Motorcycle Maintenance Articles***
by Jasmine Bluecreek Clark


How Do We Diagnose Motorcycle Problems?

So you've bought a motorcycle manual and you've read how to do all these different things to your motorcycle. How will you know when it's really the right time to tear into your brakes, spark plugs, air filter, etc?

When I first learned how to wrench professionally, on automobiles, diagnosis was usually the hardest part of the job. Diagnosing the mechanical, electrical or pilot error that is causing a problem is often over half the battle.

How will you know what's wrong and when? It used to seem like a big mystery to me, and I'd been to auto-tech school: I figured other folks might like some hints to help them along. While I'm no expert, I have learned a few things over the years about diagnosing engine problems and I'm in a mood to share them with you.


Part 1 Brakes ~
Article #1-10

Diagnosing Braking Issues

Well, the first and most obvious way to know when to check your braking system out is by reading the owner's manual. There will be recommended times to periodically have the brake pads, brake shoes, rotors or drums checked. This is THE MINIMUM amount of checking that should happen.

You can always check on your brakes and other systems on your motorcycle as often as you feel necessary. Personally, I think the best time to check your brakes is every time you are getting any service work done to the wheels or tires. It seems natural if the Tech or Mechanic is already working on that part of the motorcycle, to ask them to double check that your braking system is in tip-top shape also.

Secondly, any time the brakes don't seem to be stopping as well as they did last week - could mean that at least you may need a brake adjustment. Some brakes are adjustable, some are not. Some Brakes that are not adjustable can still have both the front brake lever and the rear brake pedal adjusted up. Sometimes, the brakes are fine, but the pedal or lever needs a small adjustment so that you can activate the brakes faster.

If you start hearing sounds coming from the calipers or rotors - down at the front or rear wheel - that could be a braking problem developing. It might also be worn wheel bearings, or a few other things. The deal is - to notice if there is a change in the sound while braking. Are you hearing high screeches during braking, a rubbing noise or some other sound? If you are hearing new sounds - time to at least get the brakes checked out. Something as simple as dirt between the pads and the calipers can cause some chronic noises, even though this is not a dangerous condition.

The most common sound is when the brake pads are worn down enough, the little metal indicators (prongs that will start to rub the rotor when there is not enough 'meat' still on the pads) start scratching the rotor surface making a metallic rubbing noise. You may hear a sound that repeats with every wheel revolution while you are riding along; Kind of a Kshish a kshish a kshish a - noise. Don't ignore this sound or you'll be replacing your brake rotors as well as the pads - and that gets expensive.

Lastly, if your brakes feel spongy, soft, or sometimes the lever or pedal goes all the way in or down - there may be air in the brake lines. If you need to pump the brake to stop your machine - this also is indicative of air in the brake lines. This is easily remedied, but can be very dangerous to let go on - as your brakes may fail completely at some critical point when you are really wanting to get that motorcycle stopped. Bleeding the brakes is a relatively simple proposition on most motorcycles, however if you've never bleed the brakes on a car or bike before - take it to a professional. You could accidently allow even more air into the lines in you don't know what you are doing.

Ok, that 's all for now. I've got to pack and get on a Jet for Las Vegas and then a motorcycle ride over to Phoenix with the Sin Sity Sisters for the WITW Winter Nationals. Next time, How to tell when you need to change your filters. JBC





Part 2 ~ Motorcycle Filter Maintenance
Article #2-10

Your owner's manual will tell you how often you should check the various filters. Your motorcycle will tell you when you've neglected this maintenance for too long! Different motorcycles can have a different amount and style of filters. On most, but not all bikes, there will be an oil filter. Some will have a fuel filter; others may include a transmission filter. Nearly all motorcycles have some kind of air filter. Only your owner's or shop manual can tell you specifically which filters your bike has and where they've hidden the dang things.

As always, I recommend checking the easy stuff first. Clogged air filters can cause a multitude of minor issues, including smoking from the exhaust pipes, coughing, sputtering, and others. The may be bike running too rich - getting too much fuel. Checking, cleaning or replacing the air filter can make a huge difference in how the mc runs.

A dirty Air or Fuel filter can cause similar symptoms - as in - the bike won't run down the road at all!

If your motorcycle acts like it's out of gas, but you can see plenty in the tank yet - a rider might suspect that the fuel is not making it into the carburetor or fuel injectors. The first place to expect a blockage would be at the fuel filter. That's the filter's job after all, to block and collect foreign objects from entering the engine. Of course, this same symptom could be caused by a failing fuel pump, defective injectors, a blockage or failure within the carburetor and about ½ dozen other things. But MOST likely - it will be a clogged fuel filter.

While mildly dirty oil filters don't cause any obvious symptoms - ultimately serious engine damage and running problems can occur if these are not properly changed every time you change the oil. Difficulty shifting sometimes indicates dirty, thick oil.

There is also information on how to diagnose and change filters and other issues in my new book, ABC's of Motorcycle Wrenching, Jasmine's Wrenching Tips, also available from my web site. Next Issue: How to Diagnose Brake Issues.





ABC's of Wrenching Book


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ABC's of Motorcycle Wrenching Book



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***Disclaimer: The decision to work on your own motorcycle ~ or not ~ is a personal choice. It is possible to do serious damage to both you and your motorcycle. Jasmine Bluecreek Clark, Bluecreek Art Works and Bluecreek Motorcycle Training Co. creates and shares these articles to be an aid in understanding how your motorcycle works. They are not a substitute for professional repair or maintenance work done by a certified mechanic or technician. In some cases, working on your motorcycle could void your warranty, if you motorcycle is still under a manufacturer's warranty.

While the information shared is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, motorcycle technology is a rapidly changing field.
All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the Author and/or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of the data
or general or specific details included within this web site.