04 FXSTS Hot Stalling
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From: San Diego, CA
Update: Dealer says that they are going to install a clear fuel line on it to see if the gas is boiling and causing the fuel starvation, the other option is to install a free-flow petcock on it to rule out the vacuum one that's currently on it.
I wouldn't think a stock 04 FXSTS fuel line route would cause boiling unless maybe the lines degraded enough over time, they are confident it isn't the carb due to the heat being the common denominator.
Has anyone heard of later model Softails boiling gas?
I wouldn't think a stock 04 FXSTS fuel line route would cause boiling unless maybe the lines degraded enough over time, they are confident it isn't the carb due to the heat being the common denominator.
Has anyone heard of later model Softails boiling gas?
I'm not a fan of the vacuum petcock, I replaced mine ASAP on the carbed twin cam... just another nanny device to save people who can't remember to turn off the fuel... but it's not that complicated... pretty easy to check it for clogged filter screen, worn/bad vacuum diaphragm, and to check if the vacuum part is working.....
I wouldn't be too thrilled about a dealer throwing parts at a problem, without them first figuring out what's causing the problem.... not sure I'd let them work on my bike...!
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For anyone still following, after a week the dealer got back to me. They ran a clear fuel line from the tank to the carb and after running it for a minute or so said that it was starting to bubble.
To which he then basically said that this is how it is, and my options were to run a Pingel higher-flow petcock, or fuel additive every time I fill the tank (what?).
This sounds like bs, stock everything on this bike, and you cannot tell me that every FXSTS in existence has this problem, maybe it's not venting, or something else? I have lost all faith in the dealership at this point and I'll take whatever free labor they give and troubleshoot this in my small garage instead.
To which he then basically said that this is how it is, and my options were to run a Pingel higher-flow petcock, or fuel additive every time I fill the tank (what?).
This sounds like bs, stock everything on this bike, and you cannot tell me that every FXSTS in existence has this problem, maybe it's not venting, or something else? I have lost all faith in the dealership at this point and I'll take whatever free labor they give and troubleshoot this in my small garage instead.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,214
From: San Diego, CA
For anyone still following, after a week the dealer got back to me. They ran a clear fuel line from the tank to the carb and after running it for a minute or so said that it was starting to bubble.
To which he then basically said that this is how it is, and my options were to run a Pingel higher-flow petcock, or fuel additive every time I fill the tank (what?).
This sounds like bs, stock everything on this bike, and you cannot tell me that every FXSTS in existence has this problem, maybe it's not venting, or something else? I have lost all faith in the dealership at this point and I'll take whatever free labor they give and troubleshoot this in my small garage instead.
To which he then basically said that this is how it is, and my options were to run a Pingel higher-flow petcock, or fuel additive every time I fill the tank (what?).
This sounds like bs, stock everything on this bike, and you cannot tell me that every FXSTS in existence has this problem, maybe it's not venting, or something else? I have lost all faith in the dealership at this point and I'll take whatever free labor they give and troubleshoot this in my small garage instead.
I don't see how changing the petcock is the same as running a fuel additive...!?!?!?
I agree with your assessment of your dealership. They seem to be lazy and/or ignorant about carbed bikes..
If they are reporting their findings correctly, at least you know the problem is the fuel flowing from the tank, to the carb....
Did you check to see if the tank lining is peeling? If it is, chunks of the paint will randomly cover the petcock screen and reduce fuel flow....
If the lining is good, drain the tank and pull the petcock... you can inspect it to see if it is clogged somehow... You can disassemble it to check the vacuum diaphragm. Also check that the vacuum line and/or vacuum port on the carb, that activates the petcock, is not clogged. If you want you can rebuild it or install a new one.
I don't like the vacuum petcock. It's just a nanny device for those who can't remember, or are too lazy, to shut the petcock on/off. I replaced mine with a non-vacuum petcock... if you go this route, don't forget to plug the vacuum port on the carb for the petcock vacuum hose.
If their test/findings are competent.... you are close to a fix... don't give up...!
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They got back to me, after having the clear line attached, they said that a big bubble begins to form, gets so big that fuel can't pass to the carb. The PO must have known this, so he put a big a** jet on it and adjusted the float to allow more gas (pretty concerning). So they basically sold me a lemon. If this thing is getting to hot, I'm assuming running an oil cooler on it/an insulator on the fuel line would be a fix? I want to run a new petcock anyways but the dealer is convinced this is heat-related because it runs like a top when cool.
It's now spent more time in their garage than mine...
It's now spent more time in their garage than mine...
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From: San Diego, CA
They got back to me, after having the clear line attached, they said that a big bubble begins to form, gets so big that fuel can't pass to the carb. The PO must have known this, so he put a big a** jet on it and adjusted the float to allow more gas (pretty concerning). So they basically sold me a lemon. If this thing is getting to hot, I'm assuming running an oil cooler on it/an insulator on the fuel line would be a fix? I want to run a new petcock anyways but the dealer is convinced this is heat-related because it runs like a top when cool.
