Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Bike is acting weird

Bike's been sitting in a garage for 2 months. The heavy rains cause it to stay there. Bike was running PERFECT when I parked it now its messing up.

The choke idle is like the idle when the bike is already warm (doesnt go high like it did).

The bike is running really rich. And barely holds idle (sometimes just shuts off). No more pick up from the bike it just has a hard time like if its choking, and SOUNDS like it has a misfire.

Just had it serviced 3 to 4 months before I parked it. and hasn't been touched since.

Any help you guys can give me.

Plugs were pulled and good, gas is half full. I don't know what else to check.

Thanks,

Did you put fuel stabilizer in before you parked it?

Sounds like the carb jets need a good cleaning.... unless of course it's a fuelie model but then it still sounds like a fuel issue.

I'd sure enough drain the old gas and put in fresh (and maybe a dose of seafoam) before I did anything else. Hard to know better without the year model and your location.

2003 america and in Los Angeles.

From what my pops told me the garage flooded. but he said the water level didn't come close to the rim.

****** garage smelled SO BAD last night

Just a lil more backgound on the bike. It was a beach bike most its life. Long Beach, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. The bike was and is still in bad shape. I've took a lot of the rust off the bike.

I've also had the bike in the shop for plugs,oil,fluid changes. New brake calipers. So I did do a little revamp and enjoyed it for a little.

Ethanol really likes to absorb water and then get a gummy and stuff. Empty the tank, flush the gas lines and carbs (just drain the float bowls to start with) and try some new gas with a dose of fuel conditioner (I like Seafoam) before you take it to a shop.

Ill give that a try this weekend. Supposed to rain saturday so I have no plans LoL

Thanks,


I've heard of that seafoam stuff. thats the one that gets sucked in by a vaccum line correct ?

Nope, it's just a fuel additive; just mix it with the tank gas. Developed for outboard motors so it's pretty good at cleaning out water in a fuel system that's been sitting up.

Turn off your petcock, then loosen the allen screw on the side of the float bowl to drain the carbs. I find a spray can lid fits underneath the bowl easily and is large enough to capture the fuel from one bowl. Any water/debris will be pretty obvious...my lawn mower is the unwitting recipient of these drainings. You'll need a fuel line to attach to the petcock's output side to direct the old gas to a convenient receptacle, again my lawn mower is very forgiving of bad fuel to it gets these remains as well. Then a fresh load of fuel and you'll probably be good to go.

There's one other thing: the hidden filter. I've had fuel congeal in it and block the flow. Since you're going to be shutting off the fuel flow you might take a peek at it. Hard to get to, it's located in the 'T' junction of the fuel line between the carbs, down inside the 'T'. I'll be willing to bet a good cleaning is in order. Hard to get to...you're gonna cuss...

O ok glad I asked. I didn't think the triumph was that tricky. I've let my honda sit months on end outside even and it starts up fine. i guess carbs VS. FI ??

So my mechanic just called me back and said he thinks that the gas in the carbs dried up cloggin the line. Do you think the seafoam is gonna clear it out ?

Well it's $8 and a little of your time against the hourly rate at the shop so I figure it's a good gamble.

Had I issues like yours,

1. Check fuel flow rate
2. Drain bowls and tank
3. Remove petcock and clean.
4. Flush tank
5. Pull and clean hidden filter
6. Yank the carbs and clean.