| Author |
Message |
    
Phoi
| | Posted on Monday, December 20, 2010 - 12:59 pm: | 
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trying to figure this out before I start throwing money at parts:
I had fueled up at a valero station right before my low fuel light would normally come on, and about 20mi down the road, I lose any sort of output other than inertia from the engine, electric is all still fine. before I completely pull onto the shoulder, I notice a pretty gnarly smell that I can't place: it's chemical, not burning insulation, not oil, not trans oil, possibly unspent fuel? doesn't smell like fresh gas.... the starter turns the motor, but all that comes out is a rather unhealthy sounding clatter, and more of the bad smell. the cop that gave me a lift back into quartzite said it sounded like no fuel, and that it may be the fuel filter, but he wasn't sure.
fortunately this happened on the last 150mi of a 600mi trip, and I was in uhaul range of home  addtl info: bike had been sitting on base for a while outside in the ocean breeze with very little exercise for about 5 months... got it out for a couple miles once or twice a day, rarely any trips long enough for it to completely warm up.
edit: the clatter is too noisy for it to just be lack of fuel... planning on doing some compression tests in the near future.
(Message edited by phoi on December 20, 2010) |
Sparky
| | Posted on Monday, December 20, 2010 - 04:24 pm: |
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Sitting with the same gas for 5 months and then putting a few miles on it before filling up, I'd guess it's likely stale gas it was burning that would account for the odd smell.
Stale gas can degrade to a foul smelling gummy varnish-like concoction that unfortunately tends to make the intake valves stick in their guides. When this happens, it's likely one or both intake valves stuck enough to bend their pushrods as a minimum or, worst case, the valve hung open and the piston smacked it.
Drain the fuel immediately and note its smell. If it smells anything like turpentine rather than gasoline that's probably the culprit. |
Phoi
| | Posted on Monday, December 20, 2010 - 04:56 pm: |
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the drained out fuel smells normal, so far. I had to refuel at least once a month even with the limited distances I was going. |
Cellerjc
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2011 - 12:00 am: |
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Which bike do you have? Does it start at all? Run rough at first and better as it warms up? |
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Engine clatter, foul smell, acts like it has no fuel