Bike loses fuel riding up steep hill?

[rockhammer]

Hello

I recently finished quite a bit of maintenance work on my gs 850. The bike runs great. Smooth, more power, really a night a day difference. However before the maintenance the bike would die riding up a certain steep hill. I figured once I was done with the list of maintenance items that would have gone away. Well yesterday I was riding up that hill and it still died. The maintenance I did is this.

Valve clearance, carb jets clean with out a total rebuild and the carbs were spotless when I took them partially apart to clean three jets and the air intake jet. New boots and rings, New gaskets valve cover, breather gasket, crank case, clutch cover, new boots to air box. Air box completely sealed, new air filter oiled just right. New hoses on carbs. This seems like a fuel flow issue. I have a new petcock here and ready to install that.

Any idea what this might be? Has any here every heard of any thing like this happening? Any input would be appreciated.

[tkent02]

Have you checked the fuel level in the carburetors?

[GateKeeper]

fuel level in the tank, or is it full, half full, your not running on reserve are you ?

just covering the basics....

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[rockhammer]

fuel level in the tank, or is it full, half full, your not running on reserve are you ?

just covering the basics....

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Fuel level is full.

[rockhammer]

Have you checked the fuel level in the carburetors?

I just adjusted the floats all are at 2.4mm. I did not check fuel level on them.

[Brendan W]

Why have you got a new petcock? The answer is in the question? Does it happen on PRIme?

Assuming it dies slow and not just cuts out (which would send me looking for a loose battery) it points to fuel flow. Suppose there is a foreign something in the tank that clogs the petcock.
You might spot it if you free off the tank and raise the front, idling on the mainstand although the flow might need to be higher to make the restriction apparent. You could run a hose from the petcock to a graduated bucket and stopwatch and see what happens when you raise the tank.

[Frank Z.]

I just adjusted the floats all are at 2.4mm. I did not check fuel level on them.

Float height at 2.4mm... or 22.4mm? That would make a difference.

[rockhammer]

Typo 22.4 is correct

[tkent02]

OK, now check the fuel level.

[Steve]

Before you install the new petcock try that same hill with the lever in PRIme.

It's possible that you have the throttle wide open, especially if you are in a higher gear, which would leave no vacuum to keep the petcock open.

If it works in PRIme, and you are trying to go up that hill in fourth or fifth gear, try it in ON and in third gear to see if it makes a difference.

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[tkent02]

Before you install the new petcock try that same hill with the lever in PRIme.

It's possible that you have the throttle wide open, especially if you are in a higher gear, which would leave no vacuum to keep the petcock open.

If it works in PRIme, and you are trying to go up that hill in fourth or fifth gear, try it in ON and in third gear to see if it makes a difference.

.

You mean there are STILL people who chug these things around in fifth gear?

[Steve]

You mean there are STILL people who chug these things around in fifth gear?

Yeah, we don't all ride like Brian.

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[GateKeeper]

I get as far as 3rd gear and I am already breaking the law by speeding....my 4th and 5th gear must be like brand new......LOL

.

[Steve]

I get as far as 3rd gear and I am already breaking the law by speeding....my 4th and 5th gear must be like brand new......LOL

Not sure what you are talking about there, I can break the law in FIRST gear.


Just because the engine goes to 9,000 (or so) RPM does not mean that you have to take it there in EVERY gear.

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[Dogma]

...
Just because the engine goes to 9,000 (or so) RPM does not mean that you have to take it there in EVERY gear.

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Wait, what?