| Author | Message | ||
     Impulse_101 |
I've had my 1997 S3T since early February in the month or so since I started riding it I've put on over 1000 miles and she's behaved very nicely, until today. On my ride home from work the engine started to bog down, then it felt like the front cylinder wasn't firing. I had to give her more gas to keep her running because she died on me in traffic and I had to try like hell to get her restarted before slowing down too much. Once I got her restarted she continued to run rough. So I pulled off the road and let her idle why I checked her over. Nothing seemed funny, choke in, gas on and I had a full tank since I refueled yesterday. She stayed running and smoothed out as soon pulled over, so after the check I reved her a bit and then pulled into traffic. Everything was great for about 100 feet and then the whole thing happened again, this time at a stop light. But when she died I couldn't restart her. So I pushed her onto the sidewalk and attempted to restart her. No such luck, electric was good at 13 volts, the starter cranked like a champ but the engine wouldn't light. And even worse I noticed a drop of oil beneath her. Something that I've never seen before and I park her on the same piece of concrete every night. After about 10 minutes I tried to start her again and lo and behold... She started right up like nothing had happened! So I let her run for a while. She just purred like a kitten. (a really big, loud and pissed kitten) Finally, I decided to jump on her and take a little trip down a side street as a test. Once again, it was like nothing happened at all, she ran perfectly. So I headed up and onto the Hoan bridge, which made me nervous as hell since there is nothing for emergency lanes, but she ran perfect up and over and for 20 more miles all the way home. I checked the oil level as soon as I got home and it was identical to where is was two days ago. I've haven't found any leaks and there are no trails or weeping evident. Maybe it was bad gas, maybe it didn't like the 20 degree difference in temperature by the lake versus anywhere else in Milwaukee that day. Any ideas? I'm sure out of them. JT | ||
| V2win |
Two things come to mind right off the bat. 1. The vent hose for the gas tank may be getting pinched closed. If so, a vaccum will build up in the tank and no gas to carb. 2. A small piece of crap in the carb could be closing off one of the fuel passages. Both have happed to me and the symptoms are alike. For what its worth. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Those are exactly the kind of tips I hoping for. Thanks, JT | ||
| Bads1 |
Or it could be the safety switch on the side stand going bad.If it is the best thing to do is by pass it. | ||
| Doughnut |
I think Dull had the bad side stand switch. I'll ask about that for you next time I see him Impulse. You got mail.  | ||
| Impulse_101 |
If it was a switch I thought that the bike would just stop running and not bog down and run eraticly first. I took the bike around town this evening as well and there was no sign of any problem. Hopefully that is the end of it, but if it's not... JT | ||
| Bads1 |
Impulse those switches are very well known to do exactly what you have described.They can do this for a while then finally let go.Go in the knowledge vault under electrical and read up. | ||
| Kinger |
Impulse, Was it raining/damp out? My '00 S3T ran rough last summer. It would only do it after it had rained or in the rain. Turned out that the wiring going to the ignition coil had worn through and was shorting out. My bike would actually back fire on occasion before I found the problem. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Kinger, It hadn't rained in days. Bads1, I'll check it out. JT | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I'd agree with V2win. I've had funky tank pressure problems with my S3. When my side switch went bad, the bike just flat out stopped. No spitting or sputtering. Also check your plugs. They could be fouled just enough to cause the sputtering. I've learned (after numerous self taught lessons) to start with the simple stuff. Good luck! | ||
| Impulse_101 |
You know... I did take off the gas cap while I was on the start of the road. I'll have to check the vent. I don't remember any suction sounds when I took the cap off but it's a possibility. JT | ||
| Captainkirk |
1) Check the plugs for oil fouling. 2) If it happens again, pop the gas cap loose as you're riding to see if it makes a difference. 3) Top off the tank with gas from a different station. You wouldn't be the first to get a slug of bad gas. 4) My guess is leaning towards ignition problem on one cylinder. Change the plugs and wires (they're cheap) Go with the newer 10R12 plug. Check to make sure your coil is mounted tight and all the boots are in place. 5) let us know what happens. | ||
| Blasterd |
My bike had the exact same problems a few months ago. After I checked everything you could check I decided to bypass the sidestand switch and guess what..... Hasn't happened since. Ken | ||
| Impulse_101 |
I've put about 100 miles on since she did it and nothing weird has happened since. I'm going to order new wires get new plugs next week since I blew all my mad money on a new Fieldsheer jacket and gloves this weekend. JT | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Also, Doughnut if you're paying attention. My tail lamp was just a bad bulb, one of the filaments was busted. I replaced it and everything was fine, now wiring problems like Dul's bike. JT | ||
| Djkaplan |
I had the exact same symptoms with my 2k M2. It was intermittent for a couple of weeks and then the bike just refused to run one morning. It was the infamous sidestand switch. I picked up that priceless tidbit from the BadWeb. There's no way in hell I could have found that one out myself. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
So what is the fix of choice for the sidestand. Just wire around it or replace it? JT | ||
| Bomber |
86 it, sez me . . .. . the switch (unless it's changed) looks like it was designed to catch and hold water, thereby making certain the thing will let go at the least oppotune time . . . .. . just don't foret that it's gone . . ..remind Court to tell me to splain sometime! | ||
| Cj_xb |
on a new Fieldsheer jacket Hey Impulse, Where did you get your new Fieldsheer jacket, locally ?? I'm looking for one in particular that I saw and really liked, just wasn't my size ?? CJ  | ||
| Impulse_101 |
