Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech 2001 issues

I have a 2001 America and have been having problems when taking off from 1st gear.... It feels like it is bogged down and will stall until it catches and then take off like it should. I do not have any issues going from 1st to 2nd and so on, it is only starting from a dead stop in 1st gear.

It has done this for a while and we cleaned the carbs and it ran great for about a week, and then slowly started doing it again. Is there a fuel filter on the 2001 model? I looked through the forums and saw the inline filter on the T before the carbs, but I did not see it on my bike.

Anyone have any ideas that can help?

IMHO, If it was filter, it would act up any/all the time, especially at higher RPM's. You might have a dirty idle mixture screw or the screw set to lean. Run some "Sea Foam" through it first and balance and readjust your carb. How does it run with the choke pulled out a little?

I'm thinking your bike is a 2002, the first year of the Bonneville America. There is a mesh filter inside the tank at the petcock and another 'hidden' filter between and to the back of the carbs. The latter is the one you referred to at the 'T'. You wont see it until you take that 'T' apart... it's in there.

Thanks Keith. You are correct, it is a 2002. I took the tank off last night and drained the gas. I removed the petcock and cleaned out the mesh filter. It did have some grit all around it. I left everything apart so I could look on here and see if there was anything else I should do before putting it back together.

Regarding the "hidden" filter, is that something that should be replaced or just cleaned?

Thanks for your help

Pull the hidden filter and clean it. I recommend you pull the hidden filter and install another inline between the tank and carbs that can be serviced, otherwise, just clean and reinstal.

When you cleaned the carbs, did you notice any crud in the float bowls?
How many turns were the idle mixture screws turned out? I'd consider what Steve mentioned previously.
Have you done any recent modifications to the exhaust or intake without rejetting the carbs? Could cause a lean condition.

My guess is that a lack of fuel is not the problem as the bike only boggs down at lift off.
My thinking is that you are running too rich dumping too much fuel to air going from idle. If the bike idles fine at around 1000 RPM and runs fine while it is under way the problem is in the transition.

Have changed/cleaned the air filter? Try this, if you haven't made any other changes, spin the idle up a skosh. Also, insure your four vacuum caps aren't dry rotted. .

I have not been able to adjust my idle mixture. Is there any way to do this without the "D" tool? Is this something I would have to online, or are they available at an automotive store?

Also, I have not made any changes or modifications since I bought the bike 3 years ago. As far as I know, everything is still stock.

You can pick up the "D" tool at any motorcycle store. Some people make their own with a piece of brake line. I don't know what size, they hammer one side to make it flat, I guess it works. Did you drop the bowls to see what they look like inside?

You shouldn't have a D-Tool needle on that year triumph. A small flat head screw driver is called for. the D-tool didn't start till 04 I believe.