1990 fxlr
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Canada
so the other day I fueled up at the shell station after work decided it was time to put premium in the old girl all was well till I fired it up to go to work. Now it back fires shoots flame out the pipes which looks cool but really is not a good thing for the motor as far as I know. I figured bad fuel as the price of gas is nuts there cannot be too many people running the expensive stuff. then I did a little research and found out ethanol is bad and shell puts up to 10% in their fuel. so I figured I would just run the crap out of the tank and fuel up at a different station but today the wife wanted to go to the dealer for some new t shirts so I thought wtf I will talk to the tech and see what his thoughts were. his take on the issue was a little different than mine . his suggestion start with the cheap parts, set of plugs and a bottle of fuel treatment. I never held much stock in fuel treatment always thought that was voodoo crap. well for the cost I gave it a try. I will be dammed the bike ran smooth and strong. am I on crack or was it that simple
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: In front of the computer for now.
You're not on crack but the fuel treatment was definately voodoo! I've got a riding mower that sits over the winter and after getting it out of the covers last Spring, it started running very poorly. And it continued to run like poop for the rest of the year. This spring, I had some leftover Seafoam and figured, what the heck, I'll dump the rest into the tractor. About 20 minutes after I fired it up it ran like a champ and has ever since. It's definately not a cure all but it will clean out the fuel system, including the carb.
That is a sharp looking bike you have. Hope you find out if it was in a movie or not.
That is a sharp looking bike you have. Hope you find out if it was in a movie or not.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,062
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From: Beautiful SW Missouri Ozark Mountain Country
I treat any fuel that is not going to be used up in 30 days with Sta-Bil. They say today's gasoline has a shelf life of about 3 to 4 weeks.
I also use 1 ounce of Hy-Per Lube Max Octane per gallon of gas in my HD. Say what you want about octane boosters, but this stuff works. My Evo has 10.5:1 pistons and pings on 93 octane. I run the Hy-Per Lube and it doesn't ping on a 105° day climbing steep Ozarks hils.
I understand folks' reservations about ethanol fuels, but I grew up on a large Iowa corn and bean farm, so I always believed that buying ethanol was a way to support farming. And it did back in the 70's and 80's, but now it doesn't matter what you buy, it all supports big oil.
Anyway, I've been using ethanol since I was a teenager. In farm trucks, motorcycles, hotrods, atv's, etc., etc., and have never had an ethanol related problem with any of them. I have always worked on my own vehicles and have NEVER had a carb rebuilt by someone other than myself. If all the BS you hear about ethanol and carbs was fact, I'd have seen it. 10% does not hurt a thing other than shelf life and MAYBE rubber deterioration. But if it does, it would take 1000 years to notice it.
I am not a professional mechanic, so it's not like I have seen a day after day parade of fuel systems come across my bench, so what I say here is my experience and that's all. It's pretty extensive though.
I also use 1 ounce of Hy-Per Lube Max Octane per gallon of gas in my HD. Say what you want about octane boosters, but this stuff works. My Evo has 10.5:1 pistons and pings on 93 octane. I run the Hy-Per Lube and it doesn't ping on a 105° day climbing steep Ozarks hils.
I understand folks' reservations about ethanol fuels, but I grew up on a large Iowa corn and bean farm, so I always believed that buying ethanol was a way to support farming. And it did back in the 70's and 80's, but now it doesn't matter what you buy, it all supports big oil.
Anyway, I've been using ethanol since I was a teenager. In farm trucks, motorcycles, hotrods, atv's, etc., etc., and have never had an ethanol related problem with any of them. I have always worked on my own vehicles and have NEVER had a carb rebuilt by someone other than myself. If all the BS you hear about ethanol and carbs was fact, I'd have seen it. 10% does not hurt a thing other than shelf life and MAYBE rubber deterioration. But if it does, it would take 1000 years to notice it.
I am not a professional mechanic, so it's not like I have seen a day after day parade of fuel systems come across my bench, so what I say here is my experience and that's all. It's pretty extensive though.
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Canada
You're not on crack but the fuel treatment was definately voodoo! I've got a riding mower that sits over the winter and after getting it out of the covers last Spring, it started running very poorly. And it continued to run like poop for the rest of the year. This spring, I had some leftover Seafoam and figured, what the heck, I'll dump the rest into the tractor. About 20 minutes after I fired it up it ran like a champ and has ever since. It's definately not a cure all but it will clean out the fuel system, including the carb.
