A fuel issue has reared it's ugly head this weekend.
I took the GS on the freeway and after about 20 miles or so, the bike has a sudden loss of power - so bad it couldn't make it up a hill, it would just stall. I pull over, and fart around with it for a few and eventually it corrects itself, starts up and I'm off again (don't know why it just started up...). 2 miles later, same thing. I set the petcock to PRIME and it starts up again, I then set it back to normal, but then it dies a few miles later. I set it on PRIME, left it there while the bike was moving and didn't seem to have any problems and finally made it to my destination. On the way home, it did the same thing - loss of power, then it would die, then it would need to sit for a few minutes until it would just start back up. Setting it to PRIME didn't seem to do the trick this time around, as I was running with it on PRIME the whle trip home. Once on the frreway it would run for a bit then die again. I've just had the carbs rebuilt so I'm going to sync them tomorrow... maybe this is a cure?
Anyone know where I should start looking for the problem? The tank was KREEMed by the PO and I'm sure he screwed something up because the bike will not run with petcock set to "ON". I was riding around with it set to RESERVE and it runs fine around town.
Also, I can see inside the inline fuel filter (the clear bubble with the screen in it coming off the carbs) and the thing is full of fuel 'cept a small air-pocket... could the bike instead of being starved for fuel, maybe it is getting to MUCH fuel? Maybe I'm flooding the engine?
HELP!!!
I'm going to actually start commuting on this thing, so I need to get it taken care of ASAP!!! And it only seems too lose power on the freeway. I'm taking a longer road trip tomorrow through the twisties, so we'll see if the problem comes up then also...
Rolly
I shoulda looked through previous posts more, 'eh? Seems this fuel problem is not so uncommon. Anyway, I'm considering doing away with the petcock entirely. The only REAL disadvantage I can see is not knowing when I may run outta fuel, right?
I am wondering if the bike will leak fuel if I just park it and let it sit overnight with the set up Piper5177 suggests: http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4228
...or will I need some sort of "SHUt-OFF" to stop the flow of fuel?
Thanks again...
Rolly
You SHOULDN'T have a problem witht the setup that Piper5177 suggests. But here are some additional suggestions:
1) As I mentioned several posts after Piper5177's diagram, the hoses as drawn are hooked to the wrong outlets from the fuel tank. Hook the un-capped hose to the longer of the two outlets - that's the REServe one.
2) You could always attach an aftermarket petcock in between the fuel tank and the carburetors. Here are some possibilities. The first image was scanned from page 384 of a Dennis Kirk catalog (you want one of the valves for 1/4" fuel line), and the second was taken in the lawn care section of my local Lowe's home center.
(http://www.bbburma.net/Scans/DennisKirk384_FuelValves.jpg)
(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/100_0288_RidingMowerFuelValve.jpg)
As far as the air bubble in your fuel filter, I think that's normal. But I don't have one, so maybe someone else can chime in with what they have experienced.
EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net