We got my Boston Bob 2.1 liter engine in this week, and I have been
puttering around town, trying to break it in gently.  The couple of times I
have gotten it out on the highway, it performed OK, but didn't seem to have
any more punch going up hills than the tired one did.  It also seemed to
have, if possible, less power at low RPMs, such as pulling away from a stop
sign.

I figured that part of that is being new and tight, and my mechanic is gone
until Monday, so I thought I would see how it went on a drive this weekend.

But today, it doesn't seem to be able to get out of its own way.  Little
hills required full throttle, and it didn't want to come up to speed, even
in 1st or 2nd.

I have a digitool mounted on the dash, and didn't see anything unusual
there.  The TPS goes on and off OK.  Temp II comes down to .11 or below when
warm.

When I pulled into the driveway and got out to listen, I heard a stones in a
coffee can sort of rattle from time to time.  Crawling around underneath, it
sounds as if it is coming from the muffler or cat.

I can't tell if there is anything funny about the amount of exhaust coming
out of the tailpipe or not.  The engine revs ok when I pull the accelerator
linkage.  Sometimes I hear a sort of thump when I shut the engine down.

I went to a muffler shop and made an appointment for tomorrow to check if
the cat is plugged.

Coming home from there, just a few blocks, it seemed to have even less
power, and I barely crawled into the driveway.  It idles fine, at about 900
rpms.

Anything else I can check?  Could the cat alone be causing such a rapid and
massive loss of power?

Puzzled in Idaho

Mike Finkbiner (who wants to leave for Seattle on Tuesday!)
'87 Westy
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