Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Fuel System Surgery?

Pretty sure I know what happened - I ran down too low into reserve last Friday night (put in 4.3 gallons when I stopped), and then Sunday it started cutting out and dieing on me. Happened several times - restarted popping the clutch and never really had to stop until I got where I was going - but pretty annoying. I know I must have picked up some trash from the bottom of the tank. Rode another 100 miles the same night - no problem. Rode another 200 miles this Friday and Saturday nights without a problem either, and then today it did the same thing on me all the way home from Dad's place (80 miles), dieing a dozen times or so on the highway, but restarting each time popping the clutch.

I ordered a PINGLE as soon as I got home, and plan on pulling the tank, and replacing the tubing and fuel lines with better stuff if appropriate, and checking or changeing the fuel filter (isn't there one?) when I put the new petcock on.

Wondering whether or not I should plan on opening the carb bowls to inspect? And if so - what all do I need to aquire before I jump off into this? Carb screws? Gaskets?

Any input would be helpful, and this may need to be moved into the tech section. Understood.

One thing I would like is to replace the little spring clamps on the fule lines with screw clamps - but I have yet to be able to find any small enough. Does Brent carry anything like that? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Keith,

Heve you checked the little fuel filter in the line at the "T" between the carbs? I found out about it on this forum. Checked the literature and it is not shown anywhere. Maybe you might want to flush the tank before you put everything back together. Hope this helps.

Keith

Keith,
Don't you just hate problems that don't make any sense? Contrary to conventional wisdom, running a tank dry doesn't drag any foreign matter into the lines that wouldn't go there anyway. Sounds a lot like you got some water-contaminated fuel when you did the big fillup. The water may have taken till the next ride to pool and achieve the ability to actually affect/stop the engine. Me: I'd completely drain the system, including tank, lines, carbs, etc. Check all filters. Then I'd pour a couple of gallons of gas you know to be clean into the tank, leaving the carb drains open...then open the petcock and let a pint or so run into cans. I'd run the petcock at both the regular and reserve settings. I'd do this with the bike upright on a center/work stand. When finished you will know the one thing you didn't know before: That it has clean gas. NOW I'd go ride it and see what happens. Good luck.

Drain the bowls first and if you have water, it should show there.

If you open up the carb, you may as well lose the Phillips screws and put in socket cap bolts.

I am surprised you cannot find small hose clamps. I replaced mine also and found them at the local parts store and have seen them at wally world. If you want, I can get you a few?

This problem may not be fuel. If you go to the trouble of removing your tank and cleaning the fuel system (not a bad idea), you may as well check all your electrical connections and fuse box and don't forget your sidestand switch. Not saying it is electrical but while you have her opened up , you may as well do the extra bit....

BW,
For the hose clamps go to a marina nd get ones that are ALL stainless. The stainless ones you get in the hardware stores still have steel screws that rust eventually, the ones at marinas do not, all SS. They have them in every size too.

There will be trash in the gas tank. Changing out your petcock to the pingel fuel tap: Read some of the past threads on gasket/sealing issues.
The hidden filter can be reached without removing the carbs. Some members have advocated not replacing the hidden fuel filter. your call.
Pulling the tank will allow you access to it. (more or less). When the tank is off, while the petcock is off, place a finger over the fuel tap's hole, pour some clean gas in and swish it around. Drain this into a clear container and repeat until no more garbage comes out. Drain the carb bowls into a clean container as well. Given your concern you should pull the bowls. You might even drop your jets and blow them out too. Some pics you might look at: Moe's Album Refer to Pat's (Dinqua's) site if you need to pull your carbs.

Good luck and happy wrenching!

Blackwind, None of this is necessary. As Moe has stated, it's in the little hidden filter down at the "T" after the fuel valve. It's inside of the hose T connection where you cannot see it. As moe said, take the tank off & you can access it easier. Your carbs & other stuff are probably not plugged. The little filter is the first thing to plug when it comes to this situation. Some guys are removing it completely and ording the small glass fuel filter from "drag specialties" 5/16 fuel line - filter part # DS-391671 & installing it between the petcock the the "T" in the line.

Jerry

Quote:

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Some members have advocated not replacing the hidden fuel filter. your call.

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Don't do it! Put it back in, or at least another filter. I left mine out and the next day I had a huge puddle of gas and an empty tank. My float got stuck and it drained my tank (I never turned off my petcock before that, now I do). Good thing it was in the garage and I have a big floor drain. Sure stunk up the garage, lucky the house didn't blow up.

Pat, no offense but,,,,whether or not you have an inline fuel filter or not has "nothing" to do with this situation. Yes, you left the petcock open and yes the carbruator float must have stuck open. Fuel filter or not would have still leaked fuel. Just trying to get this guy back on the road.

Jerry

Well, yes or no, or just plain maybe. If the lack of a filter results in crap getting into the needle valve and stopping it from sealing, it will have effectively caused the carburettor to flood.
In that case, the leak would have been prevented by the filter.

I have to work at remembering to shut off the gas now. I occasionally ride the OL's new fuel injected bike with no petcock, no choke, no nothing. Just turn on the switch, wait 4 seconds and punch the starter. A real easy way to develop bad habits.

I find myself going to turn on the gas and it's already on a lot of the times.... so far no leaks.

Greybeard, Very true. That's why I use the drag specialties glass inline filter. The element is replaceable out on the road & I located it just a couple of inches from the petcock. One other thing. Once in a while when I am in there doing some maintenance I disconnect the hose a couple inches from the petcock, aim it towards a glass jar and (then) open the petcock to "reserve" flushing any bottom sediment for a couple of seconds. Even though I average 50 mpg I start looking for a fueling station around 100 miles. I have had good luck so far by sticking with this. Like they say "works for me"

Jerry

Is it possible that their could be a venting problem? Vapor lock?

By the way, you guys (and gals) never cease to impress me. Wind you up, let you run. Post the problem, get the suggestions to fix it. Just hope I can pay it all back the same way. I will let you all know what I find. Waiting on parts to arrive, and still need to round up those hose clamps (thanks Pat), and the line and filter.

Your signature reminds me of cotton bits and main jets!

"Experience: That which you get shortly after you need it."


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Lint-free is easy