stanley/ Randolph
Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:00:42 -0800
Back in the early '80s Fords were having problems with alcohol eating up the
styrofoam floats in their carbs when the outer plastic shell developed a leak.
Of course, the engine then wouldn't run because it was getting raw gas from the
overflowing float chamber.
Stanley
________________________________
From: Dennis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2008 12:40:27 AM
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: New nighthawk owner, new rider, new group
member, new stalling/fuel problem? -- new new new
Dennis,
Yes, it must vary from state to state. I'm in Seattle and I use a Shell
station and I saw a sign on a pump there that said, "May contain up to 10%
Ethanol" but it wasn't clear if the sign referred to all grades of gasoline or
just to the regular - which it was posted next to.
Dennis Gallagher
Seattle
-----Original Message-----
From: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Dennis Hammerl
Sent: 05 December, 2008 22:04
To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: New nighthawk owner, new rider, new group
member, new stalling/fuel problem? -- new new new
I can only speak of my area (NE PA) as gas is formulated differently for
others. State laws, and temperatures affect this. The Shell stations here have
no alcohol at present, most are at 10%. GA allows 10% to be added at a
distribution point. I once got a load of 30% on I-95 in GA and had some real
problems with it. Doing a water separation test can determine exact amount. The
alcohol causing some parts to swell will be a problem as the percentage
increases.
--- On Fri, 12/5/08, Dennis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: Dennis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: New nighthawk owner, new rider, new group
member, new stalling/fuel problem? -- new new new
To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 12:55 AM
Dennis,
Are they putting Ethanol in all levels of gas at the same percent? I run
premium in my bikes and I'm wondering if I'll have this problem.
Dennis Gallagher
Seattle
'85 & '86 CB700SC
-----Original Message-----
From: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
Dennis Hammerl
Sent: 04 December, 2008 21:43
To: nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: New nighthawk owner, new rider, new group
member, new stalling/fuel problem? -- new new new
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
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