Triumphrat

philthymur · 03-23-2008

I've owned my '96 Speed Trip for 12 years, best bike on the planet, nearly bought a 509, but thought they were a bit nancy, poofter looking.
Anyway, never had a problem till recently, when it felt like it's running out of fuel, with plenty in the tank. It loses cylinders, till eventually cuts out. Turning to prime seems to help, but then starts on that too.
I've cleaned carbs, fuel tank and replaced fuel tap.[Well a dealer did] it ran great for 1 tank of fuel, then as it got lower in fuel problem started again, put 7 litres in it, ran great. Now it's going back to dealer, but if anyone can help.....HELP!!

Gdsila · 03-24-2008

Perhaps ..Ignition Pick-Up Coil ?

Major Kong · 03-24-2008

I used to have a T 300 Sprint. The engine/fuel/drivelines are nearly identical. I had the same thing happen, intermittently (would run, then slowly idle down and die). I replaced the fuel selector (petcock) and it ran fine. Before you do that, make sure that the vacuum line to open the petcock is entact and producing good vacuum. If it's not the fuel selector, the coils have been known to go bad, as have the plug wires. If you still have the original spark plug wires, have a birthday for them and then replace them.

A T-300 on the stick sounds wonderful though. I miss my sprinty now and again.

Godspeed,
kong

threepot · 03-24-2008

Could be igniter?(black box under seat) My 93 900 Trident used to cut out,then run ok after 10mins. Is the fuel tank venting ok? Vacuum build-up? Try with fuel cap open.

roygrif · 03-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by philthymur

nearly bought a 509, but thought they were a bit nancy, poofter looking.

Quote of the day!

My friends all thought I should get the later model one also with the single sided swing are and twin bug headlights but it's just not as cool as the brutal 309.

Roden · 03-25-2008

Welcome to the forum philthymur, lots of good people and info here.

I second threepot's suggestion - check if your fuel tank is venting.
It could be pulling a vacuum. Happened to me on a Sportster once.

Cheers,

Roden

wiayeman · 03-25-2008

I think everyone has had or is going to have this problem. Mine was a kinked vent under the tank. I think the most common issue is the pick ups. I would start with the cheapest possible fix and work back.

djw · 03-25-2008

I'd vote for a vacuum line problem between the carb and petcock, but you seem to have that sorted (and if prime doesn't permanently make it go away it seems not).

If it definitely gets better for a while with prime or other fuel related antics, I would vote for that. Witch's hat filter in the fuel line? Guessing maybe vacuum building up in the tank (run with the cap partially open see if it gets better)?

I'd experiment with that before moving to replacing coils (expensive) or igniter (even more expensive). DAMHIK.

If it's always one dead cyl and always the same one (easy to find which one with a squirt bottle of water to find the cool header), you can start switching around plugs, plug wires, and coils through a process of elimination to see which one is dead and if it moves with parts swaps. Tracking down a Triumph T300 ignition tester would also help with this if it is convenient, there's one on ebay now.

ervdrvr1 · 03-26-2008

Phil,
Check the fuel cap vent first, than the rollover valve(located on one of the 2 lines coming off the rear/bottom of fuel tank), both are likely culprits for a vacuum lock in the tank and sounds like your likely problem.

Erv
Deep in the Heart of Texas!!

RobinKent · 03-27-2008

My Super Three has the same symptom, which feels like fuel starvation but is impossible to locate and fix. I now reckon my fuel system is okay - but do check the tap is actually turning the valve and is not broken - it is hollow and snaps off! (Mikuni part?) I am now trying Nology coils from the US but am unconvinced...

I rarely visit this forum but coincidentally yesterday (without prompting) my local independent mechanic said he had only had experience of fixing these bikes once - he spent ages looking for an intermittent fault... He eventually traced it to poor insulation on the wire from the pick up where it passed through the cases. I have yet to look at mine and have no idea at all what the layout is down there. But copper work hardens, the wiring loom is 14 years old and having a look is now very high on my To Do list. Which is now: check this/pick up; replace plug leads; run some fuel sytem cleaner through the system; then if needed try another igniter. And keep hoping...

Interestingly mine came with a Jack Lilley igniter and has the same problem. Not a worthwile piece of kit by all accounts but it does raise the rev limt to a similar level to the 750 Trident.

Bon chance!

RobinKent
1994 S3
1974 Commando ~ Love those peashooters...