Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Problems...$%$&^$

well, my America is down and I am losing sleep over it! I backed it out of the shed and she started with choke pulled(cool day) ran until she was warmed up just fine..pushed the choke in and around 10 seconds later she dies..won't restart so I have been trouble shooting for a week now.the bike runs on starter fluid and that's all..I changed the plugs,took the hidden filter out and cleaned it,changed the gas in the tank..all filters are clean..no pinched vent tubes or blocked lines..don't see any vacuum lines or condoms cracked...I'm just stuck..could use some help

Sounds like you'll have to take the carbs apart.

Sounds like either fuel flow problems or clogged jets. Pull a floatbowl, put a jar under it and turn on the fuel petcock to see how well the gas flows. Doing it this way tests the entire delivery system including the secret strainer.
If the fuel flows reasonably well, you will need to clean out the carbs. Otherwise, start with the strainer in the T fitting where the fuel line connects between the carbs and work your way back to the strainer on the petcock.

Scott,I,m gonna shoot for a quick fix. Sounds like gummy carbs. Drain the float bowls. Go pick up a can of Seafoam from the parts store. Add about half of the can to a gallon of fresh gas. See if she will start, if so good. She'll smoke like heck but that's ok. Ride it if possible until she clears up.
Drain everything again, fresh gas. Good luck.

Agree with everything already posted. You need to verify there is fuel flowing through the circuit.
1. Pull the fuel line off the petcock and open petcock to see if ok. This will check the screen in the petcock.
2. If ok, open the drains on the bottom of the carb bowls, (one on each) and then turn on the fuel and see of there is flow. If none, try the seafoam mentioned above.
3. Doesn't need to be done in this order.

Note, seafoam doesn't work instantly. Let it work through the system before pulling the carbs apart.

Limit the use of starting fluids (I don't recommend using them). They can ruin your cylinders quickly.

Make sure the gas cap is not plugged........ Try running it with the cap either loose or off.. Good luck. V.

Hey bruh,you get this sorted out?

Jeez, I feel sooo lucky...I have'nt had any problems like that with either of our bikes....22,000 and 40,000, still run like new....

not sorted out yet...if the bike sits over night it will fire once for about 3 seconds..It's just not getting fuel,,took carbs off(what a pain in the *ss)opened up both bowls..took out jets sprayed clean with carb cleaner.put it all back together ,left out hidden filter for now....still no better..the breather line for the carbs was full of fuel and slime..i took off the end caps with the small holes to let them open up..still no good..now i am drinking heavy..again!!!

p.s. fuel is getting to at least the top of the carbs..sure of that

Once again.
1. Did you open the drain plug from the bottom of each carb bowl to see if fuel flowed freely for several seconds?

Not sure what you mean by "fuel getting to the top of the carbs"?
Also not sure what you mean when you "took off the end caps with the small holes to let them open up"?

Did you add any seafoam to the tank?

Did the bike sit for a period of time before this began to happen?

The petcock has a screen on it that you need to remove the petcock from the tank to clean if you don't get fuel from it when opened. Also make sure the hidden filter in the T between the carbs is clean.

Now take the fuel line off the petcock. It is held on with a spring hose clamp. Open and see how much flows. Should flow freely. Only takes 2 minutes to check.

If it is ok, you need to let the seafoam sit for a while. Where the fuel flows from the inlets ports, through the needle valve into the bowls is plugged somewhere. If the seafoam doesn't work, pull the bowl off the carb with poor flow. Turn on the fuel flow and move the float up and down to see if fuel drains from the needle valve. Note if the needle is moving up and down also. It could be stuck closed. Tapping the carb often helps.

Slight pressure in the fuel tank could help unclog the blockage also or simply blow compressed air in the fuel lines.

You probably picked up a bad batch of gas.