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DONDALINGER
Anybody on here work on bikes? I recently bought a 2003 Suzuki Marauder and it runs great, but has a miss. It misses when it is cold (very cold natured motor) and then it misses just a little once it warms up. I've done all the simple stuff like new plugs and fresh gas ect.. I think it may need a valve adjustment. It has 4390 miles and the valves have not been adjusted since it was new. It kind of makes a popping sound when it misses. While accelerating, you cannot tell it. Only at idle. I've adjusted valves on a Honda, but never a Suzuki.

Any advice much appreciated.[8D]
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Lowrider
    I doubt it's a valve-adjustment issue. Is it a fuel-injected bike or is it running a carbuetor? If it has a carburetor it's probably set too lean on the idle circuit. They leave the factory set as lean as possible for polution standards and some don't idle worth a damn. That's why they take so long to warm up. The adjustment screws are most likely sealed but you can pop the covers off with a small screwdriver or by drilling a small hole in them and popping them out with an awl. I'd bet a half turn out on your idle-mixture screw would cure the problem.
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  • Cutiegirlracing
    Is it fuel injected? If it is rule out jetting, my first thought. I would think ignition next. When you say it makes a pop it sounds like all the fuel isn't burning off. Which makes me think ignition. Also try a good injectior/carb cleaner though it.
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  • dheffley
    Needs the carbs cleaned. Josh's 97 Marauder was the same way.

    His is the carborated model, I don't know if yours fuel injected or carbs.
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  • tomh.
    Yep, the guys are right. It's a carburetor issue. Too lean.
    I've had good luck with a product called "Sea Foam." And I think most fuel additives are a waste of time and money. But like I said, you might try a couple tanks of gas with this stuff added.
    You might have the carbs synchronized too. This model has a rather complicated cable design, so carb sync is important and can cause some running problems.
    Otherwise, you'll need a carb clean or at least an adjustment to richen it a little.
    Wouldn't hurt to have the valves adjusted though. But I'd start with a good tune-up, including carb sync and valve adjustment. Then Sea Foam next and a carb clean last.
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  • DONDALINGER
    It is a carbeurated motor. It appears to have one carb that feeds both cylinders. I did mix the Sea Foam in with the fresh fuel. I just got it yesterday, so I really have not put any miles on it yet. The plugs I took out of it were in decent shape, but I did notice a lot of black carbon on the plugs. This is my first Suzuki and my first V-twin, so I have a lot to learn. I hate to take anything to a shop to have it fixed. I like to figure it out and enjoy working on bikes. I have rebuilt a few single cylinder 4 stroke dirt bikes and a couple 2 stroke motors. I am going to try to pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual for it tomorrow. Thanks for the replies. [8D]
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  • EVILDR235
    Go to the dealer and buy a factory shop manual.They are worth the extra money.Don't have much use for those other books.
    EvilDr235
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  • Jeffer
    if it has a big bore or big air kit, oil the air breather foam. Might take care of it.
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  • gbeggrow
    Inspect all the plug wires. I had the same problem on one of my old bikes and I discovered it was simply a bad wire. Check the wire ends for corrosion as well.

    quote:Originally posted by DONDALINGER
    Anybody on here work on bikes? I recently bought a 2003 Suzuki Marauder and it runs great, but has a miss. It misses when it is cold (very cold natured motor) and then it misses just a little once it warms up. I've done all the simple stuff like new plugs and fresh gas ect.. I think it may need a valve adjustment. It has 4390 miles and the valves have not been adjusted since it was new. It kind of makes a popping sound when it misses. While accelerating, you cannot tell it. Only at idle. I've adjusted valves on a Honda, but never a Suzuki.

    Any advice much appreciated.[8D]
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  • tomh.
    It actually has one carb for each cylinder. The carb for the front cylinder sits above and between the cylinders. The carb for the rear cylinder sits behind that cylinder, under the seat. They have seperate air filters too. And, like I said before there's a rather complicated cable system connecting them to each other and to the throttle. Put some miles on it with the Sea Foam and then try a carb sync/tune-up.
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  • DONDALINGER
    tomh- you are right. The first carb for the front cylinder is under the tank. Each carb has its own canister type filter ($30 a pop!!!) Luckily, the filters look like new. I was tinkering with it today, but did not come up with anything yet. Too frickin cold to do much. My garage is not heated yet. Anyway, I talked to a mechanic at work and he said to run a few tanks through it with the Sea Foam and wind it out a few good times and that may help. He also said he had a Shadow that did the same thing during cold weather. He said when it warms up (the weather), the bike may not sputter at all. I looked for the seal that Lowrider mentioned, but cannot find it. I was going to get a factory service manual like evildr mentioned, but they are $80 from the dealer!! I'll figure out eventually. Thanks.
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  • MVP
    While the bike is running and popping spray carb cleaner around the carbs and see if it stops. Might be an air leak that is messing up your air/fuel mix.
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