Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! - Page 3

mrlmd1 · 12-21-2009, 07:26 PM

Leave the damn PRIME setting alone, don't touch it unless the bike sits for MONTHS. That is not your solution and possibly is your problem. I have had the bike sitting for way over a month and it starts instantly without resorting to PRIME. Leave that alone. Like I told you before, you only put that on for 30 sec-1 min to fill the carb bowl, then turn it off back to RUN. You are not helping anything leaving it on there and are probably flooding the carb, plus dripping gas all over the floor.

Easy Rider · 12-21-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlmd1

Leave the damn PRIME setting alone, don't touch it unless the bike sits for MONTHS. That is not your solution and possibly is your problem.

You are kind of dancing around the real problem here; close but no cigar.

It should be perfectly OK to leave the bike in PRIme....as long as the float and needle valve inside the carb is working right.......which in this case, it obviously IS NOT. You of course lose the REServe function when set to PRIme and you lose a safety if the float fails (like this case).

The biggest clue is the gas coming out of the overflow and the second clue is that bike starts and runs OK for a minute after sitting a LONG time......allowing the excess gas in the intake to evaporate or run down into the crankcase.

A new float and/or needle valve assembly should fix the problem......or there might be a little piece of "crud" stuck on the seat keeping it from fully closing.

Sometimes you can service the needle valve and seat by loosening the carb boots and rotating it a bit to get the bowl out to the side so it is easier to remove and get to the necessary parts without removing the whole thing.

After you get the fuel leak figured out, you need to change the oil IMMEDIATELY.
Right now, you have a very dangerous situation......with the fuel leaking out.
Extra care needs to be taken to NOT leave it in PRIme (or not to use PRIme at all) until the carb is fixed.

varatiki · 03-14-2010, 11:02 PM

Well, the bike is at it again (or still...). I've since taken it into the shop where they replaced the float needle, a kinked diaphram, and cleaned out the carb. The oil was also changed along with a new filter. Prior to taking it to the shop I replaced the chopped exhaust pipe with the stock model, so it at least looks sharp again. The trip to the shop was inspired by it dying on the way to work on it, and then not being able to start it again. Another symptom that was noticed at this point was that when set on PRI while trying to start the bike up again, fuel was dumping onto the ground through the overflow hose. That has since gone away, but is more background information that might help.

So, currently it will start up and catch... sometimes taking a few rounds to keep it running using the choke. After 30 seconds or so, I can turn off the choke and will stay running on its own. Once warm though, it will start smoking a little from the bottom of the engine (seems like a slight leak around the oil drain plug) which isn't noticeable once you get moving, if you can stay moving. With solid, consistent throttle, it will rapidly surge at various power levels like it is trying to catch as if it is dying (while moving). Well, it is dying actually. This is the prelude to it only staying running, and struggling to do so, with the throttle all the way open and in neutral. If trying to reduce the throttle (which is not proportional to the RPMs as I recall - wide open throttle seemed to keep it at a mid/slightly high rev) at this point, the bike with die. The only effective way within a minute to get it going again is to turn the choke back on and put it in PRI. After running again (seemingly normal), I would ride it through the parking lot probably about 200 feet at 15-20mph and it would then repeat the dance of death all the way through - inconsistent power while trying to accelerate and then dying if not opening the throttle all the way (at a stop).

My wife rode it to work a few times since the shop and has had the same surging power issue while on the freeway at 55-60mph. It died a few times while cruising along, but she was able to start it again. The last time it died 4 times on her way home (about 6 miles total... at 4am). She made it ¾ of the way trying to ride it normally, then did the last ¼ of the way with it on PRI. I’m not sure if that solved the problem or just got her home. Each time she had to start it again, she tried without the choke, then with the choke, then let it sit for a minute with the PRI on before it would start again. Again, anybody want to buy a bike?

