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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/7/2008 12:38:43 AM
Posts: 4, Visits: 8 |
| Hello...
I'm a newbie and been riding the bike for the past two weeks but it suddenly died on me last Tuesday, luckily I wasn't too far from home. Had a friend drive to me to jump start the bike and it started. Problem is that we had to jump start it 5-6 times to finally get it home, it'd run for a few min then I'd lose power until it died. Bike's got brand new batteries and some say it might be the alternator... called a bike shop and they don't think it's the alternator cuz it's a brand new bike. They told me to check to make sure that the cables aren't loose and just might need tightening. HELLO! I'm a gurl and wouldn't even know what cables to look at and tighten. I can jump start the bike and it'll start and run for a bit but it'll die out on me. Don't wanna take it to the shop yet until I know it's not something minor like loose cables (then I'd look like a fool for taking it there!). Any help out there for a clueless chick would be so appreciated!!! 
Quick history on the bike: bought it brand new 2 yrs ago, dropped it and it sat for two years. Got all the cosmetic damages fixed a month ago and getting back on it. I had the oil changed and the carb cleaned out since it sat for too long...
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/25/2008 8:30:04 PM
Posts: 159, Visits: 227 |
| First, troubleshooting your bike from afar is reeeeeeeeeally a reach, but.....
You say you've gotten the bike back to "ride-ready" condition, having cleaned the carb after it was sitting idle for 2 years.
But, was the tank 100% empty and dry during that time? Or, was there some, even a slight amount of gas that sat in the tank for all of that time? Either answer could lead to issues and could cause conditions just as you explained were happening to you.
If the tank was drained, you have a strong possibility of having corrosion that built up inside the tank over the past 2 years. A newly cleaned carb will remain clean only until debris from a bad, or corroded, tank clogs up the carb and prevents the engine from running, which would normally occur somewhere between "immediately" and "soon."
But, if the tank had ANY remaining gas in it during those 2 years... yuk! It has to contain "stuff" that will take only a minute (unless you're lucky, then it may be a few minutes) to clog up your fuel system and shut down the engine.
Next, what about your fuel filter? Can we assume it was replaced when they cleaned the carb? If not, why not? Another possible culprit.
Rather than go on and on, check out these issues. Lastly, you may want to consider adding SEAFOAM to your gas tank, especially in the beginning as you begin to ride again. While I'm against adding additives to a bike's gas tank, this product is the ONLY one of its kind that I (and many others) would ever consider using.
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUp.htm
It's an exceptional cleaner and fuel stabilizer, very highly touted by lots of the "so-called" experts within the biking industry. (By the way, I've yet to ever meet an actual expert in anything...some have more technical knowledge than others, but expert??? I don't believe so.) : )
I know it's frustrating when facing this kind of problem. Again, start with the tank, then to the fuel filter, the on to the carb. It's quite likely than one of those is the culprit. I really hope you can get it all sorted out. Good luck.
Morg - Key West
I'm a newbie and been riding the bike for the past two weeks but it suddenly died on me last Tuesday, luckily I wasn't too far from home. Had a friend drive to me to jump start the bike and it started. Problem is that we had to jump start it 5-6 times to finally get it home, it'd run for a few min then I'd lose power until it died. Bike's got brand new batteries and some say it might be the alternator... called a bike shop and they don't think it's the alternator cuz it's a brand new bike. They told me to check to make sure that the cables aren't loose and just might need tightening. HELLO! I'm a gurl and wouldn't even know what cables to look at and tighten. I can jump start the bike and it'll start and run for a bit but it'll die out on me. Don't wanna take it to the shop yet until I know it's not something minor like loose cables (then I'd look like a fool for taking it there!). Any help out there for a clueless chick would be so appreciated!!!
Quick history on the bike: bought it brand new 2 yrs ago, dropped it and it sat for two years. Got all the cosmetic damages fixed a month ago and getting back on it. I had the oil changed and the carb cleaned out since it sat for too long...
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/7/2008 12:38:43 AM
Posts: 4, Visits: 8 |
| Ok I got the Sea Foam stuff (geez I had to several different stores to find one!), anyway bike ran much better but of course had to jump start the bike first. Still won't start on it's own...
Ok so checked the alternator with a voltometer, seems to be ok. Tested it also by running the bike then disconnecting the battery and the bike was still running with just the alternator. All the connections seem to be good too. Batteries voltage is way below the norm. I was running the bike for short periods of time at low rpms so it might've discharged the battery. Should I get a charger to charge up the battery or do I need to replace it with a brand new one? Not sure...
Also note: With the voltometer, noticed when the running with just the alternator-the higher the rpms, the voltage decreased which was odd, right? Isn't it normally suppose to go up or stay steady at higher rpms? Seems like something else eating up the power...could explain why the my bike kept dying when I sped up or shifted up to 3rd gear.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 4:17:13 PM
Posts: 306, Visits: 299 |
| a bike owner should have a battery charger of some sort anyway, so get that first on the hope that your battery can be salvaged.
K$ |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/7/2008 12:38:43 AM
Posts: 4, Visits: 8 |
| kmunny19653950 (7/1/2008)
a bike owner should have a battery charger of some sort anyway, so get that first on the hope that your battery can be salvaged.
Ok so I did get a trickle charger and it charged for a day and half, so after work I checked it and it was fully charged. Put back the battery on the bike, and voila! It started!!! AND without me having to jumpstart the damn thing! Took it out for a couple of spins around the neighborhood and it ran just fine. Tomorrow I'll take it out farther and see if it'll last and run with no more problems. The bike seems to run even better actually prolly because of the Sea Foam stuff. I'll keep ya'll posted on how it does tomorrow. ::crossing my fingers:: |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/7/2008 12:38:43 AM
Posts: 4, Visits: 8 |
| Ok guys took the bike for a ride and it did well, no problems at all. Still gotta work on the smoothing out shifting gears but he's running like normal. It was a great ride except when it was time to go home, I tipped over!  Thank God for the sliders, it definitely saved it. Aside for my bruised ego, my right mirror completely broke and just minor scratches on it, it's all good. Thank you guys for all the info and help with trouble shooting the problem! I'll see ya'll again here in the forum and have a safe ride! |
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