this thread

On here there are all these guys getting these "High Mileage" readings.
And found myself going in and out of the carb trying to achieve them.
My mileage varies from 35 to 40,traveling 50 to 75 miles an hour. About what
Yamaha says I should be getting.The true point of jetting the carb was better
better performance(achieved)she runs like a beast.Then I started thinking, what
have you added to the bike...lets see...

Biggest Windshield Yami makes and a windshield Bag
Fat Engine Guard,Passenger floor boards,Highway Pegs,Doolie Exhaust System,Mustang seats and back rests,
Sissy Bar and brackets,Fender Tips and Rail.
Complete 97/98 Royal Star Hard Bag set-up including "all" the mounting hardware and optional
Front and Side Bag Guards.

And I said to myself Dave(thats what I call myself when I`m talkn to myself)
Dave Maybe your gas mileage ain`t that bad.Quit screwing around and go riding.

And I won`t even go into how on any given ride the elevation can go from between 2000
and 9000 ft.Won`t even But I am gonna carry a spare clutch cable on this ride.


I appreciate you not making a big issue about the altitude Dave. I'm think'n I could go between 25 ft, and 125 ft ....and besides that, ya'll may have hot, but we got hot and wet....at the same time, for the next 4 months...pheeeewwww

I just meant altitude in reguards to Gas Mileage
But I know what ya mean...no humidity here lol