[Theresa Wells Wood]

my bike is just starting to mess up. it's cutting out now at a certain RPM. It will be running fine then all of a sudden it cuts out it does that for a while and then after I go real slow for a minute then it will pick back up

 

[diyer]

Carb needs rebuilt.
Fuel filter in tank is plugged up.
Old spark plug.
Dirty air cleaner.
Bad gas.

 

[retro]

It sounds like a fuel supply problem doesn't it. You might try a fuel flow check first by turning the petcock off, then disconnect the fuel hose from the carburetor and aim the hose end into a bottle or other container. Be careful here... do this outdoors away from buildings and have a fire extinguisher handy.

Turn the petcock on and observe the flow of fuel coming out. If fuel flows feebly then the petcock and strainer assembly will need to be taken out of the fuel tank for cleaning. Those plastic strainers sometimes fall apart with age (or degrade from ethanol laced fuel) so you may possibly need a replacement. Inspect the petcock for corrosion buildup and clean the ports out best that you can if any corrosion is seen. If the petcock valve is plugging up that will cause poor fuel supply as well. The petcock should shut the fuel supply off completely and allow full flows through the fuel hose in both ON and Reserve positions. Replace if it does not.

If you have had the carb apart recently let us know... There is a re-initialization procedure that must be performed after every major throttle cable/idle speed adjustment, or if the cable was removed. If the throttle position switch or the ECM was replaced recently that procedure must be done as well.

Keep us updated if you can...