Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech '04 America issue

Just bought this bike and was delivered yesterday, has only 2600 miles so not driven much, added some seafoam as was not sure age of gas, about 1/4-1/3 bottle, filled tank. On ride home it simulated running out of gas, then killed, hard to get restarted. Got started, went a another mile, same thing, able to get started while coasting. It does have small backfires on downshift. The former owner did have non stock pipes on it, but was not rejetted. I had the stock pipes put back on before he shipped it to me. A local triumph dealer looked at and noticed back fires but all else checked out. Any suggestions? Thanks

check the vacuum caps (4) on the intake manifolds. when they come off, or dry rot and leak, they cause all kinds farting popping an stalling
G

Maybe the previous owner removed the tank for some type of maintenance before putting the bike up for sale. If so, he might have pinched the breather tube underneath during reinstallation. Loosen the gascap and see if the problem persists. You also need to check the "hidden" fuel filter (see tech vault).

Jack

Might you have a photo of these, I noted the advice in the "newbies" post, but am not sure what they look like. Thanks

One thing I did notice was that there is a male plug that is not connected, its directly over the middle of the carb's has 1 black and 1 purple wire, I could not see if it came off of something or is for an accessory I do not have.

My email is hagstarr@yahoo.com should have want to send a photo or would like a photo from me to illustrate something, thanks again

Other than a pinched vent hose or clogged hidden filter or obstructed petcock screens, how about float height?

If the prior owner had not rejetted when he replaced the stock pipes, your motorsickle would be rich if anything. Backfires are a skinny thang. Your sickle dying is a fuel thang.

However, if the motor is shutting down due to an electic issue then it very well could go pow when it re-fires. Try the above things first. No need to check the halls gap before you really need to. (Pickup sensor under the right side engine cover (alternator)).

Firstly drain the gas all of it. Drain the carb bowls too. While you have all the gas out of it, drop the petcock and examine the screens. Then check the hidden filter.

Drop the bowls and look for varnish. Check the float heights. (You can do this without removing the bowls if you have some clear tubing. See tech vault)

I know sounds like a pita. k.i.s, though. Huh?

1. Drain the carb bowls into a glass container and observe what the fuel looks like. Seem OK? either way
2. Drain the gas out of the tank. Get any garbage with it? NO?
3. Make sure the vent hose is not pinched when you replace the tank.
3. Put fresh gas in with sea foam.
4. Try it again.

Now it gets a bit more involved.

If the gas is stale (varnished) you need to drop the bowls and see if they are coated with a brownish/tan/orangish film. Yeah? Well the carbs need to be cleaned up. At this point go to the dinq's site and follow his instructions on removing the carbs.
Once removed drop the bowls. Remove the floats, drop the jets. My fingers hurt. Check your vent tube and get back with us.

I shall check this out, thanks very much for your time.

Easy Carby Floaty Heighty Chicky

Do all of the simple things first, but my bike was shutting down, than re-firing with a big backfire. I rechecked this gap and found it to be on spec. But, put it back together and it's never had an issue since.

Quote:

---

However, if the motor is shutting down due to an electic issue then it very well could go pow when it re-fires. Try the above things first. No need to check the halls gap before you really need to. (Pickup sensor under the right side engine cover (alternator)).

---