SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Mystery problem
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1492637223

Message started by mlittle on 04/19/17 at 14:27:03

Title: Mystery problem
Post by mlittle on 04/19/17 at 14:27:03

Hello. I've got a 2011 Boulevard S40. The reason I'm posting is that it has an ongoing engine problem which I've been unable to resolve.

The engine wants to die while riding the bike. It may run fine for a period of time - anyway from a few minutes to a much a 45 minutes into a ride. After the trouble appears I have to blip the throttle to a great extent to even keep the engine running. If I don't do this it will die immediately. So that's the basic nature of the problem as it occurs while riding.

I've had it up to the Suzuki dealer, as well as a neighborhood mechanic. Both times they rebuilt the carburetor, and both time the problem came back after the motorcycle set for a period of time. (Anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks) I'm not really sure what would explain all of these symptoms, and so I'm writing in hopes that someone can give me some suggestions. Please let me know if you need me to provide any more details.

Thanks in advance for any help offered :)

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by verslagen1 on 04/19/17 at 14:40:15

Test your petcock, thread in the tech section index.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by Dave on 04/19/17 at 14:41:45

Do you still have the stock vacuum operated (automatic) fuel petcock on the bike?

The diaphragm in the petcock can go bad, and make all kinds of running problems. Sometimes the diaphragm gets hard and no fuel flows - sometimes they get holes and flow too much fuel.

This forum suggests that you replace the stock petcock with one from a Yamaha 660 Raptor. It is manual and very reliable - however you will have to learn to turn it ON to ride....OFF to store.

Look at the link below - it lists the official Yamaha part number of the petcock - don't buy a Chinese copy from eBay. If you don't see the parts number listed or the white box it comes in - don't buy it.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1366651397

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by mlittle on 04/20/17 at 08:55:01

This is super helpful guys... I had come to the point of about wanting to get rid of this bike. The Suzuki dealer didn't seem to know anything about this issue, and I had had a long talk with them. So this forum is truly a big help.

Yes. Everything on the bike is 100% stock. (well except for the battery)
So I'll get on this right away and see if this takes care of the issue. It had gotten bad enough where I couldn't even ride the thing any longer.

Thanks so much!

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/20/17 at 09:17:55

Whatever "Solution " they sold you was an exercise in ignorance. They shouldn't charge for a "Repair " that doesn't fix the problem.
That they know so little about a bike they sell is sad. That they would charge for labor that doesn't solve the problem is something else..

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by HAPPYDAN on 04/20/17 at 09:21:23

Listen to these guys. I did and I am eternally grateful for it. My S40 is a 2012, and at just over 1,000 miles, it conked out under hard acceleration going uphill. Sputter, sputter, blah. Having read their sage advice regarding that POS stock petcock, I had already ordered and received the Raptor (see tech section). Turned it to PRIME to get home, and changed it that day. Now over 5,000 miles, and nuthin' but smiles :). Also if you use E10 pump gas, add a fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL. It helps a lot with the backfires and carb issues.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by koehlerrk on 04/20/17 at 10:05:10

Vacuum petcock... one of a handful of known problems with these bikes.

Picked up a 2003 with 18K miles for my wife. Bone stock, still had the brass plug in the carb! I've torn it apart, got a cam chain tensioner and head plug from Verslagen, and a Raptor petcock. Just ordered a jet set from Lancer, and that should take care of most of the issues for a while.

Forget the stealerships... the folks here have forgotten more about these bikes than most of the "service techs" will ever know.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by Kris01 on 04/20/17 at 18:03:48

Dealerships around here can't count less than 4 cylinders. ::)

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by batman on 04/20/17 at 21:14:32

There are no dumb questions! You should always come here first,we can answer with most of the info you need to fix your problems and we don't charge you for labor,

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/21/17 at 10:53:27

There are no dumb questions..

Ohh, you have not heard some of the questions I have heard, then.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by Papa Bear on 04/21/17 at 11:08:19

There are more dumb answers than dumb questions ..... :D

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by batman on 04/21/17 at 20:23:11

JOG ,Here's one ,can I build my bike into a three wheeler? but I already know the answer ,it's not a good bike to try it with ,the steering neck rake angle is 35 degrees and when you try to turn a corner the bike wants to keep going straight.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by jcstokes on 04/22/17 at 03:48:01

Go to page one of the tech section on this site, there is an informative video on how to change the stock petcock to the Raptor 660 one.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by mlittle on 06/02/17 at 10:48:13

Hey guys. Just a quick update regarding the "mystery problem ". It seems the petcock replacement has resolved the issue. First my neighbor discovered that by turning the lever to "prime" the trouble could be circumvented. Next I installed the new raptor petcock ( as directed). The whole thing took about 45 minutes, but I had to drain a lot of fuel. (that was the longest part). Anyway, its been running like a champion racehorse ever since.

From a guy that was so fed up I was about to sell the thing - needless to say you all have my heartfelt thanks.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/02/17 at 11:18:44

Another Raptor to the rescue.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by IslandRoad on 06/02/17 at 13:44:25

Congratulations! Have fun riding :) :)

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by norm92de on 06/02/17 at 14:52:03

My stock petcock is sitting in a box with "Yamaha Raptor" written on it.
The Suzuki petcock only had a few miles on it but I don't like quirky stuff so I changed it

Another big plus, you can take off the fuel tank much easier. :)

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by JLC on 06/02/17 at 15:51:16

I also changed the stock petcock for a Raptor on my 2015 S40, when the bike had less than 500 miles on the clock. Worthwhile upgrade for sure.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/02/17 at 18:03:24

5D5C415E0A015756330 wrote:

There's a decent spring up in that thing.

Title: Re: Mystery problem
Post by pam on 06/02/17 at 21:49:44

I have a 2015..with only 2 miles when delivered... and I had the same issue. Dave is correct. if you have the automatic petcock... it doesnt like the gas...I changed to the Raptor..and took out brass plug..and did the adjustment...runs great now...