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R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:26 am
by KNS
Hi All
I have been on the form asking various questions about putting my R90s back on the road. I am happy to say it starts, idles and runs quite well, the plugs are consistent with each other and the right colour. The compression is 130 each side exactly so on the outside it should be great. I find it very low in power but I had not ridden it in a number of years so my memory might be off. The problem is that is is making a heavy rapping sound under medium load not necessarily loud under heavy load. Apart from taking out the engine is there any way to diagnose the sound?
Thanks and sorry for rambling on.
Ken

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 12:02 pm
by Chuey
Can you be more descriptive of the sound? Could it be an exhaust related sound? Is it from inside the engine?

A R90S shouldn't feel slow. They'll do a 13 second quarter mile. That's not fast by today's standards but it isn't slow.

I have heard talk of a "turkey gobble" sound coming from the crankcase breather. Could that be it?

Chuey

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 12:21 pm
by Bamboo812
Another possibility is pinging. Does it sound like rocks rattling in a can? If so, check your timing with a strobe. Too advanced causes pinging and would definitely rob you of power. You want the F mark to show up at full advance, around 3000 rpm.

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 1:55 pm
by Major Softie
Old gas could contribute to pinging and low power as well.

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 2:15 pm
by Rebel
How are the diaphragms in the carburetors?

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 6:07 pm
by khittner1
No diaphragms in slide-throat Del'Ortos, Reb.

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 10:45 pm
by Major Softie
khittner1 wrote:No diaphragms in slide-throat Del'Ortos, Reb.
At least a B+ for effort though: it's certainly an explanation for power loss with Bings.

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Thu May 22, 2014 11:15 pm
by ME 109
Is there any beat box associated with the rapping?

(Just my 50 cent)

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 2:38 am
by Major Softie
ME 109 wrote:Is there any beat box associated with the rapping?

(Just my 50 cent)
:lol:

Re: R90s rapping sound

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:40 am
by Rebel
Rebel wrote:How are the diaphragms in the carburetors?
My bad, I forgot about those having the DelOrto's on them. I'll try to think of a more "Italian" explanation.