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Odd engine vibration

Old 11-23-2009, 09:12 AM
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Default Odd engine vibration

I drove the car yesterday, and I am noticing a vibration in the motor. It will do it if my Weber's are out of sync, but I checked, and they are spot on. The vibration occured soon after I installed the 99 head. Seems to be getting worse.

I am suspicious I have a bent rod. Does anyone have experience with a motor vibrating as a result of bent rods? Could it be the flywheel or balancer. I have an aluminum Fidanza, with not many miles on it. Balancer is stock.

My camshaft is bigger but not gigantic. I am turning up to 8000 rpm. Too much for stock rods?
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Old 11-23-2009, 09:27 AM
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I looks like your turbo fell off.

That's a considerable bit of weight, which sits a good 6-8in off the side of the motor. Find a good one with matching manifold, bolt it on...and you should be in good shape.

jk



Video?

How bad?

Checked all the simple stuff like plugs?



I had a motor vibrate when I BROKE a rod once...
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Old 11-23-2009, 09:36 AM
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Too much compression!

I have not done anything yet. It could be a weak sparkplug or wire. I plan to replace wires and plugs, and do a compression check.

The vibration is not too bad. It only does it at low rpm. It is like it has one weak cylinder. However, if compression is off, it will show up on the syncrometer. The weak cylinder will have very low vacuum.

I will perform those tasks and get back.
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Old 11-23-2009, 09:40 AM
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Low rpm or low load?
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Old 11-23-2009, 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by gospeed81
Low rpm or low load?
Low rpm. Seems to go away under load.

I think you may have convinced me it is something simple like a bad wire.
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Old 11-23-2009, 10:21 AM
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I usually see sparks issues the other way around...more apparent under load...and smooth at idle and low load.

Rule out the simple management issues before you go chasing mechanical nightmares.

You can easily check TDC on each cylinder while the plugs are out...but I seriously doubt you're bending rods...or that that would cause vibration.

I would take another look at the carbs as well. Frustrating...and not undermining your experience...but in a decade of bike ownership nearly every running problem on the carbed bikes was some kind of synchro or jetting issue. Once on a Kawi 500R I synched the carbs five times (seemingly perfect) before I found the setting the bike ran smoothly on.
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Old 11-23-2009, 10:30 AM
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Thanks for the advice. I will keep digging before I do something drastic.
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Old 11-26-2009, 09:37 PM
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Gospeed81 you were right about it being a carberator problem. I made a few adjustments, and it runs much better, and the vibration is all but disappeared. It is not perfect, but I am getting close to where I can do some track or dyno time.

I have to admit, I was a little paranoid about having a bad rod because of the rods discussion that in going on in another thread.
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Old 11-26-2009, 09:45 PM
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Glad you fixed it but you really shouldn't spin a stock BP to 8000 rpm...
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Old 11-27-2009, 07:46 AM
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Not exactly stock. Rods are polished and motor was balanced. Valves and valve springs have been upgraded. Pistons are JE's.

I usually shift at 7600 to 7800, and I go to 8000 on occassion
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