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engine runs for 5 seconds then stalls

1K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  RJ64 
#1 ·
Hey folks. I've been lurking here for a little while but this is the first time I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for. I really appreciate all of the knowledgeable posters here, thank you! These forums have been a great resource for someone relatively new to motorcycles.

Here's my situation: I keep my bike chained up in front of the house, living in the city I don't really have any other option. It had been sitting for at least a week 'cause I've been busy working with the DNC in town. It wanted choke to start up which was abnormal since it was over 80F outside but started up fine once I did that. I rode it about a mile until the engine started to sputter. My reflex was to flip it to reserve, and it was at about the point where I'd need to do that anyway, but the engine still stalled.

Every time I've tried to start it since then, the engine will fire right up, run for about 5-10 seconds, and then stall. If I give it any throttle it stalls. I pushed it to the gas station and filled it up even though I knew that couldn't be the real issue. Pushed it further down the street to a bar I work at and put it on the battery tender to cross that off the list as well. No change.

Unfortunately I don't have any of my wrenches with me right now so I'll probably end up taking it to the shop, but it seemed like such a specific thing that's happening, I'm hoping someone can point out something simple I might be missing.
 
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#2 ·
I know absolutely nothing about the new bonnies, but can offer some "general" wisdom.

Do you have a locking gas cap? If not, maybe some ratbag has put something nasty in your tank?

Check all hoses to see if one hasn't come off or been pulled of/swapped as a joke by some passing comedian.

Good luck :).
 
#4 ·
Sounds like a fuel flow issue maybe. Remove the pet cock and clean that, and then there's another little in line screen between the two carbs that could be clogged. You can look for pictures of that little in line screen next to the carbs if you do a search on here.

Then I would add some sea foam into the fuel tank to further clean stuff up.

I've never heard of this symptom before.

Sounds like it's fuel flow to me. The fact that it would start and run for 10 seconds, indicate it's probably not electrical or ignition. We have had issue with bad coils on this bike and that's been somewhat common. So you may want to consider that also.
 
#5 ·
Thanks for your responses. I went back to grab it today, intending to push it the five or so blocks back to my house. Fired it up again and it stayed running this time. Still wanted the choke at first but finally settled down and was idling normally. I rode it around about 3 miles, careful to never get too far from my house in case I ended up having to push again. Let it sit at home for about half an hour and then cranked it up again, seemed fine.

It's been exceptionally humid here recently and we got a few serious thunderstorms while it was laid up. I keep it covered when I'm storing it at home, but it's not really waterproof. Would it make sense that maybe some moisture got in somewhere and that caused my problem?

I've been planning to ride down to the beach about 150 miles away tomorrow, was really bummed at the prospect of having to drive my car. I think I'll take it out for a spin early tomorrow and if all seems fine I'll risk it on the trip.
 
#6 · (Edited)
It could have just been some water got into something. I've had that happen before.

I would at least add some sea foam into the fuel tank before you take off for the beach tomorrow.

One thing to keep in mind with this bike, when the coils go bad they are very speratic and difficult to trouble shoot.

I had one go bad and the bike would sometimes run great and then once in awhile it would run like crap or cut out.
 
#10 ·
Chevron. ;) Not sure whether he has any in Philly.
 
#11 ·
Sounds to me like a 150 mile ride without turning off the ignition would do that bike a world of good.
 
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