That is a sharp looking bike you have. Hope you find out if it was in a movie or not.
That is a sharp looking bike you have. Hope you find out if it was in a movie or not.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I treat any fuel that is not going to be used up in 30 days with Sta-Bil. They say today's gasoline has a shelf life of about 3 to 4 weeks.
I also use 1 ounce of Hy-Per Lube Max Octane per gallon of gas in my HD. Say what you want about octane boosters, but this stuff works. My Evo has 10.5:1 pistons and pings on 93 octane. I run the Hy-Per Lube and it doesn't ping on a 105° day climbing steep Ozarks hils.
I understand folks' reservations about ethanol fuels, but I grew up on a large Iowa corn and bean farm, so I always believed that buying ethanol was a way to support farming. And it did back in the 70's and 80's, but now it doesn't matter what you buy, it all supports big oil.
Anyway, I've been using ethanol since I was a teenager. In farm trucks, motorcycles, hotrods, atv's, etc., etc., and have never had an ethanol related problem with any of them. I have always worked on my own vehicles and have NEVER had a carb rebuilt by someone other than myself. If all the BS you hear about ethanol and carbs was fact, I'd have seen it. 10% does not hurt a thing other than shelf life and MAYBE rubber deterioration. But if it does, it would take 1000 years to notice it.
I am not a professional mechanic, so it's not like I have seen a day after day parade of fuel systems come across my bench, so what I say here is my experience and that's all. It's pretty extensive though.
I also use 1 ounce of Hy-Per Lube Max Octane per gallon of gas in my HD. Say what you want about octane boosters, but this stuff works. My Evo has 10.5:1 pistons and pings on 93 octane. I run the Hy-Per Lube and it doesn't ping on a 105° day climbing steep Ozarks hils.
I understand folks' reservations about ethanol fuels, but I grew up on a large Iowa corn and bean farm, so I always believed that buying ethanol was a way to support farming. And it did back in the 70's and 80's, but now it doesn't matter what you buy, it all supports big oil.
Anyway, I've been using ethanol since I was a teenager. In farm trucks, motorcycles, hotrods, atv's, etc., etc., and have never had an ethanol related problem with any of them. I have always worked on my own vehicles and have NEVER had a carb rebuilt by someone other than myself. If all the BS you hear about ethanol and carbs was fact, I'd have seen it. 10% does not hurt a thing other than shelf life and MAYBE rubber deterioration. But if it does, it would take 1000 years to notice it.
I am not a professional mechanic, so it's not like I have seen a day after day parade of fuel systems come across my bench, so what I say here is my experience and that's all. It's pretty extensive though.
well I think it has nothing to do with fuel now that the issue is back. and when younger I work at a drag strip and one of the fastest cars I ever saw ran on methalhydrate good old gasline anti-freeze so I think ethanol is not to blame
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From: Canada
thank you
it has been a real b***h lately but all my fault in the end
all this running like crap was because I let it idle too long with the choke on loaded the motor up really bad. now I do not do that and she runs like a champ. feel that this was a case of major moron behind the bars. still learning the difference between a metric cruiser and a Harley. but that is not the fault of the bike, every bike has a personality and sometimes you got to get to know each other. we will get it together soon I hope
it has been a real b***h lately but all my fault in the end
all this running like crap was because I let it idle too long with the choke on loaded the motor up really bad. now I do not do that and she runs like a champ. feel that this was a case of major moron behind the bars. still learning the difference between a metric cruiser and a Harley. but that is not the fault of the bike, every bike has a personality and sometimes you got to get to know each other. we will get it together soon I hope
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
thank you
it has been a real b***h lately but all my fault in the end
all this running like crap was because I let it idle too long with the choke on loaded the motor up really bad. now I do not do that and she runs like a champ. feel that this was a case of major moron behind the bars. still learning the difference between a metric cruiser and a Harley. but that is not the fault of the bike, every bike has a personality and sometimes you got to get to know each other. we will get it together soon I hope
it has been a real b***h lately but all my fault in the end
all this running like crap was because I let it idle too long with the choke on loaded the motor up really bad. now I do not do that and she runs like a champ. feel that this was a case of major moron behind the bars. still learning the difference between a metric cruiser and a Harley. but that is not the fault of the bike, every bike has a personality and sometimes you got to get to know each other. we will get it together soon I hope
It is certainly true in my case.
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Canada
ya seems to fit me too