On road trip - bike not starting.

[CoolCheech]

Hey, kind of in a bind.

Took a road trip to southern Montana and the bike is acting goofy. First thing I noticed is that it wouldn’t turn over while at the same time spitting fuel all over from a carb valve (top left). I’d give it some gas and it would start and then stop spitting and ride fine.

But it’s now doing that every time I try to turn on the bike and it was getting harder and harder to start and then started throwing a code (6 blinks … decompression solenoid?). And it won’t start. Luckily we just pulled into our campsite. It is very hot out and we’ve been riding a lot. I hope cooling off helps it.

But how worried should I be about starting this thing in the morning and is there anything I should do or buy? I have one shot to get into a town with a hardware store.

(we’re dispersed camping off a dirt forest road. Leaving a dead bike there would be a real big issue)

[MidnightRide]

Very sorry to hear about the trouble while out of town. Vulnerable situation.

I've had similar issues, and it sounds like you've got a carb float sticking due to crud in the float needle jet. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, or if you have the tools to do the job, but if it were me I'd pull the carb and then the float bowl cover and see if anything's junked-up in there. I pulled mine apart just as Starfest NW was starting and within a couple of hours I was on the road again and working fine.

Easy job, but I was at home with all my tools. You have to pull the tank first, then the carb. Don't need to remove the carb from the cables and such, just off enough to be able to flip it over and pull the float bowl.

Other members may chime in with a different solution, so you may want to wait. Someone like davej should be able to confirm. Also, Dave and a couple of other members live there in Montana, so let us know where you're at, specifically. Which town or campsite?

Keep us posted!

[Shores]

Sorry to hear that! When you start it next, just make sure you have a big bucket of water beside you in case something catastrophic happens.

[CoolCheech]

Well I’ve got a socket set, screw drivers, and a leatherman. Not sure how far I can get with that?

[CoolCheech]

Very sorry to hear about the trouble while out of town. Vulnerable situation.

I've had similar issues, and it sounds like you've got a carb float sticking due to crud in the float needle jet. I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, or if you have the tools to do the job, but if it were me I'd pull the carb and then the float bowl cover and see if anything's junked-up in there. I pulled mine apart just as Starfest NW was starting and within a couple of hours I was on the road again and working fine.

Easy job, but I was at home with all my tools. You have to pull the tank first, then the carb. Don't need to remove the carb from the cables and such, just off enough to be able to flip it over and pull the float bowl.

Other members may chime in with a different solution, so you may want to wait. Someone like davej should be able to confirm. Also, Dave and a couple of other members live there in Montana, so let us know where you're at, specifically. Which town or campsite?

Keep us posted!

And I’m out in Hylite Canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky. Up on a dirt road that this bike was not made for. But hey … life is for living, right?

[MidnightRide]

Well I’ve got a socket set, screw drivers, and a leatherman. Not sure how far I can get with that?

Well let me think. Start by placing a towel or blanket or shirt or something under the area you'll be working on, just in case you drop something but also to set parts on if needed.

To pull the tank you need to remove the rear lower bolt/nut, then unplug a couple of electrical connections, so you'll have the tools for that.

Remove that rear bolt and lift the rear of the tank up and pull back, the front slides over a couple of rubber mounts. Lift and pull stoutly from the rear of the tank, it'll come off. Once you know it's free, shut off the fuel petcock and remove the fuel line from the tank (pliers-leatherman). Disconnect the electrical plugs, I believe two in the front under the tank, and one in the rear. Remove the tank and set it aside.

Next is the air cleaner. Not sure what you have or how it's connected. Probably need a socket and screwdriver. Pull it off and set it aside.

Then you'll see some things connected to the carb, electrical mostly, but also the choke cable. Seems to me I was able to leave my choke cable connected but disconnected the two wires. You'll need to inspect what you have there. My bike's a 2001. The carb itself comes off with a single screw/socket connecting the intake manifold boot to the motor. Loosen that and pull the carb off. That may help you figure out what else needs disconnecting from the carb.

