What's wrong with my bike?

[Phaedrus]

Symptoms: Won't start unless I put the fuel switch on PRIME or I can "Pop Start" (had to do it twice)  it. It will not idle by itself; I need to keep the throttle open to keep the bike running. As long as I keep the throttle open, it runs fine but seems to be using up slightly more fuel. All lights work fine, no odors,  no leaks.

I don't ride it too hard, never red line it, and run 89 octane fuel. After I get it started with Prime, I switch it back to it's normal position but I still have to keep the throttle open to keep it running.  :dunno:

Anyone got any suggestions on what I should check? I am a total newb to bikes (this is my first one, and the first real problem its had) so I am not much of a wrencher yet.

Any help would be appreciated!  

[nisus1]

when did it start doing this and does it have a problem idling once it's warmed up?  You shouldn't have to start it in prime and then move it to ON... you should be able to leave the petcock in the ON position.

[Phaedrus]

It started doing this yesterday after the bike fest in Carlisle PA, it was on the way home. It was a 500+ miles weekend.

It still has the problem even after it is warmed up. It run out of gas on the highway, I switched to reserve to get to the gas station. Weazelnoze with with me for that. Then I filled up and rode another 50 miles and met up with another GS rider, we rode about 45-50 miles together. It was fine. Then about 3-4 miles after that, it died at a stop sign and I had to pop start it to get it to go again. The rest of the info is in my first post.

And yes I know you shouldn't have to use prime to get it to start..hehe. Thats why I figured there is something wrong  :mrgreen:  But using prime or pop starting it to get me home is better than sitting alongside the road 100+ miles from home.  

Any ideas what the problem might be? :dunno:

[un1261]

you said it started after you needed to turn to the reserve setting.
Sounds like you got a piece of dirt or sludge in you carbs.

[Jazzzzz]

Having to turn it to prime to get it to start almost makes it sound like the vacuum hose from the carbs to the petcock is loose, but then I'd think the motor would die once you flipped the petcock out of prime.

You may have gotten a tank of crappy gas from that gas station - try putting a bottle of HEET (water remover) in with your gas, or just siphoning off that gas into a separate container and putting some fresh gas into the tank.  If the problem persists, you'll still have the gas to use later.

[Phaedrus]

Well, apprently the motorcycle fairy paid my bike a visit overnight because I went out just for the hell of it today and it started right up like it is supposed to! No problem with it at all.

So just for good measure, I went and got some HEET as was suggested and put that in and went for a 50 mile ride after a fill up of 93 octane gas. I also bought a bottle of carb cleaner, Ill put a little of that in next fill up I think just because.

So for right now it seems fine..but I don't trust it 100% yet because it might be an intermittent problem. Thanks for the help so far!  

[ginoe]

looks like some empirical research must be done - start planning on another 500+ mile trip and see if you can duplicate the problem  

(where is the sore butt smiley?)