2000 M750 (12,608 miles)
So, got my bike out of a long winters storage. I never got around to winterizing so I didn't use Sta-Bil before storing. ...I know. I am a bad Duc owner.
Battery dead. Charged it. Started, ran rough, needed choke on so it wouldn't stall. It hesitated before acceleration. Etc. I used 1/2 can of Seafoam. After, now it starts RIGHT up and runs SUPER smooth. There were NO problems with acceleration at all.
Here's where it gets strange. So, I rode it for about an hour then when no more then 10 mins from home, it stalled out of no where while I was riding in gear at a constant speed. I pulled over & it started right up. 1/4 mile down the road, lost power but motor was still sputtering. Puled clutch & pulled over. It didn't stall, but started to die wen I rolled on the throttle. After 30 seconds to a minute, all was normal again.
SO, my question is, do you think there is now crud just getting clogged in the jets? What else could it be? BTW, Plugs look good & fuel filter looks good.
Sounds like my bike when I've managed to get some water in the fuel. If you haven't already added fresh fuel, I'd try that.
And change the fuel filter.
Hey dude. Sta-bil pushed my fuel pump (M750) over the edge - perhaps sea-foam did the same for yours. If you've got a relatively new filter, check the plugs: dry = no fuel. I changed my filter, thinking the sta-bil f'd it, but no go.
Fuel pump parts on the way for me ($20 shipped). I'm 5 years past due for that anyway.
Quote from: MongoReturns on March 21, 2010, 07:01:04 PM
Hey dude. Sta-bil pushed my fuel pump (M750) over the edge - perhaps sea-foam did the same for yours. If you've got a relatively new filter, check the plugs: dry = no fuel. I changed my filter, thinking the sta-bil f'd it, but no go.
Fuel pump parts on the way for me ($20 shipped). I'm 5 years past due for that anyway.
Why do you think the Stabil hurt your fuel pump?
Plugs and filter were both replaced less then a 1,000 miles before storing for winter. So, I guess it could still be clogged fuel filter (if there is crud the seafoam dislodged, etc.).
Fuel filter is relatively cheap, and can't hurt to change. I'll run this tank to E then replace fuel filter & put new gas in. Lets hope that works.
I would just put some HEET in there and see if that helps. Like Langanbob, is sounds like water in the gas to me.
Quote from: metallimonster on March 22, 2010, 04:29:00 AM
I would just put some HEET in there and see if that helps. Like Langanbob, is sounds like water in the gas to me.
The danger with that is we have ethanol fuel in the states. If you add more ethanol it may remove the water, but our bikes are not jetted for the increased ethanol. It could cause running/power issues.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 22, 2010, 03:58:27 AM
Why do you think the Stabil hurt your fuel pump?
I came across a post (probably here) where the sta-bil ate the pump's membrane. Probably an old pump as well. And it's the only thing that changed for my Monster - always started for 10 years, put that stuff in and suddeny no go. I've really needed to rebuild the pump anyway - I know 10 yrs & 20k miles and more than pushing it.
On the plus side, I put the sta-bil in my sailboat tank (diesel) as part of winterization and it started right up yesterday, after sitting in freezing cold for 4 months. Woohoo! Hope it stays going.
Quote from: metallimonster on March 22, 2010, 04:29:00 AM
I would just put some HEET in there and see if that helps. Like Langanbob, is sounds like water in the gas to me.
Shouldn't the Seafoam dry up any water in the tank? The can says' so atleast. I wouldn't be surprised if it did have some water in it. But, don't want to keep addint too many different fuel addatives in at the same time.
Plus ducpainter said not to [cheeky]
sounds mysteriously similar to my problem, also a carbed bike.
Quote from: ato memphis on March 22, 2010, 02:50:24 PM
sounds mysteriously similar to my problem, also a carbed bike.
I told you to treat your fuel ages ago. [laugh] [laugh]
I know. Did it. No change for me. Even tracked down your fancy startrek blend.
Quote from: ato memphis on March 22, 2010, 02:58:49 PM
I know. Did it. No change for me. Even tracked down your fancy startrek blend.
So...
what's the issue? [evil]
I haven't tried to start anything yet this spring.
I'll let you know if we've been duped. :P
I'm eliminating lots of various things - pulled the carbs, gave 'em a good clean, blew 'em out, got ready to put 'em back on, and a friend who tinkers with cars says
"Y'know how you like gadgets and tinkering with your bike, you ought to get an A/F ratio monitor, it'll tell you what's going on in real time, great for tuning"
He's got me there. Pipes are off, bungs to be welded, then ceramic coated so its all uniform looking, and back on the go. With a sophisticated looking readout built under the tail, useful for this problem, and later dyno tinkering.
Also, new plug wires be on the way. and no more vacuum petcock. Intake manifolds are getting coated to match exhaust, so new intake manifold gaskets are going on.
