Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech SERIOUS PROBLEM/ my new bike died on me today

OK guys, here's the one that is gonna make me crazy. Two days ago I rounded a corner and was rolling on the gas and the bike started acting like it was running out of gas so I quikly flipped on the reserve and headed straigfht for a gas station only to find out I still had half a tank. Then today my brand new bike, with less than 200 miles on it, left me standing on the side of the road. Before it died it started sputtering and bucking like it was running out of gas and then it just died. There was plenty of gas, the petcock was turned on, I kept trying to start it and it wouldn't fire. Then I remembered reading an article where a fellow had a similar problem and when he unscrewed the the gas cap the bike would start. So I tried it and the bike started. So my assumption is that the tank is not venting properly. Anybody ever have this problem?, How did you resolve it?, Do you know how the gas tank vents? I'm wondering if there is a hose pinched somewhere under the tank. ANY help would be appreciated, I wanna ride my new bike!

The vent hose is probably pinched at the front tank mounts. It's a pretty common problem, but easy to fix.
Just take the tank off and look, the vent line is obvious at the front of the tank. It routes around the the front mounts, the hose will likely be pinched at the mount where it slides on to the frame boss.

Reinstall the tank being careful not to pinch the hose.

You may be able to check it with a mirror without removing the tank.

Wow, that sure has been a common problem lately. Luckily it is an easy one.

Soren

Thanks I'll have a look in the morning, I don't yet have a manual, can you tell me where the tank mounting bolts are located and is there anything else that has to be done to facilitate removing the tank?

You have to take the dash off. No need to disconnect the wires but be sure to put some towels over the area where the dash will hang so it doesn't scratch your tank.
Take off the seat. There is a bolt on a flange on the back of the tank, remove it.
Take the fuel line off just below the petcock (petcock in the "off" position )
Lift the tank from the rear and slide it back while lifting. You may need to jiggle it a bit.

You should be able to reach the vent line at the front of the tank. It really helps if you have an extra set of eyes. And hands too.

You may want to finish removing the tank, or you may be able to correctly route the hose and just put the tank back.

If you decide to remove the tank, grab the vent hose near the tank nipple and pull. It should come off fairly easily. You may have to twist it a little.

Have a flat spot prepared with a soft surface to set your tank on.

If that doesn't fix the issue check the tip over valve, it may be stuck. It's a little plastic piece in the vent line clipped to the frame behind the carbs, also check the hose under the bike to be sure it isn't clogged with some mud or tar or something you may have kicked up. Most likely is pinched under the tank though.

The Kury caps like brent sells vent on vacuum, although we're hearing they don't fit right on newer tanks (still the case?).
But for '02-'06 at least, that's another way to vent the thing.
They can also be modded for 2-way venting if you want to eliminate the hose and valve altogether.
I ran mine that way last year with no problems.
&, I have a black tank, so that should be the acid test on the pressure relief side of things.

I know the feeling. It happened to me 4 times going to Ga. and once coming back. I started to take the tank off behind a gas station but thought I would check to see if it would run after I had the seat off. I made it home. My questions are: How could the tube be pinched if the tank has never been off? Or in my case it has been running fine for a couple of years since the tank has been off? Also if if is just vapor lock, like Craig of Triumph of Little Rock suggested, what is wrong with the stock cap which is supposed to be vented?

Take it to a dealer right now. Don't tinker with it, its warranted.

I'm going to have it in to the dealer in a couple of weeks for some warranty work on my front master cylinder, I'll have them take a look at it then, in the mean time I checked the vent tube and it does not appear to be pinched, I followed it all the way from the gas tank to the cannister it connects to beneath the frame. I'm thinking about disconnecting it where it plugs into the tip over valve, as a temp fix.

OK, if you are not willing to take it to the dealer, I give up. With 200 miles on it I would be at the dealer today screaming and asking where is my loaner bike.

I assume you are not going up to Prescott then?

I'd really take it to the dealer. IF you tinker and make it worse you'll be looking at a big bill for the 'repairs' and to rectify the actual problem. And there'll be no more warranty. Period.

Go to the dealer.

Tell them if they find nothing wrong you want the tip over valve changing. It's there as a safety thing, and I had problems with mine last year. And sounds exactly the same problems, with it sounding like the breather is pinched but it isn't.

I agree, Mailman, take it to your dealer.You don't want to void the warranty. My bike is over 6 years old that's why I can mess with it.

Alright! I've been having the same problem with my '07 Speedmaster and I've been wondering what was up. I took a 200 mile trip the other day and this time when the bike started to die I unscrewed the gas cap, problem solved! I just hit 600 miles so when I take her into the dealer this week for the 1st service I'm going to have them fix it. I wonder if Triumph purposely made a non-locking gas cap so I could unscrew it while I was riding? Boy that was nice of them!

The saga continues... after much badgering by the readership of this website, I decided not to wait any longer and I went to the dealership this morning, even though Iknew they would not fix it today. I thought that I needed to get the problem documented as a matter of record. I bought the bike from an our of state dealer and the service work is being performed locally. The service mgr. looked at the bike and said that when the dealer I bought the bike from removed the air injection, they did not cap off and or remove various lines that run to emissions and carbs. So I wait to get my bike in for repair, if you've read about my other prob. with my master cyl., it will all be done at the same time. Meantime my bike is DOWN!!! OH YEAH I almost forgot, my pride and joy is now leaking oil from the primary cover and some small cover down low on the right side of the bike. IT JUST GETS BETYTER AND BETTER!

The primary cover leaking is well most likely a gasket issue. Which engine cover is it? The right side or the left side? And exactly where on the cover does the leak manifest itself?

The little cover by the front sprocket is most likely evidencing chain lube overkill. Ya did good by taking it to your local dealer. i assumed you bought it from Euro Motorsports. Sorry. Any stealership that sells ducks aught to be able to rectify your problems forthright. Two brothers starting up a dealership sounds cool.

If it's just chain lube , no biggie but if your covers are leaking be sure to note that with the dealer and have them fix that under warranty if you can, it shouldn't be leaking already. Mine doesn't leak and it's an 04 with almost 16,000 miles on it.

At least its documented now. The last thing you want with a new bike is to have Triumph say its abuse because you didn't take it in.

I purchased the bike from a dealer in Iowa and the service work is being done by Phoenix International Motorsports here where I live, they are being very cooperative in trying to rectify the problems. I don't feel right being too boisterous in my complaints to them since they did't sell me the bike. I just wanna ride my bike! Phoenix will be into 100 degree weather very soon. Until then here I sit riding my computer.

Not boisterous but firm, they are dealers and warranty work comes with the territory. If they are being cooperative then you be nice in return but if they try and deny you service then be firm. They have to honor warranty work as a dealer.