Stalling during first fifteen minutes

[alanmcorcoran]

I think Breckenridge is not really considered "flyover." It's sort of the poor man's Aspen. Not that I ever been skiing in Aspen.

[mr. softie]

I spent a winter (1970) skiing/'working" at Aspen on the slope maintainance crew back when Hunter S Thompson (RIP) was running for sheriff. It was a small cowboy town then, except on the weekends. Good times ski bumming when I should have been going to school. Back then you could buy a condo at the foot of Ajax for $60,000. Wish now I could have bought a bunch of them. I have been to Breckenridge as well and preferred it really. Not as snooby. Oh-Oh

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

...So, ONCE AGAIN, the bike is in the shop for yet another "Diag" and maybe they will reclean the carb "if it needs it".

You back home yet?
What I want to know is: How did you manage to infect my bike from 2000 miles away? :biggrin:

I went out yesterday (65) and used my recommended technique for cold starting. Started fine but didn't seem to rev. up under the choke like I remembered. Let it warm up while I suited up and had the choke down to about half when I took off. Went for about 3 miles and went for a U-turn and it DIED; I guess that is a hint that it is time to turn the choke all the way off. I did that and it was OK for the rest of an hour's ride.........but the idle did still seem a little unstable.

Something is definitely amiss. It really acts like a "bad fuel" problem to me. I've had similar problems with other bikes when I got too much Stabil in the tank. Before I start draining fuel and pumping in some heavy duty carb. cleaner, I thought I'd wait until you find out something.

Egerly awaiting a report. :cool:

[alanmcorcoran]

Good morning Easy.

Yes, back today. Bike is still at shop, but I got an encouraging voice mail from "Mike" down there the day I left. Something about cleaning out emissions system I think, but I will try and get all details when I pick it up. Probably won't be unil tomorrow or wednesday. I am not sure if CA bikes are different or they make one sucky bike for the whole US. In general, our cars have extra bullshit on them to help keep our LA Basin air breathable.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Good morning Easy.

Yes, back today. Bike is still at shop, .............

Welcome back!

****NEWS FLASH**** Problem solved......I think.
Remember now that the shop (which I generally trust) HAD my bike just before I noticed this problem......SIGH......

MY problem appears to be a plugged air filter; I guess you could call that part of the "emissions system" since it looks like it has picked up some oil from the crankcase vent loop. Anyhow, the center of the filter LOOKS oily and it SMELLS like oil/fuel....probably from running WAY rich due to the oil on the paper.

I won't know for sure for a couple of days since I had to order a new filter $24....(YIPE..that is with a 15% discount) but experience tells me that is going to fix it. Now, what caused it in the first place ?? Don't know and may never know......unless it does it again but having the oil level too high might contribute to the problem. Didn't you have your oil too high once upon a time ??
This might be more likely to occur if your riding style includes a lot of high RPMs and/or sustained high top speeds.

I also know that some shop mechanics are in the habit of rev'ing the crap out of things they are working on and that alone might have kicked some oil up into the filter. The bottom of the "box" was a little sticky but little or nothing in the drain hose.

So.......the point for you is: If they didn't check/replace the air filter, be sure you do that before you leave the shop. Only takes a couple of minutes and the problem was really obvious as I was pulling mine out.

And for others who may be having problems with erratic idle speed, stalling out or the choke acting differently than you remember............CHECK YOUR AIR FILTER. Once it gets oily, there is no way to fix it; need a new one.

Come to think of it, I remember getting a slight fuel smell during/after the last ride. Hmmm...... :shocked:

[alanmcorcoran]

I "checked" mine and it looked okay (although there was oil in the drain tube.) But since this was the first time I have ever checked one, I was only going with the manual as my guide and perhaps I didn't check for the right stuff. And, yes, I over filled my oil. I will order a filter crom Bike bandit just to eliminate this as an issue.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

I will order a filter crom Bike bandit just to eliminate this as an issue.

Just out of curiosity, what's their price? I'm too lazy to look; it's about time for my afternoon nap !! Pitty you poor suckers that still have to work for a living. :whistle:

P.S. The California model does have some extra emissions stuff; charcoal canister and tubing/valves.

[alanmcorcoran]

Okay, Suzi's back. And she is running like new, maybe better.

Unfortunately, the service guy that I was working with, "Mike" was out sick today, so I didn't get the first person story on it. On the repair order it basically said, "re-cleaned carburator, inspected/adjusted valves, cleaned emission system."

I tested it as follows: 1 minute warm up at full choke (from "cold" start.): OK. 1 minute at half choke. Then drop choke off completely. All good, not racing, no drifting, idle low but not too low. Took it around the parking lot up to second and down to a complete stop several times. No stalling. Turned it off. After taking my paperwork (NO CHARGE!) I fired it up, took it up through fifth and then down to zero at a light (NO choke.) No stall.

Even better news on the freeway. I was able to stay with or ahead of the traffic all the way back to my office (two freeways, about 25 miles.) It was little windy today, but not too bad - I was able to easily get to 70 and, with a little tuck in behind the windshield, hit 75 on a few stretches. When I got off the freeway, came to a complete stop, NO STALL.

I suspect that they either did a half-ass job when i first brought it in, or no job at all, and the second guy just "inspected it" and recommended (but did not do) a carb cleaning - which was probably not done the first time. By the THIRD time, and after I had made a pain in the ass out of myself, they took the time to actually service the bike.

[mrlmd1]

Now don't touch ANYTHING except the fuel tank filler cap and the hand/foot controls. No adjustments to ANYTHING. Ever. :biggrin: :cool: :tongue: :poke2: :rawk:

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

Now don't touch ANYTHING except the fuel tank filler cap and the hand/foot controls. No adjustments to ANYTHING. Ever. :biggrin: :cool: :tongue: :poke2: :rawk:

:plus1: :smoke: