Runing Problem...Any ideas?

[chilli]

Picture the scene.... I was happily riding along and was coming to a roundabout...As I started changing down the gears, I encountered problems. Can only describe it as trying to pull away in a low powered car in 5th gear...The engine tried to die on me, and was labouring. Pulled over and turned her off. Then went off again, and the initial problem seemed to go, however, I kept getting a loss of power now and then, mostly whilst tryind to accelerate.
I'm thinking electrical... Leads/alternator (do bikes have alternators??!!)

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Chilli.

[beano500]

This is the first time it's done it? In the cold this morning? First cold weather it's encountered?

[chilli]

Na, been out every weekend since I've had it. I'd been on it for about an hour before it started as well.

Cheers.

[BliarOut]

Sounds like it could be a characteristic of fuel starvation to me. Did it go away after the bike had been turned off for a while? I would check the tank breather isn't blocked. If it does it again, take your helmet off and undo the fuel filler. If it hisses then the tank has got a vacuum. Took me ages to track that one down when it happened to me (Waxed the fuel cap and it blocked the breather)

[chilli]

BliarOut said:

Sounds like it could be a characteristic of fuel starvation to me. Did it go away after the bike had been turned off for a while? I would check the tank breather isn't blocked. If it does it again, take your helmet off and undo the fuel filler. If it hisses then the tank has got a vacuum. Took me ages to track that one down when it happened to me (Waxed the fuel cap and it blocked the breather)

Ok great, I'll give it a try.
Many thanks.

[Mad Dave]

Fuel problem or muck in the carbs. If you can't find/fix a fuel problem, try running some carb cleaner through your carbs, and/or use some Redex fuel additives.

[chilli]

Mad Dave said:

Fuel problem or muck in the carbs. If you can't find/fix a fuel problem, try running some carb cleaner through your carbs, and/or use some Redex fuel additives.

Ok, carbs...... Where will I find them??!!!!! I'm guessing I'll have to get the fairings off, and the tank as well??

Cheers again.

[BliarOut]

If it's carburated as opposed to EFI it could be condensation in the float bowls if she's been sat all week. Dunno the fuelling on a Gixxer, but there will be a float chamber drain screw at the bottom of the carb. No need to strip them down at this stage.

[chilli]

Thanks, but getting a tad technical for me now......Is this any good???!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Motorbike-Service-Pack-Fuel-Oi


Cheers,

Chilli.

[rumpelstiltskin]

Sounds like what i had with my Busa once,sounds fuel related,came up to roundabout,just died,took ages to start,then drove ok then died again,i was on the verge of kicking the hell out of it,i lifted up the tank and it was just a kinked fuel pipe?Sounds like fuel starvation somewhere alomg the line,some gunge coming through?

[BliarOut]

chilli said:

Thanks, but getting a tad technical for me now......Is this any good???!!!

Phew, I was hoping you would say that If you don't know where the carbs are, it's probably best not to take em apart Stick to kinked/blocked pipes and breather checks for now.

[chilli]

Right then!
Fuel cleaner "stuff" and hose check it is then. How do I lift the tank? I know where the bar that holds it up is (under the cowl!) but that's all I know. Also would I be able to see any leads from there, as I'll change them as well!

Cheers,

Chilli.

[dern]

If your bike is a well serviced low mileage job that just gets taken out at weekends when it's dry then the problem could be carb-icing. Find something like silkolene pro-fst and add it to the fuel and see if it gets any better...

www.silkoleneoil.com/techtip7.htm

...if it doesn't take it to a dealer because (not wishing to offend) it doesn't sound like you know what you're doing with a bike engine and you don't want to be dicking about with the carbs unless you do.

If it only exhibits the problems when it's wet I'd suspect some kind of electrical contact problem. I doubt that any crap large enough to block a carb jet would have got passed the filter and can't see where it would have come from on such a new bike anyway. Even if you have something large enough to block a jet you won't disolve it with any petrol additive. If you feel you want to try a fuel-additive anyway then get one that you can add to the petrol tank and not directly to the carbs.

Mark

[chilli]

dern said:

If your bike is a well serviced low mileage job that just gets taken out at weekends when it's dry then the problem could be carb-icing. Find something like silkolene pro-fst and add it to the fuel and see if it gets any better... www.silkoleneoil.com/techtip7.htm ...if it doesn't take it to a dealer because (not wishing to offend) it doesn't sound like you know what you're doing with a bike engine and you don't want to be dicking about with the carbs unless you do. If it only exhibits the problems when it's wet I'd suspect some kind of electrical contact problem. I doubt that any crap large enough to block a carb jet would have got passed the filter and can't see where it would have come from on such a new bike anyway. Even if you have something large enough to block a jet you won't disolve it with any petrol additive. If you feel you want to try a fuel-additive anyway then get one that you can add to the petrol tank and not directly to the carbs. Mark

Dern,

Thanks mate, no offense taken. You're spot on, no idea about Bike engines!
CHeers for your advice,

Chilli.

[rsvmilly]

Wot dern said.

My Dad had the same problem on a car. It would just lose power and stop. Give it five minutes and the ice in the carb would melt and normal service was resumed.

See if there should be a heating element in the carb intake. Does the bike have a non-standard air filter? This might affect it.

Most of the articles on Google relate to carb-icing in planes (which is where my Dad knew it from)

www.misterfixit.com/carbice.htm

[zzr]

chilli said:

dern said: If your bike is a well serviced low mileage job that just gets taken out at weekends when it's dry then the problem could be carb-icing. Find something like silkolene pro-fst and add it to the fuel and see if it gets any better... www.silkoleneoil.com/techtip7.htm ...if it doesn't take it to a dealer because (not wishing to offend) it doesn't sound like you know what you're doing with a bike engine and you don't want to be dicking about with the carbs unless you do. If it only exhibits the problems when it's wet I'd suspect some kind of electrical contact problem. I doubt that any crap large enough to block a carb jet would have got passed the filter and can't see where it would have come from on such a new bike anyway. Even if you have something large enough to block a jet you won't disolve it with any petrol additive. If you feel you want to try a fuel-additive anyway then get one that you can add to the petrol tank and not directly to the carbs. Mark Dern, Thanks mate, no offense taken. You're spot on, no idea about Bike engines! CHeers for your advice, Chilli.

I get this problem in the cold, had it this morning in fact. it doesn't matter how long you've been riding the bike as the cold air coming in acts as a refridgerator in the carb, freezing the moisture. It mainly effects the idle and low speed circuit as giving full throttle usually results in a sudden spurt of forward motion (great fun when you've got 160bhp on a bike, not ). I use the anti ice additive and it seems to work.

The thing to make sure of is that the carb warming circuit is clean and flowing correctly and that the coolant is reaching normal operating temperature. If it isn't then you need to shield a portion of the radiator to prevent too much heat being removed, this applies to the oil cooler as well if you've got one.

Paul

[rsvmilly]

zzr said:

I get this problem in the cold, had it this morning in fact.

Kwackers are known for it aren't they?

[zzr]

rsvmilly said:

zzr said: I get this problem in the cold, had it this morning in fact. Kwackers are known for it aren't they?

My old zzr1100 did the same thing, I think it's because the ram air system has no warming circuit available. I've been thinking about running a pipe across the air box and running coolant through it to take the edge of the cold air.

Paul

[chilli]

zzr said:

chilli said: dern said: If your bike is a well serviced low mileage job that just gets taken out at weekends when it's dry then the problem could be carb-icing. Find something like silkolene pro-fst and add it to the fuel and see if it gets any better... www.silkoleneoil.com/techtip7.htm ...if it doesn't take it to a dealer because (not wishing to offend) it doesn't sound like you know what you're doing with a bike engine and you don't want to be dicking about with the carbs unless you do. If it only exhibits the problems when it's wet I'd suspect some kind of electrical contact problem. I doubt that any crap large enough to block a carb jet would have got passed the filter and can't see where it would have come from on such a new bike anyway. Even if you have something large enough to block a jet you won't disolve it with any petrol additive. If you feel you want to try a fuel-additive anyway then get one that you can add to the petrol tank and not directly to the carbs. Mark Dern, Thanks mate, no offense taken. You're spot on, no idea about Bike engines! CHeers for your advice, Chilli. I get this problem in the cold, had it this morning in fact. it doesn't matter how long you've been riding the bike as the cold air coming in acts as a refridgerator in the carb, freezing the moisture. It mainly effects the idle and low speed circuit as giving full throttle usually results in a sudden spurt of forward motion (great fun when you've got 160bhp on a bike, not ). I use the anti ice additive and it seems to work. The thing to make sure of is that the carb warming circuit is clean and flowing correctly and that the coolant is reaching normal operating temperature. If it isn't then you need to shield a portion of the radiator to prevent too much heat being removed, this applies to the oil cooler as well if you've got one. Paul

Many thanks, however the temp guage is always steady, at around 78-80 degrees....(Or does this have absolutely nothing todo with it??!!)

Cheers.

[dern]

zzr said:

rsvmilly said: zzr said: I get this problem in the cold, had it this morning in fact. Kwackers are known for it aren't they? My old zzr1100 did the same thing, I think it's because the ram air system has no warming circuit available. I've been thinking about running a pipe across the air box and running coolant through it to take the edge of the cold air.

I didn't have this problem with my gpz1100e1 which had the same engine (more or less) as your zzr but with no ram air and I rode that in weather cold enough for ice to form on the fairing never mind in the carbs .

I'd be wary of blocking any part of the rad to be honest. The only way you'll heat the carbs any more is to ensure the water is hotter in the cooling system. If you block the rad off partially you'll just reduce the systems ability to shed heat and the water will be warmer but that will just mean the thermostat will be open longer and potentially the fan will run longer in order to get the temperature down again. If you do manage to raise the temperature of the water sufficiently to heat the carbs more then you'll be effectively overheating the system and be running the risk of overheating the engine especially when you start riding in traffic.

I'd simply add the silkolene fst additive to the petrol first and see if it makes a difference. Then, if it does help either just carry on using that stuff while it's cold. If you're only taking it out at the weekends you won't use that much of it. If it doesn't make any difference then you'll know the problem is probably elsewhere and you can take further advice on it.

Mark