Help!

varatiki · 03-14-2010, 11:07 PM

As additional thoughts... the shop is a Suzuki dealership, was aware that the pipe had been chopped previously and that I had replaced it without knowing if the previous owner had re-jetted it.

blaine · 03-14-2010, 11:53 PM

Did you check the screens on the petcock? Sounds to me like you are starved for fuel all the time. Also check for rotted fuel hose. It can look fine on the outside but be gone inside.

JWR · 03-14-2010, 11:54 PM

Are you saying that you left the shop with it running no better than when you took it in???

Did the shop set the floats? Sounds like it is way LEAN.

varatiki · 03-15-2010, 01:17 AM

A reply to the last two posts, plus an update...

I have not checked the screens on the petcock, but I did replace the fuel hose back in September.

It ran solid after leaving the shop, but then had issues with the power loss on the freeway afterward. This wasn't a consistent/reproducible issue that I brought it into the shop for. They were aware of it, but it wasn't the primary issue. Not sure if they set the floats or not.

TONIGHT'S UPDATE:
I checked the vacuum hose visually for leaks but couldn't see anything that looked suspect. I didn't have an appropriate tool to get in there and be able to take it completely off the bike for inspection, so I did the best I could after pulling the tank off. So, visually it looked okay. At the same time I tried the cheap fix and replaced the spark plug since I had one on hand.

After putting it all back together, here's the weird thing that threw me off and made me start thinking that it might be an electrical issue... When I started it up, it fired up fine and a lot quicker than earlier (but it was probably still remotely warm and had been run today). I let it run for a while to warm up before putting around the parking lot a bit. However, RIGHT when I first up-righted the bike it died. I checked the fuel level since I knew it was a little low in the tank, but when leaning the bike either direction it still covered the opposite side of the tank from the direction I was leaning it, so it wasn't too low. Because of this I tried to repeat the event. I started it back up and then let it run for 15-20 seconds, then up-righted the bike. It took about 5 seconds after standing it up, but same thing, the bike died. Perhaps the kill-switch on the kick stand has a semi-short in it that may be periodically cutting the power to the bike? Your thoughts?

varatiki · 03-15-2010, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWR

Are you saying that you left the shop with it running no better than when you took it in???

Did the shop set the floats? Sounds like it is way LEAN.

A second response to this... I had JUST replaced the exhaust on the bike prior to taking it into the shop (which I did with the bike on a trailer). The bike was never up and running with the new/OEM pipe on it, which I was thinking might fix lost compression from a chopped pipe and thus fix the power loss/sputtering on the freeway.

JWR · 03-15-2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varatiki

A reply to the last two posts, plus an update...

It ran solid after leaving the shop, but then had issues with the power loss on the freeway afterward.

Your thoughts?

Still sounds like the carb is running out of fuel.

Easy Rider · 03-15-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaine

Did you check the screens on the petcock? Sounds to me like you are starved for fuel all the time.

:plus1:

Now that it is not leaking gas, it is perfectly OK to run it on PRIme.....for a while, until you get this last problem figured out. If you do that, then switch it to RUN at night......just incase.

[Bunch of other stuff deleted. I like the side-stand switch idea now.]

