It just stopped and no-one knows why

[inlinefour]

I had an FXR for a very short while and it had exactly the same issues - even did it to me heading up the harbour bridge one night We were pretty sure it was the coil, as a bit of coil "encouragement" involving a hammer or other heavy object used to kick her back into life. If you can just sell the thing!!! They are not worth spending money on!

I disagree there as often it does not cost that much to fix the problem, especially when compared to getting another bike. It does not allways pay to throw yer toys away, but hey some of us will be happy for you to do so

[BUBBLE]

Dont forget that when the tap is unbolted from the tank there is a small pipe for saving an amount of fuel for reserve. This is normally a fine plastic mesh which can also clog. Which could explain why no fuel came out when you removed the bottom bowl off the tap.
My VFR400 (yes another old honda) had a common problem of rust in the tank. I got sick of the fuel tap blocking with rust and crud so I used a tank sealer kit. Available from PPC in Palmy North or anywhere else that supplies products like POR15 paint. Here is a link with details of the tank sealer kit. http://www.por15.co.nz/por_products/...repair_kit.htm

[What?]

Quick test for fuel flow - remove the hose from the tap. Hold a few inches of garden hose in its place to direct any fuel into a bucket and open the tap. Try both main and reserve positions. You have fuel? If no, open the filler cap. If you have flow now, the vent is blocked. I am pretty sure the vent is built in to the filler cap on your bike. No flow either way, your tap, or the gauze filters are blocked. Remove the tap (empty the tank first!) and give it a clean.
If fuel flow here is not a problem, then the carbs need to come off to clean the needle valves. Could be just not allowing quite enough fuel through to keep the bowls full, but the way you describe it I don't think the answer lies here.
Next simple test is to put new spark plugs in. Check you have the correct plugs also, as this may be the problem.
Still doing it? could be the coils, but I would expect only one to go, meaning the bike would still go, just not very well. Reg/Rec is now looking likely, as is some expenditure.
Good luck.

[wildcat_lgf]

[QUOTE=vifferman]Sounds like that could possibly be the fuel tap, if it's a vaccuum-operated one. If it is, and the diaphragm is bruk, it will leak and smell, as there's a small vent on the tap mechanism on the outside of the diaphragm chamber. It would also explain the bike stopping, as the diaphragm isn't being pulled out by the manifold vaccuum. [QUOTE]

Yeah just to add my 2cents worth. My mates '92 CBR600F2 did the exact same thing, I'd agree with vifferman that its likely the fuel supply. Turned out to be the diaphram wasn't sealing properly, simple solution, cheap to fix, and if I were a betting man (hooray for G.A. ) I would put money on it being the same with yours. Best option would be check the diaphram and see if it sealing properly, then pick up a 'new' one from a wreckers.

Good luck to ya,

[Oakie]

Hi
I've got the bike back and I'm holding my breath. They ran it for 30 km and it didn't stop so they were unable to establish exactly what the fault was. They've tested the electrics and found no problem. They've gone through the fuel system...checked the filters, checked out the tap, found a bit of crud in the tank and cleaned up the end of the breather which was perished but apart from that they found nothing obvious.
No charge for any of this (including the pickup from 30km out of town) as it's still under warranty. Good to know some dealers are happy to look after you after they've got your money. (Oh OK ... yay for 'Sportzone Suzuki'.)
I'm going to ride it around as much as I can over the weekend and just see how things go ... (but I don't think I'll be leaving the city limits just yet).

Cross your fingers for me folks and thanks for all the really helpful feedback. I'm sure I'l be reviewing it all if I grind to a halt again.

Cheers

[saiko]

On my VF500 I had problems with the tap in that sometimes the No.1 (or whatever) cylinder whose intake manifold it was connected to would run REALLY rich as it sucked extra fuel directly from the tap. And every so often, the hose would crack (petrol going into it probably didn't help) and it would run extra lean.
Stupid bloody thing...

Sacrilege!

[N4CR]

Exactly the same thing happened to me today.. orakie basin :/
Mt eden cycles picked me up quickly and she is getting fixed... miss out on a decent weekend. 'sigh'.

beating the 5c petrol rise last night did not pay off.