[LowLife1220]

the other day after i rebuilt my front forks i installed them on my 81 gl. i put them in as high as i possibly could and the bike sat like a chopper since i have a 4" drop in the rear. the bike ran like crap. after a little looking it looks like the motor is at an angle leaning back. my question is, is that what caused the motor to not run? is that leaned back angle keeping mixed air/fuel into the combustion chamber? did the oil slosh away from the pressure sensor? what is the maximum angle the motor can sit at and still run properly? i noticed the oil pressure light stays on now but that may be wiring related and the carbs are not tuned so it may be a little lean but it ran better after i lowered the forks and leveled the motor. it may be coincidence.

 

[timothy_d]

First, it's very likely screwing with your carburetor floats.



Second, too much rake (lifting the front) could also screw with the oil pick up.

 

[Reg in Bristol]

I agree with Timothy

having the oil light on would scare the crap out of me

unless I knew for certain it was something like a mere electrical fault

The oil pickup/strainer is right at the front of the motor and has a wide base

so with your geometry, its possible the edge is sucking air.



If it is, the life of your motor is going to be very short

 

[LowLife1220]

I measured the front of the motor before raising it back up. from the center bolt of the clutch cover to the ground was 8 inches. then i raised the forks up to the stock height. it was 9 inches. the motor doesnt look any different and the carbs in the rear didn't change pitch at all.

 

[LowLife1220]

if someone has a minute to do me a quick favor and put a level on the underside of their motor and let me know if its level or not. i put a level on the underside and it shows high in the front. i can't tell if thats the design of the case becuase the motor is giving me an optical illusion. the top is perfectly level from the casting between the heads and the carbs. if i had to level the motor i don't know how to do it short of dropping the forks back to that low. i was thinking of pulling that short spring out of the front suspension and that would cause them to retract that distance which should do it but i don't know if that will work.