12-21-2009, 07:26 PM	#21
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! Leave the damn PRIME setting alone, don't touch it unless the bike sits for MONTHS. That is not your solution and possibly is your problem. I have had the bike sitting for way over a month and it starts instantly without resorting to PRIME. Leave that alone. Like I told you before, you only put that on for 30 sec-1 min to fill the carb bowl, then turn it off back to RUN. You are not helping anything leaving it on there and are probably flooding the carb, plus dripping gas all over the floor. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-14-2010, 11:02 PM	#23
varatiki Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 10	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! Well, the bike is at it again (or still...). I've since taken it into the shop where they replaced the float needle, a kinked diaphram, and cleaned out the carb. The oil was also changed along with a new filter. Prior to taking it to the shop I replaced the chopped exhaust pipe with the stock model, so it at least looks sharp again. The trip to the shop was inspired by it dying on the way to work on it, and then not being able to start it again. Another symptom that was noticed at this point was that when set on PRI while trying to start the bike up again, fuel was dumping onto the ground through the overflow hose. That has since gone away, but is more background information that might help. So, currently it will start up and catch... sometimes taking a few rounds to keep it running using the choke. After 30 seconds or so, I can turn off the choke and will stay running on its own. Once warm though, it will start smoking a little from the bottom of the engine (seems like a slight leak around the oil drain plug) which isn't noticeable once you get moving, if you can stay moving. With solid, consistent throttle, it will rapidly surge at various power levels like it is trying to catch as if it is dying (while moving). Well, it is dying actually. This is the prelude to it only staying running, and struggling to do so, with the throttle all the way open and in neutral. If trying to reduce the throttle (which is not proportional to the RPMs as I recall - wide open throttle seemed to keep it at a mid/slightly high rev) at this point, the bike with die. The only effective way within a minute to get it going again is to turn the choke back on and put it in PRI. After running again (seemingly normal), I would ride it through the parking lot probably about 200 feet at 15-20mph and it would then repeat the dance of death all the way through - inconsistent power while trying to accelerate and then dying if not opening the throttle all the way (at a stop). My wife rode it to work a few times since the shop and has had the same surging power issue while on the freeway at 55-60mph. It died a few times while cruising along, but she was able to start it again. The last time it died 4 times on her way home (about 6 miles total... at 4am). She made it ¾ of the way trying to ride it normally, then did the last ¼ of the way with it on PRI. I’m not sure if that solved the problem or just got her home. Each time she had to start it again, she tried without the choke, then with the choke, then let it sit for a minute with the PRI on before it would start again. Again, anybody want to buy a bike? Help! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-14-2010, 11:07 PM	#24
varatiki Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 10	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! As additional thoughts... the shop is a Suzuki dealership, was aware that the pipe had been chopped previously and that I had replaced it without knowing if the previous owner had re-jetted it.
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03-14-2010, 11:53 PM	#25
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! Did you check the screens on the petcock? Sounds to me like you are starved for fuel all the time. Also check for rotted fuel hose. It can look fine on the outside but be gone inside. __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-14-2010, 11:54 PM	#26
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! Are you saying that you left the shop with it running no better than when you took it in??? Did the shop set the floats? Sounds like it is way LEAN. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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03-15-2010, 01:17 AM	#27
varatiki Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 10	Re: Start-Up / Loss of Power Problems - HELP!!! A reply to the last two posts, plus an update... I have not checked the screens on the petcock, but I did replace the fuel hose back in September. It ran solid after leaving the shop, but then had issues with the power loss on the freeway afterward. This wasn't a consistent/reproducible issue that I brought it into the shop for. They were aware of it, but it wasn't the primary issue. Not sure if they set the floats or not. TONIGHT'S UPDATE: I checked the vacuum hose visually for leaks but couldn't see anything that looked suspect. I didn't have an appropriate tool to get in there and be able to take it completely off the bike for inspection, so I did the best I could after pulling the tank off. So, visually it looked okay. At the same time I tried the cheap fix and replaced the spark plug since I had one on hand. After putting it all back together, here's the weird thing that threw me off and made me start thinking that it might be an electrical issue... When I started it up, it fired up fine and a lot quicker than earlier (but it was probably still remotely warm and had been run today). I let it run for a while to warm up before putting around the parking lot a bit. However, RIGHT when I first up-righted the bike it died. I checked the fuel level since I knew it was a little low in the tank, but when leaning the bike either direction it still covered the opposite side of the tank from the direction I was leaning it, so it wasn't too low. Because of this I tried to repeat the event. I started it back up and then let it run for 15-20 seconds, then up-righted the bike. It took about 5 seconds after standing it up, but same thing, the bike died. Perhaps the kill-switch on the kick stand has a semi-short in it that may be periodically cutting the power to the bike? Your thoughts?
	0