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it coughed and died.

  • Thread starter Thread starter skreemer
  • Start date Start date
S

skreemer

Guest
I was out at the Brown county ride all weekend and the 550 didn't skip a beat... I missed a few shifts but the bike ran strong. This morning I fired it up and took off for work. About 5 miles down the road from home I was down shifting from 40MPH and it cooughed, kinda made a "ouffft" almost a "chuff" noise and then the engine slowly wound down and died. I cranked it over and it just wouldn't catch. I pulled it onto the median and checked the float bowls to make sure they had gas and I ended up leaking it all over my hands. I threw it on prime and did a 5 count and tried it again... Chugged over a few times but wouldn't catch. I didn't want to kill the battery so I pushed it the 70 or 80 yards to a parking lot and parked it and tried calling for help. No one could help out so I went back out and tried to fire it up. It fired right up and didn't skip or knock or anything. I threw everything on and hot footed it home. All the way home it didn't skip a beat, ran strong and no more chuffing.

Any one have any Ideas? I haven't had a chance to do a plug read or anything yet. There was no smoke when it coughed. and all I did was drain the float bowls, refill them and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes..
 
I'd guess maybe a blocked gas cap vent? Or maybe a fuel filter clog? Bad gas?
 
If when it died, you checked and had a reasonable amount of gas inthe bowls, I would guess it isnt a fuel starvation problem. A lack of fuel usually results power tapering off and then the engine dies. If it quit instantly, my best guess would be a wiring problem/loose or broken wire. Probably in the ignition circuit, but also could be the main. Not likely the problem will be in the signals or lighting circuits. Since all four cylinders quit, the problem is before the individual coils. Probably in the headlight shell and a faulty connector.

Earl
 
well I took her out again tonight and no issues, till I hit the surface streets. No chuff this time. As I sat at a red light the engine got slightly more and more labored. Almost like it was running out of gas only smoother. As long as I play with the throttle and keep it above 4K rpm it doesn't do it. If I'm doing local routes instead of highway though under 3k it bogs and if I just sit there long enough the idle will slowly go down till it just gives up...

Also everytime it dies if I just wait 15 - 20 minutes I can get back on and fire her right up till I hit the first stoplight... then we start the boggin cycle again.
 
If the bike won't idle there may be an issue with the pilot jets...
 
OK, so it is a gradual thing. Try eliminating the inline fuel filter and using a plain fuel hose.

E.



skreemer said:
well I took her out again tonight and no issues, till I hit the surface streets. No chuff this time. As I sat at a red light the engine got slightly more and more labored. Almost like it was running out of gas only smoother. As long as I play with the throttle and keep it above 4K rpm it doesn't do it. If I'm doing local routes instead of highway though under 3k it bogs and if I just sit there long enough the idle will slowly go down till it just gives up...

Also everytime it dies if I just wait 15 - 20 minutes I can get back on and fire her right up till I hit the first stoplight... then we start the boggin cycle again.
Click to expand...
 
earlfor said:
OK, so it is a gradual thing. Try eliminating the inline fuel filter and using a plain fuel hose.

E.
Click to expand...

Thought of and done already... Could it be a float/pin valve issue?
 
Water in fuel? Try replacing the gas in the tank and put some dry gas in it too just in case you got some moisture in there..

Check the petcock screen for blockage?
 
I'll have to try that. Nerobro seems to think I'm flooding the engine. As long as I keep it at 4K it's just fine. Long hauls at 70mph+ and it idles fine for the first 10 - 20 minutes when we hit the surface streets... Housework has kept me from really getting in and wrenching on her but I have a spare set of carbs I was able to pull and look at. The jets are different again than what I had and what the manual says is stock. Though now that I've found my book I can check on the float height... Still wondering if it might be a bad pin valve...
 
I dont think its likely. It sounds like youre losing all 4 cylinders. A couple floats sticking might drop two cylinders, but you could probably still maintain 30-40 mph on two cylinders.

Earl


skreemer said:
Thought of and done already... Could it be a float/pin valve issue?
Click to expand...
 
I had a carb that was flooding. One of the needle valves was dirty and it caused this problem. Try spraying carb cleaner down the fuel line for 30 seconds and see if it can clear the needle valve.

My bike would chug at red lights and sometimes die. It ws also leaking fuel out at idle from the airbox. Mileage went to tihs as well.
 
drained the gas into the gas can for the lawn mower and refilled it with fresh gas... Still slowly losing power at idle till she's ready to die... if I catch it and rock the throttle till she hits 4Krpm she'll idle fine for a few minutes... then slowly wind down....
 
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