This is a strange problem. I have a 1981 xs650 with VM34 carbs, PMA, and PAMCO.
The other night I was riding home from a fireworks show when one of my cylinders started to sputter, and eventually died. I pulled into an empty parking lot with a street light so I could check it out. I realized the right cylinder was out. I switched the plug wires (put left onto right and right onto left) and the right cylinder was still out. After waiting a bit, the bike started and ran just fine on both cylinders. So I headed home again, and didn't get more than a mile and the right cylinder went out again. I stopped, waited a bit, and then it came back. I went another mile, it went out, I coasted home and it was late so I decided to check it in the morning.
Next morning I began my trouble shooting ride. I started it (first kick like usual) and it ran great on both cylinders. I went for a ride on a long stretch of straight away. Went about 4 miles out, no problems, I turned around headed home and one of the cylinders sputtered out and died. Unfortunately I wasn't near any side roads or driveways when this happened, so I had to try and kick start it on the side of the road. I was pretty sure it wouldn't start (it had only sat for about 10 seconds) but, it did start, and I had both cylinders again, so I headed home hoping I would make it, but also hoping it would die again right as I got home, so I could see if it was the right cylinder again. Well, it made it home on both cylinders for some reason, it didn't die again, which was also weird. I put it on the center stand, let it idle, revved it up a few times, and never lost the cylinder again. I did a compression test on a warm engine and got 150 in both cylinders. No weird smoke, or weird smells.
When it runs, it runs great, no symptoms at all. Both left and right seem to run and sound identical. It is acting like one of the cylinders is running out of gas after a few miles, or a few minutes (heat?) not sure why this just started happening though.
My other thought is that something is happening to the electric when the bike gets hot? Do PAMCO's ever mess up under high heat? Not sure what it is yet.
The other night I was riding home from a fireworks show when one of my cylinders started to sputter, and eventually died. I pulled into an empty parking lot with a street light so I could check it out. I realized the right cylinder was out. I switched the plug wires (put left onto right and right onto left) and the right cylinder was still out. After waiting a bit, the bike started and ran just fine on both cylinders. So I headed home again, and didn't get more than a mile and the right cylinder went out again. I stopped, waited a bit, and then it came back. I went another mile, it went out, I coasted home and it was late so I decided to check it in the morning.
Next morning I began my trouble shooting ride. I started it (first kick like usual) and it ran great on both cylinders. I went for a ride on a long stretch of straight away. Went about 4 miles out, no problems, I turned around headed home and one of the cylinders sputtered out and died. Unfortunately I wasn't near any side roads or driveways when this happened, so I had to try and kick start it on the side of the road. I was pretty sure it wouldn't start (it had only sat for about 10 seconds) but, it did start, and I had both cylinders again, so I headed home hoping I would make it, but also hoping it would die again right as I got home, so I could see if it was the right cylinder again. Well, it made it home on both cylinders for some reason, it didn't die again, which was also weird. I put it on the center stand, let it idle, revved it up a few times, and never lost the cylinder again. I did a compression test on a warm engine and got 150 in both cylinders. No weird smoke, or weird smells.
When it runs, it runs great, no symptoms at all. Both left and right seem to run and sound identical. It is acting like one of the cylinders is running out of gas after a few miles, or a few minutes (heat?) not sure why this just started happening though.
My other thought is that something is happening to the electric when the bike gets hot? Do PAMCO's ever mess up under high heat? Not sure what it is yet.