Once you have the carb mostly free from the motor, you can flip it over and remove the float bowl using a screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the gasket.

You'll see the float mechanism attached to the carb body with a single screw. Loosen or remove the screw enough to be able to lift up on the float and remove it. Be very careful not to let the float needle jet slip off the float, and pay attention to how everything's assembled so you can put it back the same way.

Inspect the float needle to see if it has crud on it. Look down in the jet itself to look for crud. The needle itself may have crud infused on it which makes it stick. Do what you can to clean them both out.

For me, I had crud blocking the main jet, which popped right out once I opened it up, but I had a different issue on that one. The 'carb puke' is another issue, for me likely related to the float level set too high, which I need to correct.

Hopefully you'll find something obvious in there and that'll solve your problem. Your float level may be off slightly as well, due to bouncing around over time. Easy to adjust, but not so easy to get it just right. It's OK if you're off a little, as long as it isn't sticking open any longer.

Again, the other guys may have different ideas.

[MidnightRide]

And I’m out in Hylite Canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky. Up on a dirt road that this bike was not made for. But hey … life is for living, right?

OK I know where you are, generally speaking. I was up that highway years ago to check out Big Sky. Not sure where davej is located, but Tykes_Place is north, in Helena. I'm probably seven hours west of you, near Spokane.

LOL, you and MikeyC have something in common, DIRT ROADS. In fact, he was through that area recently on a trip to Yellowstone, and may be heading back your way if he hasn't already headed home. He'd know how to help you out.

Do you happen to know the dirt road you're on, or can you get down to the highway if need be?

[Father Pobasturd]

Next time it spits fuel try tapping on the float bowl with the end of your Leatherman. Give it a few good stiff raps and see if that stops the leakage. If so, it's crap in the seat the float needle goes into. With any luck you can dislodge it by tapping it. It might float down to the bottom of the bowl if you're lucky. If not, removing the float bowl is the only option. Also try removing the gas cap. If you hear air sucking in when you remove it, you could have a venting issue. IDK what 6 blinks means, but if its something to do with the decompression solenoid, that wouldn't''t make it spit fuel. It would make it hard / impossible to start. Good luck with it. Don't let this ruin your trip. Consider it part of the adventure.

[CoolCheech]

Well damn. This sounds like it’s going to be a fun evening in the woods.

I’m not sure the exact dirt road we’re on. A friend met us with a truck. So worst case scenario … is going to be a lot of grunting getting this thing into a truck bed

[MidnightRide]

Next time it spits fuel try tapping on the float bowl with the end of your Leatherman. Give it a few good stiff raps and see if that stops the leakage. If so, it's crap in the seat the float needle goes into. With any luck you can dislodge it by tapping it. It might float down to the bottom of the bowl if you're lucky. If not, removing the float bowl is the only option. Also try removing the gas cap. If you hear air sucking in when you remove it, you could have a venting issue. IDK what 6 blinks means, but if its something to do with the decompression solenoid, that wouldn't''t make it spit fuel. It would make it hard / impossible to start. Good luck with it. Don't let this ruin your trip. Consider it part of the adventure.

Yes, rapping on the float bowl would be the first shot. Don't crack the bowl!

I don't know the codes for the blinking fuel light, but if the motor gets fuel-locked due to fuel flooding the cylinder from the sticking float, it may mess with things a bit.

CoolCheech , have you tried starting it with the throttle wide open?

[MidnightRide]

Well damn. This sounds like it’s going to be a fun evening in the woods.

I’m not sure the exact dirt road we’re on. A friend met us with a truck. So worst case scenario … is going to be a lot of grunting getting this thing into a truck bed

Should be a two hour job, max. On the road before dinner!

[CoolCheech]

Yes, rapping on the float bowl would be the first shot. Don't crack the bowl!

I don't know the codes for the blinking fuel light, but if the motor gets fuel-locked due to fuel flooding the cylinder from the sticking float, it may mess with things a bit.

