Sea Foam, back fire?

Hero Danny · September 3rd, 2014, 07:59 PM

Amy has been running well, she just doesn't have much power in the low rpms, especially in 1st gear. I've been dumping MMO into my gas but hasn't really done much so I decided to try out some sea foam. I let her sit for a day (non intentional) and today when I tried to take her out, I turned her on and BAM! she backfired, scared the sh-t out of me! I shrugged my shoulders and figured she seemed alright...

I went ahead and start to ride her and I immediately noticed she had a LOT more spunk, I couldn't believe it.

I know sea foam isn't a cure-all or substitute for carb cleaning, but man is it good stuff for what it is.

I'm curious about this back fire though, has this happened to any of you? And why do you think she back fired?

Alex · September 3rd, 2014, 08:18 PM

https://www.ninjette.org/wiki/My_Bike_Backfires

Brother Michigan · September 3rd, 2014, 08:26 PM

Letting the seafoam sit is probably what helped. It's a pretty harsh solvent, but if you get a bunch of gunk in your bowls or something, it will still take a bit to clean them up.

Hero Danny · September 4th, 2014, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the link Alex.

Makes sense, Aaron, I'd say that you are right. The sea foam sitting in the bowls probably helped. Do you think I should use sea foam again? Bike is running pretty well but I don't know if there's still gunk in it

Brother Michigan · September 4th, 2014, 12:46 PM

I don't think it can hurt, you just might get some poor gas mileage with some funny smelling exhaust for another tank.

*Ninja edit*: You might also want to change your fuel filter after letting that sit in your tank. If there was any crud in the tank that broke loose, it's now caught up in the filter and restricting it a bit.

motoman · September 4th, 2014, 12:46 PM

I have used it in my bike it does work well and once when i went to start it my bike it gave a very small backfire too.

Ninja Chris · September 4th, 2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

Amy has been running well, she just doesn't have much power in the low rpms, especially in 1st gear. I've been dumping MMO into my gas but hasn't really done much so I decided to try out some sea foam. I let her sit for a day (non intentional) and today when I tried to take her out, I turned her on and BAM! she backfired, scared the sh-t out of me! I shrugged my shoulders and figured she seemed alright...

I went ahead and start to ride her and I immediately noticed she had a LOT more spunk, I couldn't believe it.

I know sea foam isn't a cure-all or substitute for carb cleaning, but man is it good stuff for what it is.

I'm curious about this back fire though, has this happened to any of you? And why do you think she back fired?

Hey Danny, how much seafoam are you using per tank of gas?

Hero Danny · September 4th, 2014, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninja Chris

Hey Danny, how much seafoam are you using per tank of gas?

I believe 4 ounces in my full tank.

Directions dictated for 1 ounce per gallon, I went with 4 to be safe. (even though it's closer to 5 gallon tank)

alex.s · September 4th, 2014, 04:28 PM

back-fire is just your bikes way of saying she's excited to go for a ride.

Hero Danny · September 4th, 2014, 04:31 PM

lol, one thing that worries me about amy is that her choke doesn't seem to work unless it's engaged fully. It's like it's either on fully or not on at all.

Any thoughts?

Flying · September 4th, 2014, 09:58 PM

Normal for the choke.

Hero Danny · September 4th, 2014, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying

Normal for the choke.

really? huh, surprising to me.

SV Racing Parts · September 5th, 2014, 06:53 PM

Sea Foam works great, I have cleaned up a few carbs with it, Not a cure all, but does seem to bring gunked up carburetors around,

Ninja Chris · September 7th, 2014, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

I believe 4 ounces in my full tank.

Directions dictated for 1 ounce per gallon, I went with 4 to be safe. (even though it's closer to 5 gallon tank)

Thanks Danny.

SV Racing Parts · September 7th, 2014, 01:58 AM

Is your bike currently running great now that the tank of Sea Foam Treated Fuel has gone through? BTW, did you run it close to empty prior to re-fueling following the Sea Foam,

I am thinking of doing a treatment on my bike,

Best regards,
Blair

Hero Danny · September 7th, 2014, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Racing Parts

Is your bike currently running great now that the tank of Sea Foam Treated Fuel has gone through? BTW, did you run it close to empty prior to re-fueling following the Sea Foam,

I am thinking of doing a treatment on my bike,

Best regards,
Blair

well I sold the bike, but she was running like a clock after I put the sea foam in, I topped her off with gas, added 4 ounces and then I ran her until she was close to empty. (do NOT let your bike run out of fuel)

SV Racing Parts · September 7th, 2014, 09:17 AM

Thanks, I may run the tank of Sea Foam today,

Best regards,
Blair

jkv45 · September 7th, 2014, 01:24 PM

If you are in need of a fuel system cleaner, try to find Chevron Techron Concentrate.

Add 1 oz per gal to fresh gas. It's not a stabilizer like Seafoam, but it's a better cleaner IMO.