I've never heard of anything like this before.... bubbles don't just form in a properly maintained fuel system... they are supposed to be air tight? The fuel flows to the carb where it's mixed with air for combustion... the only air introduced to this simple system is through the tank vent and then through the carb throat...what is the origin of this bubble? They know what is happening but can't figure out the cause...??
Sorry, I'm not a tech, but I'm not a stranger to gas/diesel engines either. I've maintained my cars/trucks/boats/motorcycles for 40 years. Their explanation makes no sense to me.... I'd have a ton of questions for them..
Is the bubble forming in the line, near the carb, and then rising to the petcock and blocking fluid flow?? Or is the bubble coming from the tank/petcock...??
Is the bubble forming from air getting into the fuel line (maybe from damaged vacuum petcock)?? Or is the bubble forming from gas boiling in the line from engine heat (which takes a bunch of heat!)...??
Have they disassembled and inspected the vacuum petcock? Have they inspected the condition of the hoses to include the vacuum hose from the petcock to the carb?
As for the cold engine running well, if it's over jetted, it will run well (like having the enricher pulled out) until it gets warm... until of course the fuel stops flowing...
I'm always willing to learn, but I have a hard time believing their explanation. At best it's incomplete... they forgot the "how"...?
I'm following this thread, I'm really interested to hear the final resolution...!
Good luck with the fix... if they sold it to you, keep on them ...!!
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 4, 2019 at 10:06 PM.
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Update number 500.
Tech threw a Pingel on it to see if the additional fuel flow would help, clear line still on the bike. Took it for a long ride. No one heard from him, then a call ~30 mins later that it stranded him. He let it sit for 15 mins, fired right up, got it back to the shop, no dice.
Said that the bubble in the line formed again, and because there was even more fuel flowing to the carb now, it puked what was left in the line straight into the air filter. They don't have a temp-gun in the shop, but they are telling me this thing is running hot as hell. Now, the PO put this (what I think is) goofy *** 2 into 1 pipe on it that sweeps very close to the oil lines and the oil tank. Their thought is, maybe this thing is heating up the oil and it can't serve it's purpose to cool the engine, thus it runs hot. I don't know if I buy that, looking at stock picks, it doesn't look THAT much closer than normal.
Is that even viable?
They have openly admitted that it's a science project at this point, funny enough, the title hasn't even come in the mail yet.
Tech threw a Pingel on it to see if the additional fuel flow would help, clear line still on the bike. Took it for a long ride. No one heard from him, then a call ~30 mins later that it stranded him. He let it sit for 15 mins, fired right up, got it back to the shop, no dice.
Said that the bubble in the line formed again, and because there was even more fuel flowing to the carb now, it puked what was left in the line straight into the air filter. They don't have a temp-gun in the shop, but they are telling me this thing is running hot as hell. Now, the PO put this (what I think is) goofy *** 2 into 1 pipe on it that sweeps very close to the oil lines and the oil tank. Their thought is, maybe this thing is heating up the oil and it can't serve it's purpose to cool the engine, thus it runs hot. I don't know if I buy that, looking at stock picks, it doesn't look THAT much closer than normal.
Is that even viable?
They have openly admitted that it's a science project at this point, funny enough, the title hasn't even come in the mail yet.
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Posts: 14,143
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From: San Diego, CA
Since I've never heard of this before, and of course never scene it before.... I'm at a total loss for ideas....
Sounds like they may be putting in the effort to figure it out though.....
Sorry you had to go through this, they really are good bikes when they are sorted out....
I'll keep following this thread until I read the resolution.... very interested in what will finally solve this....
Hang in there....
Sounds like they may be putting in the effort to figure it out though.....
Sorry you had to go through this, they really are good bikes when they are sorted out....
I'll keep following this thread until I read the resolution.... very interested in what will finally solve this....
Hang in there....
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Call me a quitter, but I went back to the dealer last week and asked them what my options were in the event this couldn't be solved (already over a month at the dealership). The tech was running out of ideas to fix it and to be honest, I had lost a lot of confidence in the bike ever running properly.
Long story short, they took it back for what I paid, and I traded into a 07 Dyna (EFI) with low miles. Couldn't be happier now, they were super professional about it and turned it around in just a few days.
Wish I had a better answer for what the actual issue was, but when I spoke with the tech he was just throwing out ideas at this point.
All in all, this worked out and I am back on the road with a new sled.
Long story short, they took it back for what I paid, and I traded into a 07 Dyna (EFI) with low miles. Couldn't be happier now, they were super professional about it and turned it around in just a few days.
Wish I had a better answer for what the actual issue was, but when I spoke with the tech he was just throwing out ideas at this point.
All in all, this worked out and I am back on the road with a new sled.