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I'm new to this stuff, but I'm stumped on fixing my bike so I came to this website, made a profile hoping someone can help me and end my sleepless nights. I just bought my bike about 2 months ago, 11k miles. When riding 1, 2 gear is fine. 3-5 gear is where the problems start. When I get into it the bike seems to cut out, almost like a cough or choke, it doesn't want to accelerate (but does slowly as its cutting out). The bike supposably wasnt ridden much by the owner before me (was started, pulled out of garage to be washed every weekend and then put away). Looking for any answers, directions. We are a GM family, I'm the first one with a bike so I dont know much about them. Thanks!
Jeff
Probably bad gas, crud in tank, plugged fuel filter.
Injected or carbed?
Old fuel setting in the lines makes a mess.
Replace the filter, clean out the tank and lines and then try using a fuel system cleaner/additive.
If that does not work and you are comfortable doing it pull the rest of the system apart and clean it.
But since it is running you may get away with the additive treatment.
In the early days of fuel injection people would bring there cars into the dealer when they started running like crap.
Allot of dealer would put the max amount of additive in the tank (filled with premium gas) and have the lot boy take it out and blow out the carbon (so to speak).
Injected or carbed?
Old fuel setting in the lines makes a mess.
Replace the filter, clean out the tank and lines and then try using a fuel system cleaner/additive.
If that does not work and you are comfortable doing it pull the rest of the system apart and clean it.
But since it is running you may get away with the additive treatment.
In the early days of fuel injection people would bring there cars into the dealer when they started running like crap.
Allot of dealer would put the max amount of additive in the tank (filled with premium gas) and have the lot boy take it out and blow out the carbon (so to speak).
It all depends on if/how dirty the fuel system is.
Leaving gas setting in you bike (gas motor) is not good for it (if not fairly regularly used/replenished).
Once it goes bad you have to get it out of the system (clean the system).
Evan using additives only does so much (to keep the gas fresh).
How long did it set?
It all depends on if/how dirty the fuel system is.
Leaving gas setting in you bike (gas motor) is not good for it (if not fairly regularly used/replenished).
Once it goes bad you have to get it out of the system (clean the system).
Evan using additives only does so much (to keep the gas fresh).
How long did it set?
the guy before me owned it about 6 years, he would start it up every weekend pull it out of garage wash it and put it back. He'd take it out for a ride every now and then. He said he was scared of it. He put 3k miles on it in 6 years.
the guy before me owned it about 6 years, he would start it up every weekend pull it out of garage wash it and put it back. He'd take it out for a ride every now and then. He said he was scared of it. He put 3k miles on it in 6 years.
If it was my bike................... I would flush all the fluids (systems) and check the bike out top to bottom.
Not sure were the bike resided but moisture can be very hard on it, if he never got it up to operating temperature and ran it it never had a change to dissipate the moisture in the fluids.
Fuel system, replace the filter/filters, inspect the fuel lines, inspect/clean out the tank, clean the carb (if you are good with carbs go through it).
Do all three holes (replace oil filter).
Flush the brake fluids for GP
Check the plugs & wires.
How do the tires look (how old are they, original tires)?
Basically go through the bike, if you are preparing it for winter storage it is a perfect time.
A lot of good advice mentioned above, about going through the bike, changing fluids, and especially about checking the date code on the tires... if they are over 8 years old, regardless of wear... replace them.
I would drain the fuel tank through the gas petcock, to get all the old gas out and also replace any inline fuel filter, that some people tend to add to the fuel line over the years. You may have varnish deposits, from old gas, on the inside of your carb & it's jets... affecting their performance... especially at higher RPM. If fuel system cleaners don't work, or you're in a hurry, you may have to remove/disassemble/clean your carb... Pretty easy to do.. Read the CV Performance website. They have a lot about the Keihin CV40 carb you have. It's a great, under rated carb...
Two other things to check, specific to that year...
1) Look into your fuel tank..... Use a flashlight and see if it has big chunks of what looks like paint, floating around... The lining in the early twin cam tanks can peel. The chunks float around and intermittently block the fuel filter (just a mesh screen at the gas tank petcock pick-up). It's a pain to fix, but needs to be dealt with if the tank lining is peeling. It happened to my '01, but not to my '03....
2) Some of the carbed bikes, (I believe '02 was included) have a vacuum component to the fuel petcock. There will be a vacuum line from the top of the carb to the fuel petcock. To get fuel, you need to turn on the petcock AND it needs vacuum form the engine. If that vacuum line dries out and cracks, it can cause all kinds of fuel flow issues. On my '01, I just got rid of the OEM petcock and put an aftermarket petcock on my bike, and capped the carb vacuum port.
That bike will run great once you catch up on it's obviously ignored maintenance, and dial it in... Enjoy!
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 11, 2018 at 10:08 AM.
Thanks for the help! Is See-Foam (I think that's how you spell it) the additive to use?? The bike is in Maryland, harsh winters but as far as i can tell it's been garage kept. Brand new tires, they still have the **** on them. The fuel lines are stainless steel and look new but I could be wrong so I'll look over them. Everybody has been seeming to say the same thing, on here and a couple of my buddies. Planning on getting into this and next weekend. I'll keep you guys updated, still up for any advice-info throughout.
I would be careful (personally) running sea foam through it (before cleaning out the fuel system).
As for additives for winter storage (less usage times) I use stable (but there are other products that do the same thing).
"IF" The fuel system is untouched I would yank it off.
Drain, clean, inspect, EVERYTHING before pumping anything through it.
If there is crap in the system all you are going to do is shove it into the card and cause yourself more problems.
With all that said you could get lucky..... or not.
As for the " stainless steel lines" are they stainless or wrapped rubber lines?
As for the tires, if they are old (check the date codes) you are rolling the dice.
Rolling the dice on motorcycle tires is not my idea of a good bet/gamble (the older I get the less I mess around with my tires on anything I ride or drive).
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Sounds like a fun project, a friend of mine is going to re-jug/cam plate/...... his "out of town bike" this winter (I am glad as I don't have a project to work on).
He still has him in town bike (same bikes but one has over 90K while the other has 30K) so we can go riding.
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Injected or carbed?
