P700 Top speed loss?

[trapperm]

Went for the Sunday ride today with our family. Our inlaws had their P1K5 and we rode the p700-4. Normally we can get our 700 up to near the 45mph top speed (44 to be exact) without much hesitation but today was a different story.

On our way home i noticed that the engine was running a bit warmer than normal, enough that the coolant light came on. I also observed our top speed had dropped to be somewhere to lbetween 32 and 35mph. (Near 10mph less than before)

Some of the things we checked:

Throttle adjustment (went so far as operating the accelerator via the old fashioned hand pull)

Spark arrestor/baffles in muffler (things seemed clean and not loose, though it's hard to jiggle anything inside)

Wheels (jacked machine up to make sure no bearings/breaks were of issue)

Air filter (pulled, wasn't perfect but not very dirty at all)

Coolant (level is fine)

700-4 runs fine/idles as it always has. The only observable thought is that when going from 2nd to 3rd there almost seems to be a stall in power. As if you let off the gas some during the shift. Top speeds were observed on level ground and it was given plenty of time to plateau.

Any thoughts? It should still fall within warranty so it might be headed to the dealer after Labor Day for another warranty repair if needed.

 

[GPR1500SC]

Went for the Sunday ride today with our family. Our inlaws had their P1K5 and we rode the p700-4. Normally we can get our 700 up to near the 45mph top speed (44 to be exact) without much hesitation but today was a different story.

On our way home i noticed that the engine was running a bit warmer than normal, enough that the coolant light came on. I also observed our top speed had dropped to be somewhere to lbetween 32 and 35mph. (Near 10mph less than before)

Some of the things we checked:

Throttle adjustment (went so far as operating the accelerator via the old fashioned hand pull)

Spark arrestor/baffles in muffler (things seemed clean and not loose, though it's hard to jiggle anything inside)

Wheels (jacked machine up to make sure no bearings/breaks were of issue)

Air filter (pulled, wasn't perfect but not very dirty at all)

Coolant (level is fine)

700-4 runs fine/idles as it always has. The only observable thought is that when going from 2nd to 3rd there almost seems to be a stall in power. As if you let off the gas some during the shift. Top speeds were observed on level ground and it was given plenty of time to plateau.

Any thoughts? It should still fall within warranty so it might be headed to the dealer after Labor Day for another warranty repair if needed.

It ate a cam lobe check your valve adjustment.

 

[trapperm]

It ate a cam lobe check your valve adjustment.

I just got a call back from the dealer. Said they could smell something burnt up in the oil and they suspect that somehow one of the clutches is burnt.

It's a bit discouraging and frightening to have happen as I've never really mudded with the machine nor towed anything. Just had my wife and 2 small kids with.

fingers crossed for warranty. . .

 

[swsebek]

First 700 I have heard that on...that should be a warranty issue

 

[Deluxe700]

I'm shocked...if that really is the cause... That would be the 1st P700 I've heard of with a clutch problem...

 

[trapperm]

I'm shocked...if that really is the cause... That would be the 1st P700 I've heard of with a clutch problem...

That was most everyone's reaction that I've talked to so far. At this point it sounds like its a bit of a job to get at them so its still a speculative diagnosis as no one has held any failed/bad parts in their hand. They must feel pretty confident in the diagnosis as I think they are going to order the parts and just go for it when they come in.

 

[Deluxe700]

That was most everyone's reaction that I've talked to so far. At this point it sounds like its a bit of a job to get at them so its still a speculative diagnosis as no one has held any failed/bad parts in their hand. They must feel pretty confident in the diagnosis as I think they are going to order the parts and just go for it when they come in.

I will be interested to hear the outcome .... It could have just been a "bad" part from the factory, and you just got lucky and picked the machine the "bad" part went in.
If it is a clutch...I can't see it was anything you did at all...

 

[jawquin]

Sound to me like a restriction in exhaust. Don't sound like a clutch to me. Good luck.

 

[Smitty335]

Sound to me like a restriction in exhaust. Don't sound like a clutch to me. Good luck.

Burnt oil, doesn't sound like an exhaust issue, but like Deluxe 700 said???

 

[DG Rider]

Did anyone check the oil level?

 

[Smitty335]

Did anyone check the oil level?

Burnt oil smell?

 

[DG Rider]

Burnt oil smell?

True. They would have said something...

 

[Smitty335]

True. They would have said something...

Since I got my P1 back from the first clutch failure, it's been built proof, I think they got it fixed! And now the heat fix from Honda, I'm stoked!

 

[DG Rider]

Since I got my P1 back from the first clutch failure, it's been built proof, I think they got it fixed! And now the heat fix from Honda, I'm stoked!

Honda doesn't miss the mark often. They will get it right eventually.

 

[Smitty335]

Honda doesn't miss the mark often. They will get it right eventually.

I knew they would!

 

[swsebek]

I think if the oil was too low his dealer would have pointed the blame on him.

 

[trapperm]

I think if the oil was too low his dealer would have pointed the blame on him.

I checked the oil during my initial investigation. Was right where it needs to be. I didn't smell it like the dealer did though.

 

[DG Rider]

I checked the oil during my initial investigation. Was right where it needs to be. I didn't smell it like the dealer did though.

I pulled the tranny on a high-mileage Honda pilot SUV last year with smoked clutches. Man...was that some of the worst smelling fluid I've ever smelled. Like nuclear body odor.

 

[jawquin]

What does burn't oil smell like?

I pulled the tranny on a high-mileage Honda pilot SUV last year with smoked clutches. Man...was that some of the worst smelling fluid I've ever smelled. Like nuclear body odor.

Cool. Do them run in the same oil as the motor like the 700?

 

[DG Rider]

What does burn't oil smell like?

Cool. Do them run in the same oil as the motor like the 700?

Nah...just ATF. Can't remember which type...probably Honda type something.

The other distinctive smell you'd get a lot in hotter climates is really sludgy engine or one thats been overheated. A very distinctive smell you get by just opening the oil fill cap.