Triumphrat

Soccermasta · 08-31-2006, 08:01 PM

OK, I did a search and found a few other topics titled bogging down or cutting out. None of them really seem to describe the issue I am running into.

This morning, went out started the bike, choke on full for about 4 minutes. then slowly closed the choke. The bike ran for about 8 minutes, while I was getting ready to head to work.

Took off on my way. Could tell maybe I didnt let the bike warm up enough, maybe??? A little sputtery in first and second gear. Get out to the access road and start getting up to speed. In 4th gear, the bike started bogging down when trying to go over 3k RPM. I checked the fuel switch to make sure I turned the fuel on. It was indeed on. Lights started going dim, and finally bike just flat out died. I had to pull over to the side of the lane. No shoulder... Yikes.

Turned bike off, checked fuel again, checked fuel tank level, all good. Was able to start bike only a few times by choking it, and then it would cut out or bog down when applying throttle. Eventually died again. At this point I am frazzled due to the bike being two weeks in my posession, on the side of the access road with idiots flying by me honking. There was no where for me to go.

I turned the key off, let the bike sit for a few minutes. Started with choke on again, but same results. On my last attempt at all this I turned the fuel switch to the reserve position and fought with the throttle to keep the bike alive and then all of the sudden the bike woke up and was idling as it always has. I took off and made it to work no problem after that.

Once at work I checked the tank again and it is a little under half a tank as best I can tell.

Now after work, started bike with choke, idles fine for 5 minutes, then dies. Oh had fuel switch on - on position. Switched to res. and started again. a little sputtery at first but then rides fine all the way home.

Sorry for the book here, just wanted to get all the facts in.

Any ideas of what could cause this?

Thanks
Chad

sweatmachine · 08-31-2006, 08:23 PM

Dude, seriously.

DO NOT let an air-cooled motor idle in one place for about 8 minutes, or 5 or 4.

I don't know if that's part of your problem with it dying, but man o man is that like the worst thing you can do to an air-cooled motor, PLEASE!!!

I'm not trying to dump on you at all, it's just that's a really BAD thing to do!

bonnevillebilly · 08-31-2006, 08:25 PM

I would try dropping the carb bowels to see if maybe there
is some ***** floating around in them blocking the jets
every now and then. It definitely sounds like a fuel problem.
Bill

merlin · 08-31-2006, 08:52 PM

So lets just assess the status here:
Runs on reserve
Doesn't run on main
So where do you figure the problem to be?
Maybe I misunderstand your post, but if that is indeed the situation, it sounds like the main intake on the petcock is clogged. Drain the fuel, remove the tank, remove the petcock, clean, reinstall, replace all, new gas, try again.
The service manual shows two screws, the petcock and what looks like two gaskets sandwiching a spacer. There is no referance as to needing to replace the gaskets or not.
If this resolves your problem, then technically, you should check the carbs for more crud that got past the screen in the fuel line.

Soccermasta · 08-31-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

DO NOT let an air-cooled motor idle in one place for about 8 minutes, or 5 or 4.

I don't know if that's part of your problem with it dying, but man o man is that like the worst thing you can do to an air-cooled motor, PLEASE!!!

I'm not trying to dump on you at all, it's just that's a really BAD thing to do!

No dumping thought. I do appreciate the advice though. This is my first real street bike of my own. Rode dirt bikes since I was 6 and thought the bike needed to warm up, they always did??? So what I should do is choke the bike and drive away? It barely wants to run when first fired up without it though. And with choke, idles very high. Not much of an in between on the choke. Now that I think about it, the street bikes I used to ride were water cooled. Just a habit I assume... Will corect my ways. Thanks for the tip. :thump: :-|

Soccermasta · 08-31-2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

On 2006-08-31 18:52, merlin wrote:
So lets just assess the status here:
Runs on reserve
Doesn't run on main
So where do you figure the problem to be?
Maybe I misunderstand your post, but if that is indeed the situation, it sounds like the main intake on the petcock is clogged. Drain the fuel, remove the tank, remove the petcock, clean, reinstall, replace all, new gas, try again.
The service manual shows two screws, the petcock and what looks like two gaskets sandwiching a spacer. There is no referance as to needing to replace the gaskets or not.
If this resolves your problem, then technically, you should check the carbs for more crud that got past the screen in the fuel line.

Will give that a shot. Thanks for the how-to. I do not have the shop manual yet. Been trying to find one online. I am not familiar with motorcycle repair or maintenance other than change oil and air filter, and the spark plugs. The last mechanic work I did was back on my Dad's Chevy silverado pickup when I was 16. So have to get used to doing this stuff myself again. I gave up changing plugs 10 years ago, mainly due to the lack of room under the hood on these new cars.

I figured it was the fuel switch (petcock) but was unsure since it would only start with choke on, plus the dim lights when it was cutting out.

RedBird · 08-31-2006, 09:24 PM

Ditto what has been said about "warming up" your engine--this goes for any engine, not just air-cooled ones. Start the motor and drive if it's your car--get your riding gear on prior to starting bonnie and get on and start bonnie and ride. In this Wx, I put the choke to 1/2 after about 1 city block distance.

From what you have said, I hope your problem is with the fuel; however, when you said the lights dimmed--that's not fuel! Check your battery connections and make sure they are tight.

Prior to pulling the fuel tank, prepare a place to sit it. You will need to turn it upside down to remove the petcock. Also, after removal of the petcock, you will want to turn the tank over and dump out the remaining fuel--there will be more left than you would think, so do this in a safe place.

Good luck,

Larry

PS. Tank mounting bolts torque to 9 Nm--that's just barely snug to a shade-tree mechanic. :-D If you don't have a manual, you slide the tank to the rear about 2.5 inches to clear the front mounts and then lift it off. Don't forgot to disconnect the fuel hose AND the vent hose--under the right side about the middle of the tank.

RedBird · 08-31-2006, 09:32 PM

Forgot to mention: If you do find a lot of crud on the petcock screens, you will need to pull the screen in the fuel line--where the fuel line connects to the "T" connector near the left carb--in between the carbs. This is kinda hard to get to--might be best to do before you replace the tank.

Also, no new gasket is needed for the petcock--it's an O-ring seal if my memory is correct, and shouldn't be damaged. These bolts also tighten to 9Nm which is not much as I said before.

Larry

Shorty · 09-01-2006, 06:26 AM

Chad...when I first got my Bonnie I had a similar experience (but not the lights going dim part). I found that the assembly of the long screened tube on the petcock was defective. It's hard to explain but there's a screened section at the top of the tube that just "snaps" in place when correctly assembled. In my case that section was barely sitting on the tube and in effect lenghtening the tube by about 1/4 inch and preventing fuel flow from the tank at about half full like yours. Switching to reserve selects the smaller tube on the petcock and fuel flow was resumed without any problems.
As a matter of fact, when I pulled the petcock out of the tank the filter screen fell right off. Snapping the screen element back on the petcock solved my problem, but eventually I replaced the petcock with a Pingel for other reasons.
Like Larry mentioned though, you might be having some electrical problems. Hope this info helps. Definitely check that "hidden" in-line filter Larry mentioned if you notice any crud on the petcock screen or if you notice that the filter screen I mentioned has come loose.

Shorty

[ This message was edited by: Shorty on 2006-09-01 04:50 ]

357Bob · 09-01-2006, 10:12 AM

Your dim lights were probably caused by the low idle & the
alternator wasn't charging. That is normal. Just sounds like a fuel petcock problem. Go fill it up.