Sooo I did not put stabil in my tank over the winter .... dont shoot me I'm usually good about this ..
Now what?? I dont wanna mess up more than i have already ... how should i proceed?
id just start it and run the gas through. have left gas in my bike for 3-4 months at a time and it started right up. ran a little rough, but a little riding and mixing it with new gas worked fine. this was in dryer NY winter weather.
another time it was sitting for 2 months in florida pan handle weather (think high humidity everyday) wouldnt start so i bought a bottle of octane booster to see what would happen. and well it started right now. not sure if that had any effect or it was just luck.
Thanks man ... gonna try it tomorrow and see what gives - im in NJ so hoping for the same luck you had the first time
http://mystarbrite.com/startron/content/view/119 (http://mystarbrite.com/startron/content/view/119)
Battery charged to full but still nothing ... all electronics work fine horn blows etc but nothing happens when I try to start her up ???
is the red switch on the right side flipped to the full circle?
are you in first gear trying to start with the kickstand down?
Quote from: ducaki on March 06, 2010, 07:23:07 AM
Battery charged to full but still nothing ... all electronics work fine horn blows etc but nothing happens when I try to start her up ???
what do you mean by "nothing happens" -- is it not cranking at all, or not firing up? if it's cranking, can yuou smell gasoline, and have you tried pulling the plugs to see if you have a spark?
also, is it a carbie or a fuel-injected monster?
Thanks all ... it was the plugs
Quote from: ducaki on March 07, 2010, 06:03:30 PM
Thanks all ... it was the plugs
I carry a pair in my bike, along with the tools to get it out.
Quote from: ducaki on March 07, 2010, 06:03:30 PM
Thanks all ... it was the plugs
Did you add anything to the fuel before you changed the plugs?
FYI< if you let the fuel sit, you absolutely should add Stabil or similar BEFORE starting it.
taking a wire brush to the plug electrodes won't hurt. i used to carry a set of plugs, but found i could just brush them off and that fixed 90% of starting issues (after they cooled down of course, not fun...)
The larger the volume of fuel the less chance of an issue with degradation. I make sure my bikes are topped off, drain the bowls if it's carbed, and leave it at that.
When I bought my dirt bike it had sat over the winter and the PO couldn't get it to idle. When I got it home and dropped the bowl the jet was clogged with blue/green gunk. He said he was using Sea foam as a stabilizer...
Quote from: jwoconnor on March 08, 2010, 06:24:23 PM
The larger the volume of fuel the less chance of an issue with degradation. I make sure my bikes are topped off, drain the bowls if it's carbed, and leave it at that.
When I bought my dirt bike it had sat over the winter and the PO couldn't get it to idle. When I got it home and dropped the bowl the jet was clogged with blue/green gunk. He said he was using Sea foam as a stabilizer...
I love sea foam. It sounds like poured sea foam in and let it . your suppose to let it run through for a bit.
Quote from: jwoconnor on March 08, 2010, 06:24:23 PM
The larger the volume of fuel the less chance of an issue with degradation. I make sure my bikes are topped off, drain the bowls if it's carbed, and leave it at that.
When I bought my dirt bike it had sat over the winter and the PO couldn't get it to idle. When I got it home and dropped the bowl the jet was clogged with blue/green gunk. He said he was using Sea foam as a stabilizer...
I always used that method when the fuel had MBTE in it and it worked great.
I haven't had the same results with E10.
"The larger the volume of fuel the less chance of an issue with degradation. I make sure my bikes are topped off, drain the bowls if it's carbed, and leave it at that."
The alcohol in E10 gas will seek water from the air through the tank vent. And then, even if you remove the water, you take away the alcohol and drop the octane level. Bad thing all around.
Quote from: battlecry on March 09, 2010, 03:25:15 AM
"The larger the volume of fuel the less chance of an issue with degradation. I make sure my bikes are topped off, drain the bowls if it's carbed, and leave it at that."
The alcohol in E10 gas will seek water from the air through the tank vent. And then, even if you remove the water, you take away the alcohol and drop the octane level. Bad thing all around.
Yup. The greater the volume of gas = greater rate of moisture wicking by the alcohol.
If you are going to store your bike with a tank of gas, you have to use a stabilizer with E10 protection. Using a full tank of gas just means you'll have more water in the tank when you go to start it.
The E10 is less of a problem in cars because the EVAP system. Since our bike systems are usually missing or, at best partially open they are more of a problem. E10 = [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]
Quote from: howie on March 09, 2010, 04:07:04 AM
The E10 is less of a problem in cars because the EVAP system. Since our bike systems are usually missing or, at best partially open they are more of a problem. E10 = [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]
the stock evap emissions setup on a Ducati introduces a negative pressure into the gas tank to suck the fumes away.
when you turn off the engine, the system stops and the tanks is briefly left with a vacuum -- which is then quickly filled with atmosphere (and any humidity therein).
removing the evap system removes the vacuum source from the tank and the volatile nature of gas means the fumes expand and create a positive pressure inside the tank -- which is then vented.
That is true Ducatiz, but the tank vented all the time through the tank drain hose. I don't think the tank is sealed, so with the engine running, the evap system sucks a mix of tank fuel vapors and outside air coming in through the drain hose, bringing the moisture into the tank for the E10 to munch on.
So the way to ensure the evap system and E10 work together while protecting our engines is to never turn the ignition switch on.
Quote from: battlecry on March 09, 2010, 05:08:35 AM
That is true Ducatiz, but the tank vented all the time through the tank drain hose. I don't think the tank is sealed, so with the engine running, the evap system sucks a mix of tank fuel vapors and outside air coming in through the drain hose, bringing the moisture into the tank for the E10 to munch on.
So the way to ensure the evap system and E10 work together while protecting our engines is to never turn the ignition switch on.
nope, just remove the evap system (unless you live in California). the fume expansion of gasoline will create positive pressure and prevent atmosphere from coming in.
Warming and cooling of the fuel will create a positive...then negative pressure scenario.
Atmosphere will introduce itself to the fuel.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 09, 2010, 05:29:11 AM
Warming and cooling of the fuel will create a positive...then negative pressure scenario.
Atmosphere will introduce itself to the fuel.
good point. totally forgot about Boyle's law... :-/
Quote from: ducatiz on March 09, 2010, 03:45:12 AM
Using a full tank of gas just means you'll have more water in the tank when you go to start it.
Never had a problem. In the midwest we can still get fuel without ethanol.
Quote from: jwoconnor on March 09, 2010, 04:42:42 PM
Never had a problem. In the midwest we can still get fuel without ethanol.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1-1hEGl_xM/SUDfQkQMijI/AAAAAAAAAGg/NAY4SHyw26A/s400/make%20the%20beast%20with%20two%20backs-you-guys.jpg)
Quote from: jwoconnor on March 09, 2010, 04:42:42 PM
Never had a problem. In the midwest we can still get fuel without ethanol.
Good luck when you can't. ;D
Quote from: ducatiz on March 09, 2010, 04:46:51 PM
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1-1hEGl_xM/SUDfQkQMijI/AAAAAAAAAGg/NAY4SHyw26A/s400/make%20the%20beast%20with%20two%20backs-you-guys.jpg)
Oh, I'm sorry! [cheeky]
Quote from: ducpainter on March 09, 2010, 05:21:30 PM
Good luck when you can't. ;D
We grow the corn so we can send the shit gas to the rest of you guys [moto]