That's being coupled with my new fuel pump, new fuel filter, new fuel, new fuel lines, and the fun of playing in my garage. This problem better sort itself out soon. I'm going to button it all back when the pipes are done (about a two week wait is my prediction) and see what happens. In the buttoning-up process, the vac-line to the fuel pump is going to be replaced and probably the vac-lines from the carbs as the big ones look pretty oooogly.
Hopefully, wheelying down the road with ear-to-ear grins. If its none of the above, I'm swapping the Ignitech out for testing, and lastly, taking the time to test the coils once failure begins. My only remaining thought after all that would be investigating the wiring to the ignition pickup. There's only fuel, air, and spark required for combustion. If its not fuel, I figure its got to be spark trouble. Clearly, air is not all of a sudden moving to the far side of my garage and refusing to enter the intake.
If its still none of the above, I'm going to get some FCR41's, take the bike down to Jeff Nash and Stuart Rust, and say "tune me please, on ze dyno", and see what they come up with (both in #'s and in sol'ns)
A fairly robust plan. Other thoughts?
Checking the wiring where the pickups exit the case would not be a bad idea.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 22, 2010, 03:03:00 PM
So...
what's the issue? [evil]
I haven't tried to start anything yet this spring.
I'll let you know if we've been duped. :P
I'm thinking it's a conspiracy.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 22, 2010, 03:16:16 PM
Checking the wiring where the pickups exit the case would not be a bad idea.
looks like wiring. [laugh].
Quote from: ato memphis on March 22, 2010, 03:43:15 PM
looks like wiring. [laugh].
(http://12.media.tumblr.com/iNoYwqwJlny0or6glQ634uyro1_400.jpg)
another make the beast with two backsing comedian....
;D
Hey Nate, BoatUS has a long thread on Starbrite Startron. They pretty much trashed it as expensive naphta with snake oil. I'm back now to three, I mean 4 fuel products:
Stabil forms a film on the fuel surface that retards oxidation. Good for the tank of a '59 Alfa, but will generally not help your float bowl.
Seafoam mixes with your fuel and will help your float bowl.
Techron is good for your carb/FI internals but will not stabilize fuel.
Gumout Carb Cleaner. For when everything else fails.
Bazinga!
Suggestions on what I should be looking for 'down-yonder'? There's no cuts in the wrapping, so I don't see any shorting problems from eyeballing.
Quote from: ato memphis on March 22, 2010, 03:56:26 PM
Bazinga!
Suggestions on what I should be looking for 'down-yonder'? There's no cuts in the wrapping, so I don't see any shorting problems from eyeballing.
broken/frayed wiring on the inside....
Quote from: battlecry on March 22, 2010, 03:54:54 PM
Hey Nate, BoatUS has a long thread on Starbrite Startron. They pretty much trashed it as expensive naphta with snake oil. I'm back now to three, I mean 4 fuel products:
Stabil forms a film on the fuel surface that retards oxidation. Good for the tank of a '59 Alfa, but will generally not help your float bowl.
Seafoam mixes with your fuel and will help your float bowl.
Techron is good for your carb/FI internals but will not stabilize fuel.
Gumout Carb Cleaner. For when everything else fails.
Like I said I just tried it last fall...
I don't care what Boats US says...
'cuz they puff whoever pays. ;)
I'll let you
know how it worked for me. ;)
Quote from: ducpainter on March 22, 2010, 04:00:23 PM
broken/frayed wiring on the inside....
That is going to have to wait until I've eliminated the external things. Not ready to drain fresh oil and regasket that side. Besides, when I do that, I'll make it an opportunity to try out the Factory Pro "Pro Shift Kit" too.
Nate, you are right about BoaUS. They have refused to test Startron. They want those advertising dollars.
It's been trashed by users in their forum. http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63758&PN=1 (http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63758&PN=1)
"Ingredients:
<.5% Proprietary Organic Compounds
>95% Solvent Naptha (Petroleum), Heavy Aliphatic
translated- 99.6% Naptha and .4% organic compounds."
Their bottom line is that you can buy naphta cheaper and save yourself some dollars. Seafoam is, I believe, naphta, stoddard solvent (ingredient in WD-40), and isopropyl alcohol.
Quote from: battlecry on March 22, 2010, 04:18:43 PM
Nate, you are right about BoaUS. They have refused to test Startron. They want those advertising dollars.
It's been trashed by users in their forum. http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63758&PN=1 (http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63758&PN=1)
"Ingredients:
<.5% Proprietary Organic Compounds
>95% Solvent Naptha (Petroleum), Heavy Aliphatic
translated- 99.6% Naptha and .4% organic compounds."
Their bottom line is that you can buy naphta cheaper and save yourself some dollars. Seafoam is, I believe, naphta, stoddard solvent (ingredient in WD-40), and isopropyl alcohol.
As always...
time will tell.
I had a ton of issues with my mower last spring.
If the startron works I'll pay the price for the <.5% proprietary stuff. ;)
Just FYI - I had similar problems when I added too much seafoam for the amount of fuel I had left in the tank. Seafoam is more dense than gas so, if/when it settles, you're pretty much running purely on seafoam. My bike didn't like it; your mileage may vary.