Bike cuts out under load?

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 11:59

reading on the internet "Alright so my mechanic checked my bike out and he found that one of the lines to the fuel tank was plugged. He unplugged it but a new line on. He also mentioned a fuel valve or something that recycles unused fuel back into the engine was gone or not functioning right. He said when he was checking it out the fuel was coming out slowly and then barely at all. (not sure where this was happening but he started mentioning things about how the carbs didnt have enough fuel in them and what not. Anyway he told me to ride it around for a week and see if I still have issues with it. So far it run's A LOT better. To me it's almost like a new bike. Runs smoother, sounds better, and maxes out at around 106mph, previously it was around 90.

Sorry this description sucks but hopefully it gives you an idea of what was wrong."

I found a tube that was wet on one end and that hangs down the bottom of my bike just chilling not connected to anything under the seat.

**nzspokes** · 14th April 2012, 12:02

Get some clear plastic hose, under the carb there should be a drain and a screw to undo it. Put the hose on the pipe and hold the pipe up. Undo the drain screw. Fuel will flow into it to the height of where it sits in the carb. If it goes above float bowl height thats your issue. Sounds like your float valve is rooted or blocked in the carb.

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 12:05

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Get some clear plastic hose, under the carb there should be a drain and a screw to undo it. Put the hose on the pipe and hold the pipe up. Undo the drain screw. Fuel will flow into it to the height of where it sits in the carb. If it goes above float bowl height thats your issue. Sounds like your float valve is rooted or blocked in the carb.

thanks, i'll do that when i get home. what gives you that impression?

**nzspokes** · 14th April 2012, 12:32

Originally Posted by Lus7

thanks, i'll do that when i get home. what gives you that impression?

Sounds like she is over rich, and thats the most likely cause.

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 13:03

It also sounded like it was reving pretty hard on the highway, even though it's only got 5 gears it sounded way over the top
reakon drilling holes in my exhaust is making my bike run rich? doesn't it usually make it run lean?

**mossy1200** · 14th April 2012, 13:27

Sounds like the vacuum hose onto the fuel tap was this issue.If the mechanic has fixed it then stop playing with the bike before you break something.

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 14:25

Originally Posted by mossy1200

Sounds like the vacuum hose onto the fuel tap was this issue.If the mechanic has fixed it then stop playing with the bike before you break something.

Never took it to a mechanic, just changed the spark plugs and it seemed to fix it.
May end up taking it to a mechanic if I have to, but I'd be rather keen to learn to fix it myself

**ducatilover** · 14th April 2012, 15:31

First things first.
Replace the small vacuum line between the fuel tap/intake.

If that doesn't work:
Pull the spark plugs out and check them against this:
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/pontiac...Readplugs.html
Then:
Do what NZspokes has said.
Then: if the float level is higher than your owners manual (assuming you have one, if not, get one) specifies, adjust it.
Clean the carbs while you're there.

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 19:19

So i'm trying stuff out, I just noticed I hadn't put the battery in properly at all. It was sitting loosely on top of it's strap and the battery breather hose wasn't connected.

Would that do anything?

Also, I pulled out the spark plug and it's pretty black so my bike seems to be running real lean. i'm gonna try that clear hose thing, as soon as I figure out which hose to pull.

And What hose is on the fuel tap

**ducatilover** · 14th April 2012, 19:37

Originally Posted by Lus7

So i'm trying stuff out, I just noticed I hadn't put the battery in properly at all. It was sitting loosely on top of it's strap and the battery breather hose wasn't connected.

Would that do anything?

I doubt it

Originally Posted by Lus7

Also, I pulled out the spark plug and it's pretty black so my bike seems to be running real lean. i'm gonna try that clear hose thing, as soon as I figure out which hose to pull.

Black = rich.

Originally Posted by Lus7

And What hose is on the fuel tap

There will be two hoses, one fat one (fuel) and one small one (vacuum) replace the small one, if the other is soft or perished looking, replace it too

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 19:39

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Get some clear plastic hose, under the carb there should be a drain and a screw to undo it. Put the hose on the pipe and hold the pipe up. Undo the drain screw. Fuel will flow into it to the height of where it sits in the carb. If it goes above float bowl height thats your issue. Sounds like your float valve is rooted or blocked in the carb.

lol arm covered in gas

**Lus7** · 14th April 2012, 19:50

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Black = rich

right, because soot = not enough oxygen in burn

http://i.imgur.com/uAfcn.jpg <- spark plug
http://i.imgur.com/NpxtL.jpg <- clear hose coming out of the carb. does this mean anything?

(sorry about the insane fisheye. These were taken on a GoPro