My bike's previous owner had the cap vent problem with fuel
starvation. He said a mechanic drilled a very tiny additional vent
hole in the cap just above where it seals. Its rather hard to describe
where it is. But I could send you a picture if you want.
[email protected]

On Feb 8, 10:33�pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
> If it aint broke, don't fix it. Happens again ? Then we'll chase it.
>
> ________________________________
> From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Mon, February 8, 2010 12:29:49 PM
> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Carb Issue
>
> Dennis,
>
> You asked for a ride report. On Sunday, I rode for about 5 hours, with long
> stretches at 75-80 mph. The bike performed just fine, no surging, no
> suffocating, even though I followed the same route as the time it did so. The
> only difference was the weather was cooler this time, about in the 50s average
> all day. �Could cooler air lessen the problem of a clogged carb
> vent or do these things sometime "fix themselves"? � �Any
> suggestion for I should try or test next?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jay S
> 92 NH750
> South Florida
>
> �Topic: Carb Issue
> [email protected] Feb 05 11:14AM �-0500 ^
>
> Dennis,
>
> Thanks so much for the quick reply and the good and highly �detailed
> advice. As much as getting the steps to take, I appreciate �learning the "why"
> behind something malfunctioning.
>
> To answer your �queries, first, my bike is not a California model. Second,
> I tried what �you suggested, leaving the bike parked overnight with gas cap
> open and �petcock on, and in fact, it started normally the next morning, no
> flooding. I also noticed a slight whoosh when opening the gas cap after
> about a 15-20 minute ride. Both, if I read your note right, are �indications
> of a clogged gas cap vent. If so, what is the fix? And can I �do it myself?
> I have not yet tried a long, high-speed ride but will on �Sunday and will
> report what happens. Thanks again. You are a fantastic �asset to this
> board.
>
> Jay S
> 92 NH750
> 85K+ miles
> South �Florida
>
> Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> Feb 02 09:47PM �-0800 _^_
> (mip://01cdae38/default.html#digest_top)
>
> Ok, OK... now slowly, very slowly, let's look at your �problem. Or rather
> two problems. And yes, they both can be related. (we'll �see that later)
> First off, is this a California bike ? The answer makes �for a different
> approach. The highway deal can be a function of thermal �failure of the 
> ignition
> (it gets hot..duh) That one is harder to trace out �so let's go with a more
> common problem (there really are no "common" �problems with the late model
> 750's) I would suspect that there can be a �fuel starvation problem at highway
> speeds. Normally it doesn't take very �long for a fuel starvation problem to
> show up (just a mile or so) if it �has a restricted fuel supply. (kinked
> hose, etc) Yes, opening the throttle �more makes it worse. Now if the tank
> vent is obstructed it can take longer �to starve the engine. (here's where
> California bikes are different) If the �fuel supply is inadequate, it can run
> well at low speeds and "run out" at �higher ones. An inadequate vent
> would just make it work longer than if it �was blocked completely. So much
> for deep thinking. (hey, you have to �sometimes) What do you do ? For
> starters, leave the tank cap open �overnight with the petcock "on" and see if 
> it
> starts OK. (I always turn �mine off... ) Then report back. In south Florida
> it gets hot (whew) and a �bike in a garage or shed (I won't do it again) will
> cause the tank vapor �to expand and force the fuel past the needle valves.
> See the relation now �? A blocked / obstructed vent can cause carb flooding
> and fuel �starvation.(different times, different causes) Opening the cap at
> highway �speeds is not a great idea but try it and see if it clears up the
> running. �If you go out for a ride and open the cap before you start it and
> it goes �whoosh... TaDa !
> This is just a place I'd start to look for your problem. �85K is a ton of
> miles and there may something other happening, we'll see. �I go with simple
> stuff before I dive into the complex. Get back to me with �what you find.
> Remember that if this isn't "it", that's just something to �cross off the list
> of possibilities.
>
> ________________________________
> From: �"[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> To: �[email protected]
> Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 7:37:44 �AM
> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Carb Issue?
>
> I'm hoping the �experts on this board (and hopefully Dennis H) can give me
> some guidance �on a problem with my '92 NH750, with over 85K miles.
>
> On one �hand, the engine floods when the bike is parked, leading to hard
> starts. �Turning off the petcock between rides makes this manageable.
> However, now �there's another issue. On highway rides, after an hour or so
> at 75
> MPH, the bike suddenly starts to lose power as if it's starving for fuel,
> surging and suffocating. The more I open the throttle, the worse it gets.
> But if
> I slow up to 60-65, it recovers and then is fine. Don't know if �the
> problems are
> interrelated, but the local tech doesn't want to do a �carb teardown to
> check it
> out. Says it would be expensive and there's �no guarantee he'll find what's
> wrong. I love this bike and think it has �many more miles to give.
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks so much in advance.
>
> Jay S
> South �Florida
>
> Dennis Hammerl �<[email protected]> Feb 05 08:00PM -0800 ^
>
> The question of it �being a California bike is because they don't vent at the 
> cap. The venting is �complex and would make us look into that system and not 
> the cap. In your case �the cap seems to be restricted. Replacing the cap is 
> the easiest fix. They are �somewhat pricey. The restriction can be many 
> things; crud, swollen gaskets, �rust, etc. They aren't meant to be 
> disassembled and as such there are no �individual parts for a cap. You can 
> try to find and cure the problem but very �often it's a swollen gasket caused 
> by the ethanol content of today's fuels. �Let us know how your long ride goes.
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