Bike just shut off while riding....

[Gargoyle081]

So...I finally got that new exhaust on and ready to go, and today was like 60 degrees out. Had some errands to run and it gave me the excuse to ride.......

On my way home after maybe a total of 25 miles on the bike today I decided to take a detour and take a less direct ride home to enjoy it a bit longer....Im cruising along and had to slow for a series of really wide speed bumps, and after passing them I went another 75-100 yards and the motor just shut off. Just as if I had hit the switch or turned the key.

Trying to restart the bike just kinda sounded like there was no compression, like it was just going throught the motions...or the plugs werent even firing. Probably only by coincidence but I turned my petcock to PRIME and it fired up after a few tries and I was able ot make it home. Im thinking its an elecrical problem being as it ran great and then just died...Any suggestions where to start? Maybe ground wires?

 

[frosty5011]

Could it be that your vacuum got disconnected?

 

[Big T]

The fact that Prime fixed it points to you running out of gas

 

[Gargoyle081]

The vacuum line is secure at both ends as I just went out to the garage to verify, the hose was also replaced with a brand new one towards the end of last riding season. The bike is kept in a heated/cooled garage so no dryrot....


As for running out of fuel thats the kicker...I was down to about 1/3 of a tank so I stopped for fuel and literally just left the gas station 5 minutes prior to this happening. Gas cap was replaced last year when I sealed the tank using the Casewell Tank lining kit.....+1 on that tank liner too cant say enough good things about that product

 

[LarryA_Texas]

The vacuum line is secure at both ends as I just went out to the garage to verify, the hose was also replaced with a brand new one towards the end of last riding season. The bike is kept in a heated/cooled garage so no dryrot....


As for running out of fuel thats the kicker...I was down to about 1/3 of a tank so I stopped for fuel and literally just left the gas station 5 minutes prior to this happening. Gas cap was replaced last year when I sealed the tank using the Casewell Tank lining kit.....+1 on that tank liner too cant say enough good things about that product

Could be a wire came loose enough to cause it to stop...check the coil connections and dry to duplicate the problem while you wiggle wires. The real test will be to see if you can start it again. And if the quits again.

 

[Gargoyle081]

Agreed Larry.......Tomorrow after work I will start the bike(picturing my cup half full) and search for loose wiring connections. Hopefully I can duplicate the problem....

 

[Guest]

Sounds like petcock woes

 

[GavinJuice]

could your gas tank not be venting properly? maybe your side stand switch got jostled when you went over the speed bump causing an intermittent problem? (i imagine you have a side stand switch that kills ignition unless it's UP)

 

[gustovh]

My money is on the tank vacume locking. Happens on Suzie Q from time to time. Open the cap and back on the road.
V

 

[Zooks]

Yeah vacuum inside tank is a common problem. It used to be a problem on older bikes that had cork gaskets in the lids. When the cork got wet from fuel (after filling up) they would swell and the tank would stop allowing fuel out of the tap (petcock). Crack the lid (and the carbs would fill) and you were off. It's also common on dirtbikes because of all the jostling of the fuel.

 

[focus frenzy]

OK first up on my soap box, PEOPLE!!! if you are going to post a problem you want help with, we "experts" need to know what the bike is. if you look down at the bottom of most peoples post you will see what is called a signature line, in it you will find what bike/bikes that person owns. it helps us "experts" know what that person has and is asking for help with.
you can set up a signature line by going to your "user CP". down off the soap box.

sorry for the rant it just makes things that much harder when a person gives no clue what they are talking about, and more often than not are unwilling to read the current topics that already contain the answer to their problem.

if you have a first generation GS with the glass tube fuses, pull them out and use some emory cloth to clean the fuse holder contacts and check the connections for the fuse box harness.

 

[argonsagas]

OK first up on my soap box, PEOPLE!!! if you are going to post a problem you want help with, we "experts" need to know what the bike is. if you look down at the bottom of most peoples post you will see what is called a signature line, in it you will find what bike/bikes that person owns. it helps us "experts" know what that person has and is asking for help with.


