Is this "only" a muffler problem??

[DynamoBT]

Change of plans. Today is turning into being too busy to do much about the Spyder. So, tomorrow I will ride it up to Freedom Cycle. That solves two things. One, it burns out this possible bad gas. And two, the Spyder is where it needs to be if it needs servicing. I don't know if Freedom Cycle can turn it around in a day. I've call the operator of the M.O.S.T class on Thursday saying I will try and be there. I'll call Wednesday night to let them know for sure.

Not the best time for all this to happen. But, some things are out of my control. I'll do the best I can to be ready for the class Thursday. It just may not be in the cards.

 

[DynamoBT]

Even better, I siphoned the old gas out and put a few gallons of new gas in with some Seafoam. I'll top it off at a decent gas station in the morning on the way to Freedom Cycle. It will be a nice ride to check things out. If all is fine, I'll turn around and bring it home. But, if it needs service, it will be in the right place. Cancelled morning plans to get it up to Freedom Cycle first thing as they open.

 

[DynamoBT]

I believe this is Hindle related

So, the saga continues this morning. I topped off the tank with what I expected to be "good" gas. Off to Freedom Cycle which is all highway drive. Spyder ran just fine. Better than fine. Weather was perfect, sun was out, not too breezy. Told the service department of my woes. But figured it was bad gas and this was the end of it. Got the Spyder inspected since I was up there.

So, took a more scenic route home. Again, no problems. As I've said recently, I'm starting to ride the Spyder at higher engine revs. It's like I have waked up the engine!!

However! Again about 80 miles into today's driving, the muffler starts popping. It's not bad. And I start to play around with staying in a lower gear at high revs and alternating a higher gear at lower revs. The Spyder began lugging badly in the higher gear lower revs. Hesitations, popping. Not quite as bad as Sunday, but definitely happening.

So, my conclusion is that I have finally started to break the engine in as it should be ridden. When the engine gets fully warmed up, it does not like the richer mixture made by lowering the revs in a higher gear. The Hindle doesn't like it either. At least I think this is a gas mixture problem. This is why everyone goes to an O2 modifier, juice box and/or green air filter when they have a performance muffler on their Spyder.

Me? I'm not going to go in that direction. My Spyder as is will get me through the Three Wheeled BRC Thursday and Friday this week. But, after that, I'm going to have my Y gaskets replaced and the original muffler put back on. I don't ride in such a manner as to need "performance". This popping and engine hesitation is for the birds!!!

Now, I believe there was no "bad" gas at all. This is a fuel mixture problem now that I'm running the engine a bit more the way it should be run. At least this is my theory. And I will stick to it to the point of having the OEM muffler put on. After that, who the heck knows if the problem continues!!!

Well, this is my .02 and I'm sticking to it!!!