A case of bad gas

1006 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Lyrkin, Jul 2, 2009

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · Jul 1, 2009

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Did a 900 some odd km trip last week, on the way home I stopped to tank up and was sure I got bad fuel...she began sputtering and farting and untill I tanked up again was real unhappy. After I tanked again she seemed fine. But now she's doing it again, and I smell fuel. Pulled the plugs and the fronts are fine, but the rear are a bit sooty..which tells me incomplete/improper burn.

I had planned on pulling the carbs this year and giving them 'the kit' as well doing a bench sync.

Just want to make sure I'm on the right track here and not going through the motions to discover that maybe my baby has developed a coil issue.

Any advice before I start spending money I basically don't have would be appreciated...*five days left on the tag so I want to re-insure..but if she ain't running right It's a waste of money cause I'll be damned if I'm gonna drive her into the grave.

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AZgl1800

· #2 · Jul 1, 2009

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I suggest that you pour in a full can of Sea Foam in the gas tank.

Drive that out and your problem should be resolved.

RB

· #3 · Jul 1, 2009

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Easy things to check timing, valves,coils..Pull the spark cps off and look at the spark..nice fat blue/white?? or not. Note keep the plugs on the engine casing when you do this. Timing and valves..use manual and check it,

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 1, 2009

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Thnx for the replies folks, have been reading about seafoam...quite some discussions about it. Will give it a try. Will also check the timing and the valves. I should add that once it's over 2,000 rpm it's almost normal.

Dusty Boots

· #5 · Jul 1, 2009

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Steve - re the seafoam. The local NAPA here charges $17-18 a can, while wally world stateside charges $8.95 a can now. Where did you suspect you got the bad gas? I assume it was on your trip back from Osoyoos

Dusty

treker8098

· #6 · Jul 1, 2009

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I am not sure if this is worth considering, but what about the fuel pump? Depending on temperatures you were riding in, maybe the fuel was getting warm and when you filled up with cool fuel it cooled the pump. In my case, GL1500, I beleive cavitation is occuring by trying to push too much fuel through the system and overheating the pump causing the pump to fail.

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 1, 2009

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Yeah, I filled up at rock creek and bam, sputter fart whoa wt*..filled up again at grand forks and all seemed good...went for a ride last nite and she didn't idle worth a crap..rough accelleration untill over 2 grand..spun around and parked back at home.

The pump and filter could be an issue, I believe my pump puts out a max of about 3lbs..and drops to around 2 at speed.

Going to have to wake my slave and go through the manual. (my daughter expressed a desire to wrench so I've had her start doing themaintanence onmyexplorer, might as well see what goes on with the wing.)

Xtracho

· #8 · Jul 1, 2009

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All good advice. My 1200 was doing the same thing; would not idle, smell of gas, fouled plugs, running better at cruising speed. Turned out it was the float needle valve seats were just worn out. Rebuilt carbs with Randakk's carb kit, ordered new OEM float valve kits, reset the floats, and now she runs like a top.

Best case scenario would be the Seafoam clearing everything up since you believe it started with bad gas.

AZgl1800

· #9 · Jul 1, 2009

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`
When I made my Sea Foam suggestion, it was based strictly upon the basis of his statement, "it was running fine..... and then after a fuel up, it started running bad."

If fueling it up was the only condition that changed, one needs to work backwards to "what happened", instead of conjecturing that the carbs are broken, etc....

Simplest fix first. That is my motto. KISS principle.

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 1, 2009

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Amen to that..will be running out to get some foam here shortly...will keep ya posted.

Ok, going to have to hunt now...tis canada day and most retailers are closed...

nooobie

· #11 · Jul 1, 2009

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I recently got bad gas and it plugged up my filter causing intermittent issues at higher speeds.

Check the easy stuff first. Check the filter by letting the intake drain into a clean white cloth or paper towel. You might be suprised what you see.

Xtracho

· #12 · Jul 1, 2009

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I did the Seafoam ... no results. Seafoam is good stuff, but by no means is it a crutch to lean upon. Sure, use it and if it solves the issue fine.... if not, I offered up what I found with MY bike.

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 1, 2009

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Absolutely Xtracho, any and all advice is appreciated !

I have added the treatment, ran the bike for about 100k and it it's running way better, I will doing another treatment tomorrow and see how that goes.

Xtracho

· #14 · Jul 1, 2009

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Let's see...being metrically challenged as I am...I'm guessing that 100K is about 62 miles? Heck, I still try to fit a 1/4" socket on a 10mm bolt!

biker1usa

· #15 · Jul 2, 2009

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Bad gas around here alot, I just take some Beano.:action:

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 2, 2009

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Yes you are correct, 100km is approx 62 mi..when I first got my wing it had several interesting sizes on the fairing..all changed out to metric now..I think.

rgbeard

· #17 · Jul 2, 2009

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I'm a little late to the party but I'm also thinking a fuel filter may be warranted.

Lyrkin

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 2, 2009

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Ok, second treatment of seafoam today...and my carbs are leaking worse than luongo in the playoffs.........

Don't discard the seafoam, those of you on the fence about it...she ran AWESOME...I pretty much had known I was going to need to do the carbs..just figured I would get at least a season out of them. Soooo now to do some research, seeing as I'm going down this path what else should I think about while I got em out...aside from sync and all things carburator..

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