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I've had my local mechanic over my bike so many times in the last 4 weeks that I think they're about to close shop so I don't bring it in again. Since they can't seem to isolate and/or fix the root of the problem, I thought I'd talk to the online experts to see if I can't find someone with some insight and/or experience that would help.
The story so far...
I took the little lady for a ride on the first Saturday in June. We were a good 100 miles away from home when the throttle started to get spongy and then the engine cut out. Initially, I pulled in the clutch and tried to get her to turn over, but had no luck. I pulled her over to the side of the road and tried again - still no luck. The engine wouldn't turn over, but it wasn't a battery issue, as there was plenty of juice to try the ignition.
I let her sit for a few minutes and she fired up again. I drove about 2-3 miles and the same thing happened again. This went on 3 or 4 times until I could limp back to the nearest interstate exit. The last bit of riding I did before pulling her off the road and calling for a trailer was done at low speed (30-35 mph) and with the 4-ways on. It didn't seem to stall out on me at low speed - just at highway speed.
When I dropped it off at the shop, they checked the air filter (OK), the fuel screen (a little dirty, but cleaned out at the garage), the plugs (OK) and the carbs (OK). They insist that it was running fine for them, so I came in to pick it up.
After paying the bill, I couldn't get her to the first traffic light, just 100 yards away. She stalled as I got on the throttle to ease her into traffic, and again 2 or 3 more times before I got disgusted, hopped off, and pushed her back to the shop.
The service manager took it out back, through the alley behind the shop, and claims that he was able to get her to "blow it out" after riding it up and down the alley. Needless to say, I left it at the garage for them to give it another once over.
The service manager rebuilt the carbs, and checked the ignition coils hot, cold, morning, afternoon, and whatnot. After he was satisfied that it was running right again, he called and said it was finished. I took her home, and she seemed to be running just fine. I even took her out for a little ride the next day.
Two days later, I fired her up at work to head home, and it's the same thing all over again. I called up the service manager and gave him an earful. I let her sit in a parking lot overnight, and came back the next day. She fired up and I drove her home like there was never any problem. The service manager insists that its running fine for him, but she keeps choking on herself when I drive her.
There is definitely an intermittent problem at play. I can't seem to get her to act up while she's in the shop - at least not long enough for them to conclusively identify the problem.
When the stalling happens, it's at higher speeds (not like some of the other problems I've seen on the boards where the operator is coasting or at low RPM). The bike feels like it's not getting enough gas. When I really lay on the throttle, it coughs and sputters a bit longer, but still dies eventually anyway. It just will not restart right away either, which makes the problem especially vexing when I'm trying to get her back home.
I've been through more than a tank of gas since the problem started, so I'm fairly sure bad fuel isn't the issue. It's definitely a combustion problem, though.
At this point, I'm loathe to take her into the shop again, because they can't seem to get her right. Does anyone have any insight, or similar experience. Any advice would be helpful.
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