fbody_mike
Forum Mentor
I am not talking about setting the floats but rather if the engine will cut out with a half full bowl or so.
The reason I am asking is because yesterday my GS550E decided that it would be better for me to walk than ride when I was riding down the freeway. While cruising along at 60 mph the engine started to sputter, it would come and go, and the engine would still accelerate when the throttle was opened. This went on for about a minute before the engine just died. Pulled it to the side of the road and set the fuel petcock to prime and cranked the motor for a while with different throttle positions and even tried choke, but not even a whimper of combustion.
Broke out the tools and broke the fuel bowl drains open on both carbs, I let about a table spoon of fuel drain from each before closing them as I was afraid of a fire from the hot engine and exhaust. But the stream seemed healthy. Opened the fuel cap and didn't hear any woosh of vacuum. Checked spark by pulling cap#4 an watching a strong blue spark about half an inch long to the cooling fin. Tried cranking the starter a bunch, but no spark or fuel smell out of the exhaust either.
Called for a ride and went home to get my truck. Come back two hours later and set up the loading ramp, not wanting to struggle up the ramp I try to fire it, and it starts up and runs fine. Loaded it on the truck and that where it is now.
Now I need to figure out what went wrong. What I know:
It had spark, at least on one cylinder.
The bowls had gas in them, but maybe not enough, I really wish I would have let it keep draining.
Whatever the problem is, went away by sitting.
One other thing, I put a clear plastic filter on the fuel line on this bike a week ago (I had the sputter a few times before so I figured it was debris from the tank plugging the carbs), I've probably have 200 miles/ 4 rides with the filter in place. Now when the bike stalled I tried to inspect the filter but it was dark and I only had the light from my phone, the element looked clean but I could swear it looked empty, even with the petcock set on prime. So maybe it was really dry carbs?
The reason I am asking is because yesterday my GS550E decided that it would be better for me to walk than ride when I was riding down the freeway. While cruising along at 60 mph the engine started to sputter, it would come and go, and the engine would still accelerate when the throttle was opened. This went on for about a minute before the engine just died. Pulled it to the side of the road and set the fuel petcock to prime and cranked the motor for a while with different throttle positions and even tried choke, but not even a whimper of combustion.
Broke out the tools and broke the fuel bowl drains open on both carbs, I let about a table spoon of fuel drain from each before closing them as I was afraid of a fire from the hot engine and exhaust. But the stream seemed healthy. Opened the fuel cap and didn't hear any woosh of vacuum. Checked spark by pulling cap#4 an watching a strong blue spark about half an inch long to the cooling fin. Tried cranking the starter a bunch, but no spark or fuel smell out of the exhaust either.
Called for a ride and went home to get my truck. Come back two hours later and set up the loading ramp, not wanting to struggle up the ramp I try to fire it, and it starts up and runs fine. Loaded it on the truck and that where it is now.
Now I need to figure out what went wrong. What I know:
It had spark, at least on one cylinder.
The bowls had gas in them, but maybe not enough, I really wish I would have let it keep draining.
Whatever the problem is, went away by sitting.
One other thing, I put a clear plastic filter on the fuel line on this bike a week ago (I had the sputter a few times before so I figured it was debris from the tank plugging the carbs), I've probably have 200 miles/ 4 rides with the filter in place. Now when the bike stalled I tried to inspect the filter but it was dark and I only had the light from my phone, the element looked clean but I could swear it looked empty, even with the petcock set on prime. So maybe it was really dry carbs?
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