.

Oh, Yeah?


Well, SAME TO YOU TOO, FELLA!






And what about the unexplained?

Like my GK quitting in exactly the manner he described.

After pulling away from a traffic light I was moving 60MPH, and still accelerating, when the engine quit.....just stopped running.

It felt just like the ignition had been turned OFF......and when I looked down at the key

It was fully in the OFF position.

 

[focus frenzy]

Oh, Yeah?


Well, SAME TO YOU TOO, FELLA!






And what about the unexplained?

Like my GK quitting in exactly the manner he described.

After pulling away from a traffic light I was moving 60MPH, and still accelerating, when the engine quit.....just stopped running.

It felt just like the ignition had been turned OFF......and when I looked down at the key

It was fully in the OFF position.

yours was the result of a road gremlin. evil little critters, but if you mount a bell it will keep them away.

http://www.gremlinbells.com/

 

[Gargoyle081]

Ok...I see you fella have been having fun while I was gone lol..Well I didnt get to do anything with bike tonight cause I had to stay at work late...

Focus Frenzy I will add my bike to my signature but Im riding an 85' GS700E. Just to address a few of the suggestions..

No my side stand doesnt have a killswitch built into it, as I typically start the bike and fiddle around in the garage while she warms up..and have even moved the bike to the end of the driveway in gear without pulling the stand up...

As for the tank venting Im taking you guys word for it...I can only try to give you te best possible information, that being...last year I removed the petcock etc from the tank, sealed the tank, and got destroyed at the stealership for a brand new gas cap (80 Bucks!) The old tank was rusted through and shamefully repaired with JB Weld in several areas.The replacement tank didnt accept the cap from the previous one. (which was flush mount type)

Vacuum hose was replaced along with fuel lines, carbs cleaned and synched,new intake boots/gaskets and new battery installed

As for the Gremlins I cannot verify but have no doubt that if the exist I would be the guy they would want to play games with...Perhaps a bell is in order

 

[Suzuki_Don]

if you have a first generation GS with the glass tube fuses, pull them out and use some emory cloth to clean the fuse holder contacts and check the connections for the fuse box harness.

Hey FOCUS I thought the "FIRST GENERATION GS" were the ones with only one fuse controlling everything. ha ha

 

[focus frenzy]

Hey FOCUS I thought the "FIRST GENERATION GS" were the ones with only one fuse controlling everything. ha ha

well it depends on if it is a early or a late first generation, my 80 1000G is a late first generation, but is the first generation of the full liter shafty and it originaly had 5 glass tube fuses, most GS from 82 on have flat blade type fuse/s.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Yeah I think my single fuse is about due for an upgrade. So blade type fuses here I come. Just got to find a decent fuse block to mount them in.

 

[Zooks]

Yeah I think my single fuse is about due for an upgrade. So blade type fuses here I come. Just got to find a decent fuse block to mount them in.

Talk to your local friendly auto electrician Don. They have catalogues with pics of all the possibilities.

 

[Gargoyle081]

Well I got a little time tonight after work to tinker.I started the bike and let it warm up and started checking things over. Initially tried to move the bike away from the garage in gear after it was warm and it shut off twice on me....

Once I started looking it over and looking for loose connections I couldnt duplicate the "shut off"...I did however find that the breather hose going from the airbox to the top rear of the valve cover had popped off at the valve cover because the spring clamp is shot.

Oddly enough after I secured the breather hose I was able to take the bike around my neighborhood for about 20 minutes and it didnt shut off on me.

I didnt think that was related to the problem but Im certainly up for suggestions.....I guess tomorrow is another day

 

[duaneage]

Ah, the crankcase vent tube. That does need to be connected. I had a Honda that would not ever start if that was unhooked. It was a little too short and popped off a lot.