Shitty Petrol???

[Devil]

Ok since I filled up my bike on saturday (91 RON) I've had to crash start the damn thing because it just wont catch using the starter. Previously, on a cold morning, this thing would start at the bat of an eyelid.

Have people had this problem? Or is the tank of gas just a coincidence?
Once you crash start it, its fine, all the electrics work fine.

Im assuming the bike started ok leaving that gas station because the old gas would have still been sitting in the pipes...

Ive been trying to use it all up over the weekend, i managed to dilute it a bit, but I wonder if its gooped up my plugs

[jrandom]

That's why I always use the Mobil/BP 98 RON, even though my bike isn't tuned to require that octane. I'm convinced that there's something about that gas beyond the octane ratio that makes it better. It's cleaner or summat. Everything just generally runs better on it. Try switching to it for a while, see if it makes a difference.

[FROSTY:Me]

try draining ya carbies out. I had exactly the same prob with the FXR
It was definitely a carb half full of water. Ohh and along with about a 1/4 ltr in the tank.

[Antallica]

Yeah I always use the '96. Worth the extra penny by far. Can't get BP '98 here though

[Devil]

try draining ya carbies out. I had exactly the same prob with the FXR
It was definitely a carb half full of water. Ohh and along with about a 1/4 ltr in the tank.

Im too much of a n00b for that Any instructions, or does it take a ride to your place? heh

re: 96RON, my bike has been running excellent on 91 previously, started easy every time. I might try 96 but we'll see.

[Cajun]

i only run on 91, manual told me to run unleaded over 90 octane, so 91 is, and i am to much of a cheap skate to buy 96 at moment, i have tryed a could of tank fulls of 96 in the gixxer and didn't make much difference. Not that it matters much, at the current rate i can get somewere close to 300kms out of a tank,

[merv]

My VFR runs on 91 and my dirt bike (and previous dirt bikes) on 96. I've always found the ones on 96 harder to start if I leave them a while, but otherwise no problems with either fuel. You may have got a bad abtch or as has been said above maybe a bit of water in the tank.

[FROSTY:Me]

Im too much of a n00b for that Any instructions, or does it take a ride to your place? heh

re: 96RON, my bike has been running excellent on 91 previously, started easy every time. I might try 96 but we'll see.

Bring her over to my place if ya wanna.
Its a pretty easy job once ya see it done--as in real easy.

[Devil]

Bring her over to my place if ya wanna.
Its a pretty easy job once ya see it done--as in real easy.

Dude it would be a big help just to see how to take the bike apart!
I started to fiddle with taking the tank off in the weekend, but I chickened out

PM me your email address and ill make myself available for any time you might have!

[Big Dog]

I'm convinced that there's something about that gas beyond the octane ratio that makes it better. It's cleaner or summat.

There is something different about it, it costs more, and it has more additives (which is why it costs more) no-one.

If you are running 96+in a bike designed to take 91 don't blame the fuel companies when fuel injectors, spark plugs, leads, and filters get consumed faster.

Petrol arrives in this country below 90 (can't remember exact octane rating) and is artificially boosted to the desired amount. Either way you are buying the same gas but buying additives with it.

Most sub 250 will need retuning to run smoothly on 96+, but some fuel injections systems will compensate automatically.

It is unlikely you will harm your engine but you will harm your consumerables if you are not getting near the redline for prolonged periods of time regularly.

[FROSTY:Me]

Dude it would be a big help just to see how to take the bike apart!
I started to fiddle with taking the tank off in the weekend, but I chickened out

PM me your email address and ill make myself available for any time you might have!

dude give me a call -021544251 anytime
Im home with Baby bikie from 6.30 on most nights
Ill be in the garage tonight putting the little FXR back together.
You organise dinner and Ill show ya how to take ya bike to bits.
--for another $10000 ill show ya how to put it back together

[Drunken Monkey]

Yeah check plugs & carbs. Had the same problem when I ran outta gas on the '88 and my mate brought me 91 instead of 96/98.
Learned one new thing the hard way (the reserve switch wasn't hosed up properly by the previous owner/service) and confirmed another I thought to be true (low octane in an old high performance bike motor = bad).
Turned out running 2 x lots of 98 through the system helped clear it out of the carbs, but the damage was already done. It was enough to stuff up one of the spark plugs permanently.
2 tanks of gas and a new spark plug later, everything was back to normal.

[Jackrat]

If you suspect water in the fuel put a couple of caps of meths in the tank.
That will get rid of the water,,(No I don't know why,how ect it just does).
Then like me don't go back to that gas station.We have a local station out my way that seems to have a lot of water in their gas.
The locals Just don't go there no more. :spudwhat:

[Mongoose]

It was enough to stuff up one of the spark plugs permanently.
2 tanks of gas and a new spark plug later, everything was back to normal.[/QUOTE]

Had a simular problem with the Guzzi, once this new petrol does the damage to your plugs, thats it, they are shot, stuffed and not worth the effort of trying to rejuvinate them. A good clean will last till the end of the driveway.

[Jinx3d]

If your bike is a 2 stroke and not designed to run on 91 I might believe it.
..or - if you filled up from a farm supply tank.

Otherwise - nope - I dont believe it.

There are plenty of reasons your bike wont start and I think a dodgy fill from a busy service station is about the last on the list.

Your engine needs 4 things to start :
1..A starter motor and a battery capable of turning it over.
2..Compression.
3..A good spark
5..Fuel

Lets assume your motor has compression - (got a compression tester? Nah- neither do I but you can make sure there is something by holding your thumb over the plugs, if it doesnt get forced off by the compression....Oh dear.)

Watch the headlight while you turn the motor over. If it is staying bright and the motor is turning over, your battery is probly okay. The motor needs to be turning over effortlessly, not whir {pause}whir {pause} whirrrrr {pause} whiiiirrrrr. Not good enough.

Most motorcycle ignition these days consists of checking the plugs. If the leads are old they may be letting the spark out on damp and rainy days so give these look. Take a plug out and earth the thread out on the engine. Make sure the lead is conected and turn it over. You should see a nice blue spark.

Grab a can of engine start or just some pertrol and give it a squirt down the carb throats while its turning over - if you have water in your fuel or blocked carbs then then it will probably start. If not, then there is another problem.

Good luck
Mike