So I have been out of town for the past 2 weeks with my bike sitting in the garage unused. Today my wife and I were going to go for a ride up to a local bike rally. After letting it warm up, we head on down the road. When we stop at the stop sign up the road the engine died. Had a little trouble starting it up again but it did get started and when I got to the next two stop signs it died both times. Went down the highway at about 55mph for about 5 miles. When I got to another stop sign it again died. Pulled into a gas station since I needed gas, but they were all out. We sat there for about 15 mins to let the engine warm up. The engine would not idle without the choke at least 3/4 of the way up. After waiting about 10 mins the oil light came on. I turned the bike off and then back on and the light didn't come back on. After a few more mins we left to go to another gas station, but I had to start with the choke up. Turned it down once I got going. Went another 5 miles at which time it would finally idle without dying. Put 2 gallons in the tank. Seems to be running fine.
I'm thinking that maybe the carb had some gunk after sitting unused for 2 weeks. Could this be the case? I'm planning on running some seafoam through it either later today or tomorrow. I just seems strange that I would have such problems after just two weeks.
What about the oil light? Is this a pressure or temp light?
Thanks for the help
I've never had mine die and in the winter it often sits for more than a month. I do have a thought of your oil light. I noticed when I changed the oil on mine that the first time I sat it on the kick stand and let it idle for a couple of minutes my oil light came on too. But that was the ONLY time I've ever seen it and it was the first ride after a oil change.
I wonder could your engine idle be too low? It's easy to raise, just look on the left side between the carbs for the little black knob thumb screw and turn it clockwise to raise it a bit.
Do you still have stock jets? If not, you could be running too lean too.
ken
It is possible for fuel to go bad rather quickly. Also, depending on the environmental conditions in storage (assuming your garage is NOT climate-controlled), it is possible that some water condensed in the fuel you had in the tank. If a fresh tank of fuel cured the problem, I'd say your in the clear, though a bit of Sea Foam wouldn't hurt.
Well I ended up taking it back out. Had a little trouble getting it started. Took 3 pushes of about 5 secs each before it started. After that it ran like a champ. Went to the store after that and bought a can of Seafoam. Put 1/3 of a bottle in it and ran about 20 miles. After the store it started right up. We'll see how it does in the morning.
My garage is not climate controlled, however my wife says that it was pretty cool, for this time of year, while I was gone. She says it was high 80's.
It must've been some bad gas. It had last been filled up outside of town at a station I don't normally fill up at.
Bike is stock as far as the engine is concerned. It is a 2009 and I just bought it in July. Only has 500 miles on it.
you oil warning light is an "oil level" .. not "oil pressure" warning. You may be just a touch low (double check the level and add as necessary).....
Glad you got it fixed....and yes...water in the gas is pretty common.
you oil warning light is an "oil level" .. not "oil pressure" warning. You may be just a touch low (double check the level and add as necessary)..... Glad you got it fixed....and yes...water in the gas is pretty common.
Considering I was on the side stand when it come on, I'm assuming this would affect it. If the sensor is on the right side of the bike, it could be that the oil was below it due to the side stand.
Ya that happens sometimes. Just set the idle higher and see how it goes. If it's still "iffy," have your carbs looked at, they may need some cleaning.
Well, I took the bike out today. Worked flawlessly. This morning it started up instantly with no choke even though it was a little on the cooler side. Ran it for 150 miles without a single problem.
Don't trust the oil light too much. They tend to have a problem with getting a litle bubble of foam stuck in the sensor causing the light to trigger erroneously...Get the bike upright and check the oil level through the sight glass. If its good there, its good.
Glen
A few bucks for new plugs never hurts. Goes with the new gas nicely
Don't trust the oil light too much. They tend to have a problem with getting a litle bubble of foam stuck in the sensor causing the light to trigger erroneously...Get the bike upright and check the oil level through the sight glass. If its good there, its good.Glen
x2 on that. Shortly after every oil change, my bike will do it for the first 5-10 minutes at 40-50mph. After that it goes away until the next day. Then after a few weeks it stops til next oil change.
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