Joe '86 450
Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:08:05 -0800
Thanks for that Dennis. I will look into replacing the cap/venting the tank. I was thinking of trying the ride with the cap not on completely but I like the "T' idea better. Joe On Dec 4, 9:43 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > What wonderful troubleshooting you do! You've diagnosed your own problem. The > gas cap is not venting properly. I saw this Tuesday on a Honda GX340 mounted > on a septic tank cleaning truck (crapper) The air lock causes a starvation > after a few minutes. I replaced the cap and sent it on its way (none too > soon, phew) The cause seems to be the increased alcohol in fuel now. It's > causing a swelling of the gasket that seals it to the tank. The swelling > closes off the small vent. Replace the cap or... One cure I had for a bike > that I couldn't get a cap for was to put a "tee" fitting in the fuel line and > run a translucent hose (gas resistant) under the tank and up to the fork nut. > That put it above the fuel level and supplied a vent. Leave it open at the > end or cap it, just remember to drill a small hole in the cap. Being > translucent, it makes a gas gauge too. (Hey Kyle, remember that from your X6 > ? The gas gauge on the left side of the tank) I suspect I'll be > seeing this more often in the near future as the E level increases. For now, > when you feel it going down, open the cap for a second or two. > > --- On Thu, 12/4/08, Joe '86 450 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Joe '86 450 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] New nighthawk owner, new rider, new group member, > new stalling/fuel problem? -- new new new > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com> > Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 11:25 PM > > Hi All, > > As the message header indicates I'm a recent addition to the nighthawk > group, new to nighthawks and new to riding. I own a 1986 450,named > Jenny by the previous owner, that I picked up here in the L.A. area > with a questionable 18k on the odometer. Questionable only because the > speedo was swinging like mad on the test ride and stopped working > completely a week or so after I bought it. I now have about 200 - 300 > miles on the bike, and things have been going well. > > I've learned quite a bit since I've been lurking here ( the tires > aren't quite as new as the previous owner stated, that clunk into > first is somewhat normal, battery care etc) but I've come across a new > problem. I set off to work this morning with a detour to the gas > station (1.5 miles tops) to top off my front tire when the bike stalls > at about 40 mph. Feels just like I ran out of gas (tank filled the > night before). I checked the petcock thinking I had forgotten to turn > it on but it was good. I switched to reserve, no dice. I spent a > couple minutes rolling off the busy street,parking etc, opened my tank > to make sure I wasn't hallucinating about the full tank. I figured one > more try before the walk of shame home, and the bike fired up with a > little sputtering and then proceeded to run fine all the way to work > ( ~20 miles @ 35 mph) > > So, onto the ride home. About 20 min. into the ride at ~40 mph I feel > the bike start to stumble, I reach down and switch to reserve thinking > some sort of blockage on the intake, and it clears up. Another 10 min. > down the road a big stumble and several stalls from a stop ( being a > new rider I assume with my fingers crossed that it is me but that > wears thin with the third stall). Repeated starts and stalls, > switching to reserve and then it clears up for another 5 mins. Another > stall and this one lasts about 5 ~ 7 minutes, the bike has been on > reserve since the last stall. Playing with the petcock again, opening > the tank and resting and the bike fires up and I ride the last couple > of minutes home. The last clue comes as I shut the bike off and start > to back it into the garage-- I hear a faint hissing sound and its > coming from the gas cap. I open the tank and there is a hiss as the > pressure equalizes(in or out I don't know). Mind you its only been > about 3/4 to a mile since I last opened the tank. So, my guess is some > sort of fuel system blockage/slowdown that starves the bike for gas > and then manages to clear up. I have decent car repair knowledge but > am new to bikes and am hoping for a few pointers. Thanks for taking > the time to read this far and for any help you can offer. > > Joe in Altadena --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---