Motorcycle Repair: 85 honda rebel, honda rebel, metal filter

Question
QUESTION: Mike
I just bought a 85 Honda rebel at a very decent price. The guy told me that it had been sitting in a barn for 10 years. He bought it and did alot of things to it to get it back up( carb clean new air filter etc but since iv been driving it for the past 2 days it shifts into 1st and 2nd gear but once it gets into 3rd gear it loses power and so on into 4th and 5th. it tops out at like 50 i dunno what to check or what to do.
Bret

ANSWER: Bret, if you have a spark plug wrench, remove the plug and check its condition. Black, fluffy soot on the electrode means the motor is running too rich which usually means a restriction in the airflow somewhere. Double check the air filter to make sure it is clean and check the airbox area for any obstructions that would reduce airflow to the carb. Also, check the choke linkage to see if it is stuck in the closed position.

If the electrode is glazed, the bike is running too lean which usually means a restriction in fuel flow or a carb that needs to be adjusted or rejetted. Check the hose coming from the fuel line for kinks or damage. Pull the end off at the carb and place it in a glass jar, then open the fuel tap and let some gas drain into it. See if there's any sediment in the fuel, if there is you will need to drain the tank and remove the fuel tap assembly to clean the filter on it, as well as flushing out the gas tank. There should be a small hose attached to the back of the fuel tap, this opens the diaphragm inside by using vacuum from the intake system. If this hose is punctured, kinked or cracked it will not open the fuel tap enough to supply sufficient fuel at higher speeds.

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QUESTION: Mike
i checked the spark plugs there is black soot on them so i looked at my air filter i pull it out and looked at it. I pulled the foam off and the metal filter itself is black dirty looken but it doesnt looked like clogged its just dirty should i buy a new one? and also there is a face paced chirping sound comen from the engine is that normal?

Answer
The filter doesn't have to be completely plugged for it to stop airflow, if it is visibly dirty then it is reducing the amount of air getting to the carb and causing it to run rich. Definitely replace the filter and wash or replace the foam and see if that helps any. As for the chirping sound, that usually indicates a leak in an exhaust gasket. Very carefully check the area where the exhaust header bolts to the cylinder head to see if this is where the sound is coming from. If it isn't, get a long screwdriver and use it to pinpoint the source... stick the handle end in one ear and then put the blade end against various points on the motor. Looks a bit silly, but it works. The screwdriver will act as a noise amplifier, so as soon as you hear that chirping noise through it, whatever part of the motor you are listening to will need to be looked at.