I just went to Sportland2 and ordered it. I got the Titanium Air mesh jacket. They had it in my size but I didn't want the one color that they had in stock. It should be here Wednesday or Thursday. They have a lot of Joe Rocket stuff, but I liked the Fieldsheer better. I will be ordering the pants in a few weeks. The heavy set hispanic guy is pretty cool to deal with, he helped me out a lot and answered a lot of questions pretty honestly so I will go back. Just beware the HUGE pack of squids that hangs out front on nice days. I can't tell you how many times I heard the word "Dude"  JT edited by Impulse 101 on April 19, 2004 | ||
| Bomber |
Doooode -- what's a Sportland2? can you splain for a flatlander? | ||
| Mikej |
A bike shop place. | ||
| Mikej |
http://www.sportland2.com/ | ||
| Mikej |
http://yellowpages.superpages.com/profile.jsp?SRC=portals&T=Milwaukee&S=WI&PP=LN &STYPE=S&CID=00000494820&LID=0048983708 (three more posts and I get a free toaster)  | ||
| Bomber |
Mike -- thanks, but, but hold out for the garage fridge, I'm thinkin | ||
| Cj_xb |
I can't tell you how many times I heard the word "Dude LMAO !!! Okay, I'll give Sportland2 a try, I personally liked the Fieldsheer jackets better than the Joe Rocket, I'll try and look for the guy you dealt with !! The one I looked at (women's) was mesh, but also had black leather down the front, back, shoulders, and elbows, and none of the big bulky protective pads. I really like it, so maybe they can order me one !! Thanks DUDE !!!  CJ | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Aside from having a lot of japanese bikes they also have a lot of clothing and accesories. I believe that Bads1 worked there many moons ago. It's a decent place, and it's pretty close to me. JT | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Hey dude, don't call me dude! $5 if anyone knows where that comes from. JT | ||
| Bomber |
Mott the Hoople the name seems to intimate that there is a Sportland 1 . . .. is this true? | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Bomber, Wrong, and I don't know... I've wondered about the Sportland Uno connection for a while but I've never asked. I'm usually too busy looking at the rice rockets. They have a V-strom and an SV in there and I'd love to try either of them. JT | ||
| Mikej |
http://www.sportlandonline.com/default.asp?sid=09983026X4K19K2004J3I23I42JPMQ112 9R0 Not sure, but perhaps #1 is the first location, and #2 is the first Wisconsin location. Makes sense to me anyway. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"So what is the fix of choice for the sidestand. Just wire around it or replace it?" I cut the wires going to the switch and spliced them together, bypassing the whole affair. I eventually just removed the switch altogether. | ||
| Mikej |
Of course up here we have a FleetFarm and a Farm&Fleet, and they seem to get a bit testy if you confuse the two or ask directions to the other while in the store. Oh well, such is life. (working towards the garage fridge....) | ||
| Impulse_101 |
That's gotta be closer to Bomber than Oak Creek. JT | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Getting back to the original reason for the thread... (Not that I care, it was a pleasant diversion.) I always have my leatherman on my bike. I can wire just about anything with little more than the leatherman and some shrink tubing, so I'm not too afraid. I've already ID'd the wires and I can splice or short them at the connector. It might be a better idea to make a Molex connector that would short them together and still look completely stock and all you'd have to do is replace the connector and no one would no that It's usually shorted, which could be handy when going back to the dealer for Warranty issues. JT | ||
| Mikej |
Do like I did, bare a little bit of the wire on each strand, twist them together, wrap in electrical tape. Looks somewhat normal (if I hadn't used white electrical tape since that was all I had with me at the time), and the connector is still intact for the panic prone at some shops. | ||
| Bomber |
as part of the winter program, I removed the switch and the wires/connectors well up into the loom, where I spliced em (solder/heatshrink) . . . . though it ran frin for 3 years with the black gooey tape fix | ||
| Bomber |
bloomington's a long far (2.5 hours by cage, 1.75 by scoot ((at night))) on the slab , , ,, , , number 2 sounds more interesting . . . busy planning my SEWisconsin Scooter Trash EMporium tour for sometime in May, I'm thinkin I was reaching with the Mott the Hoople crack, I knew it . .. . so, what's the answer? (origin unknow in my little dictionary) | ||
| Impulse_101 |
The band was called Scatterbrain. They were silly as hell but very, very talented. I think that album came out in 1988 and sold about 6 copies. I bought one in Alaska when I lived up there and that song was the funniest thing you've ever heard when you drunk off your ass. Let me know when you do your WI scooter trash tour and I may join you. JT | ||
| Blasterd |
Impulse, You beat me to it but yes Scatterbrain was the band. With tunes like Don't Call Me Dude, I'm with Stupid, Drunken Milkmen what more could you ask for in a band. Funny thing is that last weekend I hit the tape player in my shop (which had not been played in about 5 years) and guess what was in it? Yes I bought a copy, and actually liked it, even bought a copy of the follow up album, and the next one...... Getting back to the problem, a definate sidestand switch. I battled with it for about 3 weeks to and from school until I got the advice right here on the BadWeb. My fix? I crimped the wires together with a but connector and sealed it up with heat shrink. Absolutley no more problems. Ken 2000 M2 | ||
| Thunderbolt_dad |
...bomber and impulse....planning on visiting daves in appleton on the 15th?...offering up my place as a meeting point/milwaukee metro area lead off point that morning...give me a holler if you are interested... | ||
| Impulse_101 |
I'm riding up with UWgriz and Co. I'll see what his plans are. What area of Greenfield are you in? I'm going to have to start a thread somewhere for good routes to Appleton from SE Wisconsin. Hopefully we will have some ideas before the BRAG meeting at UKE's next week. So Griz, CJ, Fiery and everyone else can make their decisions and I can assume my rightful place as a follower for this trip. JT | ||
| Thunderbolt_dad |
...lol....follower it is....i'm actually in a little section of greenfield that is surrounded by milwaukee almost all the way around...just a block south of morgan ave on 51st street... |
