| Author | Message | ||
     Jraice |
Had another thread about abrupt power loss which ultimately ended up with this situation but now that I think I've narrowed down the issue a bit I decided the new title might draw the right group of individuals with experience with fuel line clogs. My bike has been sitting for over 5 months with a full tank of regular (no Stab-il, learned that lesson) gas. I noticed a sporadic problem these past two days in which it would bog down under acceleration as if it were starving for fuel. The problem happened <25 percent of the time when riding, which was bizarre. After burning most of the tank through I added 3.5 gallons of gas and a good amount of seafoam and then wen't out this morning. Had around 60 miles away perfect riding except for one problem, it would hesitate (bog down) for about a 1/2 second period after hard braking (harder than I would normally do during normal riding, was testing my new master cylinder). After 60 miles or so it began having the original problem where it would cut in and out as if it were not getting enough fuel and I hit the kill switch off and on, but the bike wouldn't start up again. After stopping and cycling the key the fuel made its priming sound but was a good bit quitter than normal and sounded like it was struggling to prime. The bike turned over but wouldn't start. 2 hours later after getting a trailer it started right up and died after 20 seconds, as if it had a clog and enough fuel had trickled past to run momentarily. Other things to look for? Someone nearby said if the fuel pump is at least trying to prime and can be heard than its likely not the problem. Bad injector? My thought is that it was clogged enough to ride poorly (although not sure why'd t be sporadic) these past for days, and the seafoam removed whatever was clogging it but that released material further clogged the filter, or some other point in the system. Also any leads to good information about the type of filters or other likely clogging locations on an 09 XB would be great. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
There are two filters in the XB, both part of the pump, there is mesh pre filter and a metal canister filter prior to the fuel being pushed from the pump into the fuel line. The pre filter is a special part, the metal one is available at some of the local auto parts stores, I've saved the box mine came in, can get you that info in the morning. All parts for rebuilding the pump are available at A.S.B. It's not a bad job once you get at the pump and get it out. Pulling the pump with the swingarm still on is fiddley but doable. The bike keeps about a half gallon surprise fuel for once you break the seal between the frame and pump, good fun there. I had a similar issue that time and chemical additives eventually resolved. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/670462.html?1335771987 -Mike | ||
| Jraice |
Yeah, the service manuals description of the process worried me a bit. Any advice on what to do with excess gasoline and how to prevent spillage? And do my problems sound like a clogged filter? Doing all this work and having it still not work would be a major bummer. | ||
| Greg_e |
You could try checking the fuel pressure and see what you have when it is running. | ||
| Jraice |
Bike doesn't start, so how would I go about that? | ||
| Iamarchangel |
First, fuel pump is an auto part so do a cross check and save some money. Second, you make no reference to plugs or air filter. Alway remember the Holy Trinity: fuel, air, and a spark at the right time. Five months is long enough to build a mouse or hornet nest in the air filter. Fouled plugs also fits your description. When I worked as a bike mechanic, it was amazing how many people brought bikes to be repaired that simply needed new plugs. Actually, it was amazing how many brought in bikes that had no gas in the tank but I'm trusting you on that. The plugs on Buells tend to look slightly gray over white as a good colour. Light toast colour is also good. Burnt toast is bad. Anyway, whole lot easier to check those than tear apart a pump or even get to it. | ||
| Jraice |
I'll give the spark plugs a look I suppose. Only reason I felt it was fuel related is the fact that after it stopped working, I was able to get 20 seconds of running out of it after 2 hours of sitting (fuel slowly working past a leak). I'll look into swapping the plugs, and will check out the air filter although I can't imagine it would prevent starting at all, as opposed to just running poorly. American Sport Bike has both the filters for very inexpensive, I might take it to a Buell dealer but I'm thinking I'd rather order all the parts from American Sport Bike and then take it to a more trusted mechanic. Or would I be better off at a Buell dealer because they have the tool to remove the pump? I'd do it myself but don't have a wheel chock to hold the bike while its jacked, nor do I think I can safely deal with all that gasoline. Let me know if there are tricks to do it without much equipment as I am fairly comfortable digging into things (took cases apart to fix a problem with the shifter mechanism). | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Plug fouling will act the same way. Usually you see it in cold and a weak battery, people try to rev to warm up and the plug wet fouls. Twenty minutes later, it will start up as if nothing happened because it's warmer. Short runs will foul plugs. Carbon can build up and not get burned off. It absorbs the fuel and adds to the build up on the next short run. Eventually, between the fouling and the battery weakening, it gives up the ghost. A bad air filter will speed up the process. | ||
| Jraice |
Only thing that explains the fuel priming at startup sounding different is a fuel related issue though, no? | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I used a siphon hose with a little bulb pump ($3.99 @ auto parts store) to drain most of the bike's fuel into a large gas can. There is a drain plug in that goes into the pump, I think that was my big surprise actually, seemed like I got another gallon from there, filed up a small gas can, had to plug the hole with my finger and yell for my wife to come help since the big can was too far away for me to reach with my feet. I had a good laugh at that once help arrived (Couldn't let it just run out since there are cabinets for the kitchen sitting in the garage too, waiting for me to seal them). I put the old gas into the truck and got clean 91 octane, no ethanol mix gas for the bike. My pump has been quieter since the rebuild. Pulling the pump from the frame was a pain, I improvised a tool but it wasn't very well thought out on my part. I'm glad I rebuilt the pump, even with only 6K miles on the bike it seems like it wasn't wasted energy. Change in the pump sound on your bike could be due to battery if you don't keep it float charged or go on decent length rides. For those who know, wouldn't a plugged filter affect a fuel pressure reading? Either way, you have to pull the airbox to get to the fuel line connector on the throttle body (to take a pressure reading), which will also give you easy access to your plugs for their inspection/cleaning/replacement as well. Consider that starting simple as Iamarchangel suggests is a lot cheaper (both in time and money) than jumping right to the pump, especially if it is perhaps fouled plugs not burning oldish gas very well. | ||
| Greg_e |
If you pull the fuel line, you can try running the pump into a container to help drain the tank. I think you need to jumper a relay but I might be wrong, procedure should be in the service manual. If it doesn't run at all now, then it sure sounds like you need a new pump or you have some kind of electrical fault. | ||
| Jraice |
Just started it up and it ran for around a minute before I shut her down, will do a longer test later maybe even risk having to push her a block and take it for a test spin around the block. Fuel pump still sounded a lot quitter when priming which makes me think its not the spark plugs (that I could change on my own) so I might just suck it up and trailer it to a Buell dealer as they have the proper tools and can order parts, rather than take it to my generic (trust him more) mechanic. | ||
| Jraice |
Ran for a solid 3 minutes with some reving (didn't ride) and fuel priming was a bit louder but not normal volume. Shut down and re-primed and it went back to the weak sound and died after 5 seconds of running. |
