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Message started by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 11:19:42

Title: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 11:19:42

Although I am a new member, I am a long time reader. I have been battling a problem that I need advice on. My wife's 100% stock 99 recently became more and more difficult to start so I replaced the plug, which had been replaced about 1,000 miles earlier, and all seemed well again. Then, soon after it began idling rough, sputtered, died, and fuel leaked from air box. I removed carb, thoroughly cleaned it, checked the float for buoyancy, and again replaced the plug. Started like a dream with no choke, throttle etc and idled perfectly. After a short ride, again idled roughly, sputtered and leaked through the air box. It does, however, idle better on the reserve position. What am I missing here? Additional info that confuses me is: with the tank off, fuel will not flow from petcock in the on position or prime position but flows freely in the reserve position. Sorry for the long post/question; just wanting to give all info. Thanks in advance for your help.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by verslagen1 on 10/02/10 at 14:14:05

Prime is pulled back, reserve is pushed forward.

Check your vac line for fuel, then replace it.

Could be that your petcock is failing.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Oldfeller on 10/02/10 at 14:29:05

step 1 for analyzing mysterious symptoms and issues is to REPLACE the stock petcock with a mechanical Raptor petcock.

Run the raptor for a week and repost your questions. You will have a stable set of symptoms to talk about then while now all you have is a lot of "mysterious".

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 14:35:57

Vacuum on the right side of carb? If I disconnect it while the bike is running, wouldn't I lose vacuum causing the fuel flow to stop anyway?

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 14:37:00

What's the best place to order the Raptor and does anyone have a part #? Could the petcock create a situation where fuel gets in the airbox?

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Oldfeller on 10/02/10 at 16:48:07

http://www.ronayers.com/browseparts.cfm?SearchString=5LP-24500-01-00&adv=5&kw=fiche.ronayers.com

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 17:18:00

Thanks for the link. I'll probably order it. I have since went out and checked the petcock and discovered that I was wrong about the settings. I took the fuel supply line off at the carb and tried the petcock at all settings. It does not flow on "on" or "reserve" but does on prime. I guess I was look at the lever and confusing the long end with the short end with arrow. Stupid on my part. Then I took the vacuum line off completely and blew straight through it to check for blockage. It is clear. I put in back on the petcock, with the supply line still off the carb, and I sucked on the carb end of the vacuum line, gas poured out of the supply line. I assume the petcock is okay with these checks, so I back to the possibility of a stuck float.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by bill67 on 10/02/10 at 19:04:19

Try some Sea Foam in your gas it will loosen up the float and clean and lube your carb.You can get it at wal mart or auto stores.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Routy on 10/02/10 at 19:51:51

From what all you checked, I agree, I think your problem is flooding in the carb.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/02/10 at 20:11:14

I just came in from the garage. I have a stock of seafoam I use for my Vulcan, so I disconnected the supply line from the carb, drained the bowl, and poured seafoam into the supply nipple on the carb using a section of fuel line and a tiny funnel until it wouldn't hold anymore. Then I added about 1/3 of a can of seafoam to the tank which was about 1/2 full of gas. After reconnecting the supply line, I'll let it sit till morning and see how it does, I'll update.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by BurnPgh on 10/02/10 at 21:55:09

I highly recommend switching to the raptor petcock one way or another just to avoid the inevitable "what if" scenarios. If seafoam doesnt clear up the issue you got a problem with the float or float valve. If you can determine the float isnt hanging up and sticking and that it hasnt got a hole in it causing it to sink then you're looking at a float valve.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Oldfeller on 10/03/10 at 01:34:55

What's sad on the stock petcock tests is they only test if it really shuts off or not. That's all they can test for.

What drives us crazy is when it shuts off OK, but it just doesn't flow enough gasoline to keep up with the engine useage at speed (due to a stiff or stretched diaphragm) -- THATS when them durn stock petcocks really do drive us all crazy.

We don't really have a workable reliable flow test worked out for the durn thing yet.

And insufficient gas flow to the engine at various speeds (low float gas level) makes you think a lot of different things could mebbe be wrong ....

"oh my jetting is off, I need bigger jets"
"oh my exhaust joint/gasket is leaking"
"oh my intake boot has a crack in it"

Be patient -- you'll get there.

Interesting factoid -- vacuum suction to the diaphragm drops when you approach full engine speeds.

When vacuum levels drop, a weak petcock flows less gas
(at exactly the same time your engine needs the maximum gas flow).

"oh my bike stumbles at full speed"
"oh my bike falters when accelerating"
"oh my bike runs out of gas all the time on the beltway and I have to go to reserve"
"oh my bike is backfiring and popping like mad all the time now"

Lastly, when you run your bowl real real low due to poor inbound gas flow, it tends to stick in the low position (jams the needle valve). This will drive you completely crazy too.

Simplify your life proactively -- jest yank the unreliable stock petcock and get you a Raptor.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by bill67 on 10/03/10 at 03:46:54

34347E6C7B6C6A680D0 wrote:

You do have to let it run a while with the Sea Foam in it to get in the carb and clean it up.

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Oldfeller on 10/03/10 at 04:14:46

Straight seafoam pumped straight into the float bowl?

Followed by 1/3 of a can of seafoam into 1 1/2 gallons of gasoline?

Seafoam ingredients:

Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol), pale oil, and naptha.
(read that as alcohol, benzine and kerosene and you won't be far off the mark)

She ain't gonna want to crank at first (straight seafoam is an alcohol and naptha/light oil based substance) and she ain't gonna run worth beans once you do get it to start as you have so much seafoam in your system now the plug will likely oil foul the gap fairly quickly.

And smoke, lordy yes !!!!

You done listened to Bill .... you'll learn better about that

Do tell us what happens .... ya done got us all curious now

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by Routy on 10/03/10 at 04:53:27

After all of the below, the fact still remains,........
If "prime" doesn't fix it, the petcock is not the problem.

The other fact that remains,..... If the engine runs good at hi speed... under WOT condition, you can be assured that there is nothing wrong w/ the vacuum operated petcock,.......period.

7F5C5456555C5C5542300 wrote:

Title: Re: Flooding problem? Or something else?
Post by 99savage on 10/03/10 at 11:56:07

Okay, here is where I am. First, there's a lot of assumptions in this thread that don't apply to my situation. The problem is flooding/stuck float even after cleaning carb. While I will order the raptor, I'm still fairly certain that the petcock can not cause flooding if the float is doing its job.

I went out this afternoon and drained the seafoam out of the carb bowl, put the petcock on prime for a minute or so, and cranked it. After a few cranks, it fired up and ran like a charm with a little smoke and then cleared up. I suppose the stuck float will occur again, but I'm sure that has been the problem all along. Thanks for all your help.