20 Most Recent 2004 Honda VTX 1300 Retro - Page 2 Questions & Answers

With a problem such as this, someone once taught me that the first thing you have to do is absolutely clean the entire suspect area. Use soap and water or engine cleaner or whatever you have. Then you HAVE TO locate where the leak is originating. Don't assume it is a head leak, it probably is not. You have to be able to determine the location of the source or you (or a mechanic) can't repair it.
Good luck,
Gary

This may seem silly but ;how is the throttle cable adjustment .Had a 2003 come in and the complaint was the same.Adjusted the handlebar cable adjustment and what a difference.Also check the vaccum line onthe right side under the edge of the tank,near the rear.This can cause stumble. NNo you do not have to remove tank to do this..Good Luck

votre probleme provient d'une mauvaise connection de l'alimentation electrique 1;batterie bien charger......2;connecteur bien viser.........3;suivre le fillage vers le cluster peut etre fil denuer ou briserr

check start switch, these fail over time.
Check the side stand switch also

Check connections in the cables that are in the front up against the steering head.
Their are two green connectors that are inside a vinyl boot.

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They are supposed to tick a littlle.
It's when they get tight that you can have problems

How is your current oil level?
Do you have to keep topping your oil up to the correct level every 2-4 weeks because the level keep on driopping?
If yes there is few possibilities, one of thenm is your combustion chamber oil rings are not tightly sealing the chamber so some oil are drawn to be burn at the same time it burns your fuel.
Another possibilitiy is your valves seals are not sealing your top side properly drawing oil during intake stroke.
A quick check is by looking at your spark plug, see if they are fouled or covered with oil or thicks suds. Yhe other indicator you may notice is that the power band on your bike had decreased considerably.
If you find this helpful please indicate it or for more help please reply and detail what you notice or how the bike act since black smoke issue prevail and shall try to guide you to pin-point to the right direction whether an egine overhaul required or some other less drmatic relief can be had. Good enough?

Change it every 2,000km (or every 6 months) to be on the safe side.

clean or replace fuel filter, clean fuel hoses and carbs to remove trash that stops fuel flow (in the jets and float needle and seat) make sure air ducting on carb is in good condition and secure.

sounds like maybe a bad injector or bad fuel

City driving 3000 to 5000 miles depending on how dirty it gets.Highway driving (touring) 4000 to 6000 miles. A clean air filter will help extend the the life of your oil (runs leaner less carbon)

check for ground to these.ignition switch may need electrical cleaner spray.

more than likely the spring on the shaft between the two washers the sjift fork sets into is weak

it is and it is not. the pipes are too big. you need to have the heads looked at as well as you may have burnt valves going on. i know the big pipes look good. god do they look good. get the 1 1/3 in or the 2 in od pipes and put the big pipe sleeves on them. keep that big pipe look and always have bright shiny pipes. you do not have the proper back pressure in the exauhst. have your cylinder pressure chrck as well.

My friend, do not get to depend on the light. Depend on your foot and your clutch hand for confirm you are in neutral. When the light comes on all that really .... really means is the light has power to it. Watching the light is a very bad habit, similar to using your clutch foot for the brake in a car - don't do it. I know, you have an automatic (maybe you do maybe you dont - listen to my point) use your right foot to stop or to go (gas and brake). Dont drive with both feet unless you have a clutch.

Thanks for your interest in FixYa.com

not, but if you search vtxcafe.com, you will either find the answer or find someone to help you.

Talk to the Honda dealer, tell them you want the bike totalled by the insurance company. If they balk at it and you can afford it, have the bike towed to a different shop and go through them. Was the bike wreck your fault or did a cager get you? If the accident was not your fault, go after the other party's insurance. If this is your insurance, tell them you want it totalled. If they tell you that Honda can do this, explain to them why you want the bike totalled. You could do what I did when my Harley got run over; the frame was bent and the stealership told the lady's insurance (State Farm) they could rebuild the bike so State Farm was going to pay $9000 to fix the bike. I called State Farm and told them it needed to be totalled, they balked at first but then I told them, "When, not if, the bike fails on the interstate at 70mph and I am hospitalized, I will sue you and Southside Harley for everything you're worth because of your incompetence!"

They totalled my bike. I got a check for the value of the bike and bought another bike.

I am surprised it has a valve. most bike after 1995 don't. But Honda's are all the same depending on whether or not your is up or down the center position is off. so either pointing up or down. (center if you will) then to the right of center or clockwise should be on and the other is Res. when in doubt between on and res just pick one and go for a drive with a jerry can of gas and a low tank.Go till it coughs and then switch to the other. it will either continue to cough or run fine after about ten seconds. hope this helps

Before doing this i suggest that you ratchet strap the bike so that it does not tip over because your going to have to jack the rear of the bike up.
You may need a special socket for some bikes. remove the pin( on some bikes) from the nut. take the nut off that holds the back tire on. there should be a spacer behind it. remove it. move the tire forward a little to remove the chain. next jack the rear of the bike up a little bit so that you can get to the brake on the other side. next disconnect the brake assembly from the frame( you should not have to disconnect the brake line just lay the whole assembly over the bike with a rag under it so you do not scratch your chrome hahaha) continue jacking the bike up until you have enough clearance to remove the tire.