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cold and idle

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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 09:58 AM
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Default cold and idle

I was riding my carbed 03 to work this morning and it cut off a couple of times. It started and idled fine for the first 15-20 miles then when I came to a stop it would slowly idle down and shut off. Its the first time it has done it but it was 23 degrees this morning. Could it be the motor of fuel lines getting too cold at that temp or something else. Like I said it has never done it before and this is the coldest I have rode it in.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 10:33 AM
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23 is damn cold! but you might be getting an intake leak or you need to adjust your idle or did you forget to shut your choke off?. Being here in Florida,we don't see that kind of temps(with the exception of the now into next week we're in the 20's/30's) i would think that the fuel line should be warm enough in between the front and rear cylinders.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2010 | 10:36 AM
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You got it right... Fuel and fuel lines do not really mix with cold weather mostly due to the moisture in the fuel freezing in the line. No matter how careful you are you will have moisture in your fuel whether from a "bad batch" or condensation... I try to keep my tank topped off and add a bit of fuel dryer when the weather gets cold.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 01:26 PM
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Is that the only option? I rode it home this morning and it was the same situation, it ran perfect for 15-20 miles then would cut off at idle and sputtered at anything less than 1/4 throttle. It ran fine at highway speeds. It was a little colder this morning too, around 20.
I have having to carry around a bottle to put in the tank everytime I feel up and its cold.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 03:37 PM
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Well... I have heard of that sediment in the tank can cause this... when you first start out all of the sediment is settled and gets shaken up as you go and then clogs the filter intake. What you are describing seems to pertain to the engine getting fuel for the first part of your trip then being starved of fuel... if you park the bike and let it sit for a while does it start and run for 15 - 20 miles again and then cut off again.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 05:37 PM
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Its only done it the last 2 days I rode when it was below freezing. I may buy some of the stuff you said and see if it helps.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by handyhoward
You got it right... Fuel and fuel lines do not really mix with cold weather mostly due to the moisture in the fuel freezing in the line. No matter how careful you are you will have moisture in your fuel whether from a "bad batch" or condensation... I try to keep my tank topped off and add a bit of fuel dryer when the weather gets cold.
Funny, that. My car doesn't seem to have any problem with single digit temps. It only gets aroung 4,000 miles per year so it often has somewhat old fuel. That old gas tank and fuel lines run right under the car with all that bad cold air. The answer lies elsewhere. Sounds like carb issues to me. My $.02
 
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by WWECOUGAR
Funny, that. My car doesn't seem to have any problem with single digit temps. It only gets aroung 4,000 miles per year so it often has somewhat old fuel. That old gas tank and fuel lines run right under the car with all that bad cold air. The answer lies elsewhere. Sounds like carb issues to me. My $.02


The lines on my tundra go through a part of the engine to help keep it warm. I was reading that you can bypass it for a little better mileage but it wont run right in the cold, thats what got me thinking about it.
 
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