Breakdown on SH1 after Gillies Ave heading south (10 December)

[crazyv]

The first major breakdown (on the motorway) in peak hour, after work traffic and my GN sputters before the Gillies Ave exit! Could not restart immediately so waited, having dragged it on to the shoulder. Few minutes later it starts .. phew! only to travel about 30m and sputter (before the New Market bridge).

Anyway within 30mins or so had 3 bikers stop by... awsome!! I had already called AA for a tow truck by then.

So here I am waiting for the tow truck, about 5mins after it stopped, tried starting the engine again. It started! No smoke out the exhaust, seems good to go! Kept it running, 5mins later and it stops all of a sudden, again! Tried starting it, no go. Wait for sometime and it starts! I can rev it up, no smoke and had it on for over 10mins.... then stops! Anyway the tow truck comes by then and I am now home with the GN.

Ah well how ironic that I had just taken the bike to Coleman's to check the tappets (which were adjusted) but yet this happens. Coincidence?

Anyway this post was for the cool bikers who stopped. Cheers guys!!

[racefactory]

did it overheat?

[PirateJafa]

I had a similar problem a while back - bike kept spluttering out every 500-600m. The shop had crushed the breather hose between the tank and the frame - so as you rode a vacuum was created inside the tank, eventually stopping fuel going into the engine, and then it would cough and die again. Open tank, plenty of fuel, try again and what? She's running now? Rinse and repeat. :P

[racefactory]

I had a similar problem a while back - bike kept spluttering out every 500-600m. The shop had crushed the breather hose between the tank and the frame - so as you rode a vacuum was created inside the tank, eventually stopping fuel going into the engine, and then it would cough and die again. Open tank, plenty of fuel, try again and what? She's running now? Rinse and repeat. :P

Ah so that's what happens when a tank breather hose gets blocked... think i may have had that on my V4.

[MentalFacility]

I was on the silver\black blade.=) Good to hear that u got home.

[crazyv]

PirateJafa, you maybe onto something - after the work at the workshop something like this may have happened. I will need to open the seat and find out where this "breather hose" is....

ah mean bike MentalFacility! .. cheers!

[dipshit]

PirateJafa, you maybe onto something - after the work at the workshop something like this may have happened. I will need to open the seat and find out where this "breather hose" is....

It could even be the fuel hose itself with a twist or kink in it.

[Dutchee]

Sorry, didn't stop, saw you & hoped someone going same way would have (was in fast or middle lane heading north - meaning a quick lane change, getting off next off ramp & getting back on).
Definitely slipping in my biker etiquette - that's two riders I've ridden past in last few days (decided I couldn't help 3 Hell's Angels stopped by on-ramp at Silverdale on Saturday as mum was in the car behind me & she might not have appreciated it).
Glad you got home okay - think you were on phone when I rode past.

[Squiggles]

I will need to open the seat and find out where this "breather hose" is....

ah mean bike MentalFacility! .. cheers!

There is no such breather hose on the GN, its gravity fed

Bike is back at the shop i take it?

[racefactory]

what happens if you were to just disconnect the breather hose then?

[vifferman]

Ah so that's what happens when a tank breather hose gets blocked... think i may have had that on my V4.
Yup.
Same same on the VTR1000 - in fact, it will run like shit if it gets road spooge in/on the and of the tank breather, as it's under the chin cowl behind the front wheel. No fuel pump, and those 48mm carbs are very thirsty.
Bikes without tank breather hoses (usually have vented caps instead) can also suffer from this problem.

[vifferman]

There is no such breather hose on the GN, its gravity fed
Squeeze me?
What's that got to do with it?
They either have a breather of some sort in the cap, or a breather hose. No breather, no fuel flow, whetehr it's gravity fed or has a fuel pump.
Most modern(ish) bikes have breather hoses because it means that the cap can then be totally sealed, so no petrol pisses out onto the surface of the tank if the bke's left in the sun with a full tank, f'rexample, and if the bike's tipped over or crashes, fuel is directed away under the engine and hopefully away from hot parts.

[Slyer]

I wish I knew more about bikes so I could actually help if I stopped.
How do you usually tell if they're broken down and not just taking a break?
Should I stop anyway even if I probably can't help?

[Squiggles]

Squeeze me?
What's that got to do with it?
They either have a breather of some sort in the cap, or a breather hose. No breather, no fuel flow, whetehr it's gravity fed or has a fuel pump.
Most modern(ish) bikes have breather hoses because it means that the cap can then be totally sealed, so no petrol pisses out onto the surface of the tank if the bke's left in the sun with a full tank, f'rexample, and if the bike's tipped over or crashes, fuel is directed away under the engine and hopefully away from hot parts.

Ah, mistook the reference to breathers for a vacuum hose. :Pokey: It doesnt have a breather hose either... and knowing the crude tank locking mechanism, it aint a great seal at the best of times...

I'd be looking at fuel level and whether or not the charging circuits gone poof, plus the obvious shop didnt quite get it right

[Ixion]

I wish I knew more about bikes so I could actually help if I stopped.
How do you usually tell if they're broken down and not just taking a break?
Should I stop anyway even if I probably can't help?

take y' helmet (and maybe jacket, depending) off, and put it on the ground maybe 10 foot behind the bike beside the road edge . If you've got a removeable/tiltable seat remove or tilt. Pretty obvious then you haven't just stopped to check your email. ,

[shafty]

I agree it sunds like a lack of AIR - also check your aircleaner - I had my Subaru play up, only to find the mechanic had left a rag in the air cleaner. Also check your gas cap, that the tiny breather hole isn't blocked up. Taking the cap off and replacing it would allow enough air to run for a while as a way of checking..... good luck :)

[Devil]

I wish I knew more about bikes so I could actually help if I stopped.
How do you usually tell if they're broken down and not just taking a break?
Should I stop anyway even if I probably can't help?

I normally stop anyway if i'm unsure (and have the time).

[crazyv]

no worries Dutchee, certainly going out of the way to stop for anther biker wouldn't come to my mind nor for that matter if I couldn't help :)

Called Coleman's today, like Squiggles says, there apparently is no breather hose on the GN 250. Just runs down from the tank directly down(?). What was mentioned was that adjusting the tappets would not have given any room for playing with the fuel line (causing a kink or otherwise). I had a problem about 2 weeks ago where the GN wouldn't start. For this the relay was changed by Eden cycles. Colemans' mentioned that this problem would most likely relate to the starter issue which may not have been diagnosed/fixed correctly the first time. He suggested that because it stops/starts it maybe related to the electrical circuit/unit on the GN which would cost around $300. :argh:

Anyway at this stage I would like the bike running for commuting so will try and get a mechanic to have a look ...

I'll have a go at it on Friday / Saturday too