Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Bike Quit Twice on Me Today - Help!

Riding home from work today (perfect weather) running fine in the HOV lane 70mph... bike starts loosing power like its running out of gas, or losing spark, checked the mileage on the tank (115 miles.. ok so 1/4 of a tank), hit reserve anyway (still loosing power), switched back to main and still loosing power... eventually just stalling out. Pulled over, put kickstand down, checked everything (looked ok), switched the key back on hit the ignition it fires right back up. Power down the road another 5 miles or so and it does the same thing all over again. Pulled over did the same checks, key back on, fires back up. Pull off the interstate top the tank off (just to be dad gum sure) and drive on home without any more problems. Bike is a '06 BA with 16K miles and serviced regularly at all scheduled intervals. Any ideas???

My first thought is vapor lock from a blocked vent tube.

What might one do to clear that problem up?

It happened to me and Steve (Conwy) on a rainy day.
First thing is to unscrew the gas cap. IF that is the problem itll clear up in a second or two. You may not even need to pull over.
Second...find your vent tube under your bike and cut it at an angle.

Anything past that I cant speak to...all my knowledge comes form all of our brothers and sisters here on BA.com.

I had the same problem with my brand new 2007 TBA, It turned out to be the tip over valve was stuck. It is a small check valve that mounts in line in your gas tank vent hose , the valve itself is mounted directly behind your carburetors. the valve gets stuck shut and wont allow your gas tank to vent properly creating a vacuum in your tank. If you go to pages 25 and 21 in this forum ,you can read my account and member responses. My bike died on me repeatedly just like yours. It's an easy fix and a common problem, good luck.

Also consider replacing the hidden inline fuel filter.

Jack

Agree with Lazy Rider, remember that pump gas is filthy stuff, I switched to the Pingel fuel valve, and clean twice a year. Each time I clean, it's filtered crap. The stock in-line filter seems to let a lot less junk through, consequently it can crud up easier.

Riding on faith at this point. Took it to the dealer and they checked it stem to stern and couldn't find anything wrong with it (checked everything including electronics). Hasn't done it again since. We'll see...

I have had the vapor lock thing twice after overfilling on a HOT day. Cracking open the cap did the trick, but it gives one pause for a bit waiting for it to cut out again.

My experience was identical to yours. On an 07 Speedy, as the bike had less then 500 miles and had done it 6 times the mechanic listend to my compliants and blew out a vent hose from the tank with compressed air and the problem has not come back. I am going to get a large funnel and a piece of chamois and filter all my gas from now on. Alaska bush pilots have been doing that for years to keep out contaminents and water from fuel as a stoppage when aloft is not acceptable.

My 07 Speedy has done the same thing, with less then 1000 miles on it. Always seems to happen more if it has sat in the hot sun all day. Pull over pop the cap and away I go again. Very annoying.

A guy I know here with an 04 Speedmaster had the same issue. The dealer could not figure it out, had it in 3 times. I isolated it down to a bent vent tube in the tank - no air would blow through it either direction. Called the dealer and told them to check that and they ended up replacing the gas tank for him under warranty since it was brand new.