I have a 1988 Hurricane. I can ride it around and it feels like I'm riding a 450 Honda when it gets up to 5-6 thousand RPMs it kicks in the power then cuts it right back out and does this the whole time I'm riding. Carbs have been rebuilt and pulled 2 extra time (just to double check specs), syncronized, new needles and seats with screens cleaned. It just doesn't feel like a carb problem more like an ignition problem, it feels like a switch is being flipped on/off. Any suggestions? The bike has 16,077 miles on it, tank has been cleaned, New petcock and screen, fuel filter changed, fuel pump points like new and pressure is at specs. Vents in tank are open not plugged, air filter is good. Suggestions? Thanks

 

So the bike lacks power at low speeds as well?

Have you checked for vacuum leaks/kinked hoses under the tank?

Is the bike charging normally?

Are the ignition coils in good condition?

Any history of the bike, is it new to you, was it running OK before pulling the carbs, has it been standing for a long time?

 

After checking hoses and the tank is still lifted, at night, check for arching at the plug wires and coils. Sounds like you may have coil arching.

You can also bypass the fuel pump and gravity feed it if you want. Maybe the pump is not working correctly when your back is turned.

 

Forgot the MK1 has a fuel pump

 

Yeah, pressure may be great at a dribble but supply may be crappy. The points may not be working correctly, best to bypass it.

 

+1 - ditch the old MK1 fuel pump and gravity feed - it's getting starved for fuel

 

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I'm off this Monday and Ill try all the advice. I didnt think about gravity feeding the fuel or checking for the coils arching out. I was just going to start from the front to the back checking ALL the electrical connectors for a burnout or corrosion. Ill post back when I try all the suggestions. Thanks again everyone!

 

Tip : sometimes if gravity feeding the carbs it's best to feed them from the other
side like the Mk2 & Mk3 which involves flipping the feed tube(s) the opposite way and
adding some "custom" cut fuel line to run from the petcock around back the right side
(throttle side) of the bike. You will see trying to gravity feed the carbs from the
stock left side can lead to kinks given the acute angles.

Found this to be the best solution with my gravity fed 87 Hurricane

 

Ok, here's what i've got..... Got rid of the fuel pump, Sprock did what you suggested on the fuel lines, while the carbs were off doing that, I just quadriple checked the floats, jets, slides etc. Was even going to try running with pog filters (tank wont fit), NO change in runability. checked the wires at night, unpluged and cleaned every plug in I could find and used dialectric grease in every one... no change. Now I do have timing chain noise could I have possibly jumped a tooth and changed when it comes "on cam"? Any other suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks for all your help.