I run a tank with Techron each season after I run through the tank with the treated gas from storage.

SV Racing Parts · September 7th, 2014, 04:36 PM

Thanks for the tip, I will give it a try,

Enjoy the ride, and best regards,
Blair

September 3rd, 2014, 07:59 PM	#1
Hero Danny Inline 4!!! Name: Danny Location: MA Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2008 CBR600rr, 1987 KLR 250 Posts: A lot.	Sea Foam, back fire? Amy has been running well, she just doesn't have much power in the low rpms, especially in 1st gear. I've been dumping MMO into my gas but hasn't really done much so I decided to try out some sea foam. I let her sit for a day (non intentional) and today when I tried to take her out, I turned her on and BAM! she backfired, scared the sh-t out of me! I shrugged my shoulders and figured she seemed alright... I went ahead and start to ride her and I immediately noticed she had a LOT more spunk, I couldn't believe it. I know sea foam isn't a cure-all or substitute for carb cleaning, but man is it good stuff for what it is. I'm curious about this back fire though, has this happened to any of you? And why do you think she back fired? __________________________________________________ Be careful. Remember you are invisible

September 3rd, 2014, 08:18 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	https://www.ninjette.org/wiki/My_Bike_Backfires __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

September 4th, 2014, 11:32 AM	#4
Hero Danny Inline 4!!! Name: Danny Location: MA Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2008 CBR600rr, 1987 KLR 250 Posts: A lot.	Thanks for the link Alex. Makes sense, Aaron, I'd say that you are right. The sea foam sitting in the bowls probably helped. Do you think I should use sea foam again? Bike is running pretty well but I don't know if there's still gunk in it __________________________________________________ Be careful. Remember you are invisible

September 4th, 2014, 12:46 PM	#5
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	I don't think it can hurt, you just might get some poor gas mileage with some funny smelling exhaust for another tank. Ninja edit: You might also want to change your fuel filter after letting that sit in your tank. If there was any crud in the tank that broke loose, it's now caught up in the filter and restricting it a bit. Last futzed with by Brother Michigan; September 4th, 2014 at 02:36 PM.

September 4th, 2014, 04:28 PM	#9
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	back-fire is just your bikes way of saying she's excited to go for a ride. __________________________________________________

September 3rd, 2014, 08:26 PM	#3
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	Letting the seafoam sit is probably what helped. It's a pretty harsh solvent, but if you get a bunch of gunk in your bowls or something, it will still take a bit to clean them up.

September 4th, 2014, 12:46 PM	#6
motoman ninjette.org member Name: derrick Location: ontario canada Join Date: Sep 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 ninja Posts: 32	I have used it in my bike it does work well and once when i went to start it my bike it gave a very small backfire too.

September 4th, 2014, 04:31 PM	#10
Hero Danny Inline 4!!! Name: Danny Location: MA Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2008 CBR600rr, 1987 KLR 250 Posts: A lot.	lol, one thing that worries me about amy is that her choke doesn't seem to work unless it's engaged fully. It's like it's either on fully or not on at all. Any thoughts? __________________________________________________ Be careful. Remember you are invisible

September 4th, 2014, 09:58 PM	#11
Flying ninjette.org sage Name: - Location: somewhere cold Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1	Normal for the choke.

September 5th, 2014, 06:53 PM	#13
SV Racing Parts ninjette.org member Name: Blair Location: PNW Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Posts: 113	Sea Foam works great, I have cleaned up a few carbs with it, Not a cure all, but does seem to bring gunked up carburetors around, __________________________________________________ W.Blair Layton SV Racing Parts www.svracingparts.com

September 7th, 2014, 01:58 AM	#15
SV Racing Parts ninjette.org member Name: Blair Location: PNW Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Posts: 113	Is your bike currently running great now that the tank of Sea Foam Treated Fuel has gone through? BTW, did you run it close to empty prior to re-fueling following the Sea Foam, I am thinking of doing a treatment on my bike, Best regards, Blair __________________________________________________ W.Blair Layton SV Racing Parts www.svracingparts.com

September 7th, 2014, 09:17 AM	#17
SV Racing Parts ninjette.org member Name: Blair Location: PNW Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Posts: 113	Thanks, I may run the tank of Sea Foam today, Best regards, Blair __________________________________________________ W.Blair Layton SV Racing Parts www.svracingparts.com

September 7th, 2014, 01:24 PM	#18
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	If you are in need of a fuel system cleaner, try to find Chevron Techron Concentrate. Add 1 oz per gal to fresh gas. It's not a stabilizer like Seafoam, but it's a better cleaner IMO. I run a tank with Techron each season after I run through the tank with the treated gas from storage.

September 7th, 2014, 04:36 PM	#19
SV Racing Parts ninjette.org member Name: Blair Location: PNW Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R Posts: 113	Thanks for the tip, I will give it a try, Enjoy the ride, and best regards, Blair __________________________________________________ W.Blair Layton SV Racing Parts www.svracingparts.com

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