CoolCheech , have you tried starting it with the throttle wide open?

Pulling on the throttle while hitting the starter is the only thing that worked. And while it was struggling it was puking fuel all over my right leg.

I’m thinking of strapping a fire extinguisher to my chest

[MidnightRide]

Pulling on the throttle while hitting the starter is the only thing that worked. And while it was struggling it was puking fuel all over my right leg.

I’m thinking of strapping a fire extinguisher to my chest

Yeah the bike's flooding, stuck float for sure. I have that issue on rare occasion, and have posted about it here. Some guys have burned their bikes down in similar situations. I myself have too many things going on to pull it apart right now since it's pretty rare. That's what winter's for...

Pull that carb out if rapping on the bowl doesn't fix it. You'll get it, especially since you have a backup plan with your buddy's truck there now. I could probably do it in around an hour now. Last time I had my carb out before last month at Starfest was five years ago!

[CoolCheech]

I will try that. And I’ve put about two full tanks+ with sea foam recently.

it cleared one problem I had where fuel was spilling out of around the fuel pump and then it just stopped. But now this. So is it possibly that something was clogged around the fuel pump and then pushed through the system to the carb?

[MidnightRide]

I will try that. And I’ve put about two full tanks+ with sea foam recently.

it cleared one problem I had where fuel was spilling out of around the fuel pump and then it just stopped. But now this. So is it possibly that something was clogged around the fuel pump and then pushed through the system to the carb?

First, I forgot to tell you that you need to remove the seat before pulling the tank...

I had run some Lucas fuel system cleaner before my clogged main jet as well. But fuel has to pass through a couple of filters before getting into your carb, including one hidden in the carb fuel line metal tube. Look in there after you pull the carb to see if it's plugged. Some guys pull that filter out altogether.

In my case, I felt the fuel residue freed up by the cleaner was passing through the filters but reacting with the carb corrosion from ethanol fuels and forming crud in the float bowl over time, or just melting residue out of the bowl which was clogging jets as a result since there are no more filters after the bowl. Yours may be a similar issue, a problem where none should exist.

Fuel shouldn't be spilling out around the fuel pump, however. More like a weak hose clamp or split in the fuel line than the pump itself. You may want to pull those lines off after you get back home.

Get that carb out and make it happen! Pretty straightforward job. It needs to be done, whether there in the woods, in your friend's garage, or once you get it back home.

[KFallsRider]

[MidnightRide]

Good find. Looks like what the OP must have found as well. Sounds like he's having an assortment of issues...

[MidnightRide]

Any update? Did you load that 700 lb. beast onto the truck and transport it to a safe location?

[MikeyC]

Didn’t read whole thread but sounds like carb puke. Turn of petcock then shut down engine. When restarting start engine let run a few seconds then open petcock and give it a little rev. If it dies shut petcock and restart and repeat

[davej]

could even bypass the pump to get rid of the high fuel pressure and just let it gravity flow but make sure you shut off the fuel valve when not running or it might spill the whole tank of fuel on the ground and into the engine. Or start it with the fuel valve turned off and then don't turn the valve on all the way to see if that cuts down on the fuel supply to keep it from puking out. sound like a stuck float valve like said above. BTW I don't live in Montana I live in Ohio and never been to Montana. lol

[roadiemort]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ialhaxhr7iA&list=RDIalhaxhr7iA&index=1

[MidnightRide]

Oh sorry about that davej ! I was thinking you were in Montana as well. Now who is that besides Tykes_Place?

[CoolCheech]

So update: I’m home, did not have to push the bike into the truck. She started right up in the morning and ran fairly standard for the first few hours. After the last pit stop before getting home she did it again. I’m thinking it’s heat related, high engine and/or air temp is when it was happening.

I got the bike last year and it was sitting for years in somebodies garage, I’ve had the whole thing gone over and it usually runs ok. But I think it’s time to take apart the carb and get it really cleaned up.