Triumphrat

InParkSlope · 09-25-2005

Wow I'm surprised that triumph engineering doesn't read these boards? I'm hitting every problem noted by other people in the 05 bike, but in my 06 bike! (klunk in the loose steering head, weak/misfiring when cold, 1cm of free play in the throttle). And now, gas tank vacuum! Hey at least I'm not getting any surprises yet

When I pull open the gas cap (requires a very hard pull) there is a whoosh and I can feel, with my knee, the tank "relaxing". Also, when I look in, the white bladder-thing inside kind of looks dented and lumpy. The same "thing" in my sprint tank looks smooth.

What is that thing in there anyway? is it supposed to be a smooth contour to the eye?

Hotmailrules · 09-25-2005

My 05 does the sucking thing. What is it? Is it bad?

crudmop · 09-25-2005

'05/'06 same bike. Make sure the vent lines running from the tank are not kinked and are free flowing.

PaloAlto · 09-25-2005

On my '02 Sprint, the cause was a faulty one-way valve on an overflow line coming out of the tank. It should allow air to enter the tank as fuel is used. When faulty, no air can get in to replace the fuel and so it creates a vacuum. On the '02, the 2" long black valve is on a hose running down from the right side of the tank.

Solutions are a) replace it or b) just throw it away. Dealer recommended the latter.

As a short term solution you can do while on a ride, you can remove a rubber stopper, about 3/8" diameter, on the underside of the fuel cap. It plugs a cone-shaped hole at the top of the filler. You may get a little gas smell with a full tank but at least you won't suck your plastic tank inside out.

Diego · 09-25-2005

That's also the valve that prevents leakage in a tipover, so it's a mixed blessing to do without it. But they do seem to have a tendency to be troublesome. Already had to deal with mine.

Geof3 · 09-25-2005

Adjust the throttle... no big deal, easy to do. I took all the play out of mine. The clunk is an easy adjustment, and is typical of a break in period. Everything has to settle. The tank issue, make sure your tube is NOT kinked at all and is flowing freely. If the valve is not almost totally upright, this could cause problems.

So far, I'm lucky. No issues of yet with my 06, with 1500 miles.

rudebwoy85 · 09-25-2005

Vaccum starting happening with me right after thet hose recall service was done on my triple. Havent brought it up with the dealer yet, figure I'd do it when I get my 6k service done.

09-26-2005

This happened to me also. Here are a couple of things you can to fix it. 1st check to see if the vent line exiting the tank (one with check valve) is not pinched. It's hard to see but can be done. 2nd remove the check valve to see if it is stuck. You should be able to blow through it. Then replace (make sure you replace it the correct way. The air needs to pass thought the check valve going into the tank (obviously). So the end that air exits out of the check valve will of course have to be on top as it is orientated in the vertical position. You can also remove the check valve altogether (last resort). The purpose for the check valve is to prevent gas from spilling out in the event of a crash or drop. Note there are to vent lines at the bottom of the tank; one for gas over fill and the other for venting the tank. Hope this helps

nfriday · 10-21-2005

I need to vent!

Purchasing a scorched yellow S3 was one of the best choices I have made. Suprisingly, my wife thinks so too! However, after the purchase my experience in dealing with work being done on my S3 has been frustrating.

It is not because I've needed to replace the instrument cluster, radiator hoses, and right rear muffler...or bleading the brakes multiple times to prevent excess travel.

It is because while replacing the instrument cluster I was not able to ride it for approx 2-3 wks (despite my suggestions). At the 500 miles service they did not call me when it was finished (2 lost days) and overtightened the chain (the S3 was talkin to me!). I brought it in for the hose recall and muffler replacement...after 7 full days and no call I found out the work had been completed 2 days prior (not including a beautiful weekend of riding I missed).

To top it all off as I turned the key on at the dealership I heard a new noise on ecu initiation, which I had not heard before. I turned the key to off and repeated...same noise..repeated..no noise..after that I disregarded it. Went to fill up the tank and I had trouble opening the gas cap because of a strong vacuum in the tank (I think the noise was associated with this because it has never happened before). Remebering reading a discussion thread on this site about tank vancuum and knew exactly what the mechanic probably had done.

I am no mechanic. However, I feel I have done more research and know more about this bike than the dealership mechanic does. Granted, he works on alot of bikes and probably hasn't seen many S3's in his shop. However, he is a professional Triumph mechanic...it is his job to know!

Don't get me wrong...the people at the dealership are nice people...however, my expectations are not being met and I am frustrated that I am catching multiple mistakes. I don't have another option for warranty work and don't want to piss to many people off. (other is 70 mi away).

Now, if I take the S3 in and tell the mechanic he caused this tank venting problem and also tell him how to fix it, explaining that I read it on a triumphrat.net speed triple discussion forum, I'm sure he will believe me.

Whew! I feel better. :-D

InParkSlope · 10-21-2005

Yeah my dealership was no better.

1st service: i tell them about the vacuum and that i swapped the vent hoses around and the problem went away, so please look at the tipover valve and fix it.

I get the bike back they charged me $20 to swap the hoses back and said they checked it all out and its good.

So i go on a trip and the bike almost refuses to idle - 20 minutes after filling the tank to the brim. Yep, you guessed it, major tank suckage. Even *the next day* the tank still had the vacuum and when i pulled the hose with the tip-over valve on it, there was a vacuum there as well!

so i swapped the hoses again - what else can I do for now? and all the hesitation and idle problems went away..

dealers should listen a bit more carefully when a customer says they think they know what the problem is, and that other people have reported it as well.