GL1200 sputters and keeps getting worse then stops

1220 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by island440, Jul 26, 2013

island440

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2013

My 84 gl1200 interstate is making me fustrated. I can drive around the neighborhood and it works like a top....go into town and it never makes it home.....sputters and keeps getting worse then stops. will roll over but not start....let it sit and the next day it will start and work good. last time it wouldn't start for a couple of days....would kick a bit but not run....I pushed it to the garage and it started.....could this be a carb problem?

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NOVA

· #2 · Jul 12, 2013

Have you tried putting a little gas down the carb when it does this...? If it roars back to life...its something to do with the gas going to the carbs. I am not sure on this...but does that bike have a vacuum line that goes to the gas tap...? If so there might be a vac leak and when the vac gets too low...it shuts off the gas. Thats one thought. The other is...have you checked for spark when it does this...? I wonder if maybe it might be electrical...something on it way out the door due to age and heat...and when it gets hot enough...it dies.

Back to the carb thing, if you put the choke full on when it does this...you should be able to pump enough gas in that you will smell of raw un-burnt gas....can you smell any when it dies like this...? If not...then you have a fuel problem...pour a splash down the carbs and see if it will kick...if so...you know...if not...check spark.

Thats all I have for you...

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island440

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 12, 2013

spark on all four plugs...never tried till the last time thought It was spark so replaced coil pack but last time tried and good spark....so thinking gas new filter....lots of fuel out of pump.....bike sat for a couple of years.....run seafoam through it ....maybe jets plugged?

cromagjeff

· #4 · Jul 12, 2013

Sounds like a vapor lock.

jon jay

· #5 · Jul 12, 2013

I'm thinking carbs need rebuilt, you said it sat for a couple years and you ran sea foam thru it, so I'm thinking the sea foam broke the gunk loose and clogged the jets, just my guess I'm no mechanic

DriverRider

· #6 · Jul 12, 2013

NOVA said:
Have you tried putting a little gas down the carb when it does this...? If it roars back to life...its something to do with the gas going to the carbs. I am not sure on this...but does that bike have a vacuum line that goes to the gas tap...? If so there might be a vac leak and when the vac gets too low...it shuts off the gas. Thats one thought. The other is...have you checked for spark when it does this...? I wonder if maybe it might be electrical...something on it way out the door due to age and heat...and when it gets hot enough...it dies.

Back to the carb thing, if you put the choke full on when it does this...you should be able to pump enough gas in that you will smell of raw un-burnt gas....can you smell any when it dies like this...? If not...then you have a fuel problem...pour a splash down the carbs and see if it will kick...if so...you know...if not...check spark.

Thats all I have for you...

You never work with raw gas if it can be avoided.

Do you know what happens to that container of gas in your hand when the carb might backfire.

I have seen guys get lit up from that and also from fuel tank work when their drop light fell and the bulb breaks igniting the vapors and spilled fuel on the floor. It aint worth burning down a building.

In a professional shop your coworkers would kick your arse if they saw you do that in the next stall over to them.

I used to work in large metro dealerships that employed between 12-25 mechanics and seen my fair share of s#^t.

A safer alternative if you need an additional fuel source for testing is starting spray or carb clean spray which we used for years.

Take it or leave it.

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NOVA

· #7 · Jul 12, 2013

DriverRider said:
You never work with raw gas if it can be avoided.

Do you know what happens to that container of gas in your hand when the carb might backfire.

I have seen guys get lit up from that and also from fuel tank work when their drop light fell and the bulb breaks igniting the vapors and spilled fuel on the floor. It aint worth burning down a building.

In a professional shop your coworkers would kick your arse if they saw you do that in the next stall over to them.

A safer alternative if you need an additional fuel source for testing is starting spray or carb clean spray which we used for years.

Take it or leave it.

What do you think I am STUPID or something...I mean...put a little shot down into the carb...NOT hold a gas can....Holy S!!T...thats asking for it...

DriverRider

· #8 · Jul 12, 2013

NOVA said:
What do you think I am STUPID or something...I mean...put a little shot down into the carb...NOT hold a gas can....Holy S!!T...thats asking for it...

You don't get it and thats fine. Whether it is 2 or 6 ozs. when that stuff lights in your hand anyone will jump. You might get off lucky and just bump your head on the hood of the car or you could step back and trip over the lift smashing your head on the workbench vise.

People die everyday from stupider stuff.

IT AINT WORTH IT

Cornpone

· #9 · Jul 12, 2013

I would first want to be sure my gas cap was venting and petcock clear, then good fuel filter installed in the right direction (hey, I've done it backward!).

mrtwowheel

· #10 · Jul 12, 2013

Driver rider, no difference between your starting fluid or gas. Do this with the air cleaner fully assembled and all is safe.

Yeah, I think there is a good chance that your petcock is almost totally clogged. Any time is good for a new fuel filter. Undo the fuel line before the filter, turn the petcock on and see what kind of flow you get. If the gas is even a few weeks old, drain it out and put it in your lawnmower or car.

Scott

E Potts

· #11 · Jul 18, 2013

My 84 aspencade acted similar to your problem. I removed carbs and the small filters at the fuel inlet on the carbs was my main problem.

Ken Bergen

· #12 · Jul 18, 2013

E Potts said:
My 84 aspencade acted similar to your problem. I removed carbs and the small filters at the fuel inlet on the carbs was my main problem.

One of the bad Emgo fuel filters?

E Potts

· #13 · Jul 18, 2013

Not sure of the type. But the filters did an excellent job of collecting trash before it entered the carbs. I really did not have to clean much out of the bowls.

Ken Bergen

· #14 · Jul 18, 2013

E Potts said:
Not sure of the type. But the filters did an excellent job of collecting trash before it entered the carbs. I really did not have to clean much out of the bowls.

So your primary filter failed and the float valve filters did their job until they were over whelmed?

Bike...and Dennis

· #15 · Jul 18, 2013

So, Island440. Have you gotten anywhere with your problem?

island440

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 24, 2013

new filter....took carbs off and cleaned them....no fuel in 2 front carbs....is there another filter after pump? maybe pump isn't pumping enough? unhooked line coming out of the pump and doesn't seem to be pumping enough....plenty of flow into the pump...hmmmmmm

Bike...and Dennis

· #17 · Jul 25, 2013

Is it the OEM pump, and did you test it correctly?

toolcraft4100

· #18 · Jul 25, 2013

When you had the carb rack off did you check to see if fuel was getting to the front two carbs? A bad plenum gasket could restrict fuel flow to #2. I'm not sure how fuel gets to #1 on a 1200 rack, but I think it flows through passages in the plenum and rust, crud, varnish, etc. could clog that up.

Ken Bergen

· #19 · Jul 25, 2013

toolcraft4100 said:
When you had the carb rack off did you check to see if fuel was getting to the front two carbs? A bad plenum gasket could restrict fuel flow to #2. I'm not sure how fuel gets to #1 on a 1200 rack, but I think it flows through passages in the plenum and rust, crud, varnish, etc. could clog that up.

The GL1200 is different.
Fuel is feed directly to #3 & #4 carburetors, a pipe goes from #4 to #2 and another pipe goes from #3 to #1.
The air box is not involved in fuel delivery only air delivery.

island440

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jul 26, 2013

is there anything that couls stop fuel from getting to the front carbs?

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