I've done a few searches here and seen similarities with some other posts, but wanted to run this by you guys because my symptoms are slightly different than what I've seen in the other threads. On the other threads, it sounded like the bikes were able to start normally and idle, but mine will not.
As with a lot of problems, the bike was running great until it suddenly wasn't. '08 Shadow Spirit, VT750C2.
Girlfriend and I hopped on yesterday for a ride and everything started off completely normal. Bike immediately fired up, idled normally and we got about 1/4 mile before there was some very light sputtering. At first I hesitated to call it sputtering as it was such a small change that the throttle just sounded a little different. But I could feel there was a slight loss of power.
This continued through each gear up to up 40mph when I held the clutch for several seconds while slowing for a light at which point the bike died. This all escalated pretty quickly, I was less than a mile from home when she died.
I pulled off and started checking everything. Definitely has gas, changed the oil a couple of weeks ago, lights come on, starter sounds normal.
At that point and ever since, the bike won't turn over without throttle. If I gas it somewhat, it'll start and I was actually able to get it back home by giving it extra throttle but the bike was sputtering the whole way back and died as soon as I held the clutch again.
My first thought, being a novice, is that it sounds fuel related to me... gunked up lines or carbs? I added some Seafoam last night and started it up, but had to keep the throttle on the whole time trying to get the Seafoam to start circulating. I'm about to go out and check again, but does this sound like a fuel issue to you? My next step was going to be to specifically hit the carbs with Seafoam.
Ideas on specific other things to look at?
As with a lot of problems, the bike was running great until it suddenly wasn't. '08 Shadow Spirit, VT750C2.
Girlfriend and I hopped on yesterday for a ride and everything started off completely normal. Bike immediately fired up, idled normally and we got about 1/4 mile before there was some very light sputtering. At first I hesitated to call it sputtering as it was such a small change that the throttle just sounded a little different. But I could feel there was a slight loss of power.
This continued through each gear up to up 40mph when I held the clutch for several seconds while slowing for a light at which point the bike died. This all escalated pretty quickly, I was less than a mile from home when she died.
I pulled off and started checking everything. Definitely has gas, changed the oil a couple of weeks ago, lights come on, starter sounds normal.
At that point and ever since, the bike won't turn over without throttle. If I gas it somewhat, it'll start and I was actually able to get it back home by giving it extra throttle but the bike was sputtering the whole way back and died as soon as I held the clutch again.
My first thought, being a novice, is that it sounds fuel related to me... gunked up lines or carbs? I added some Seafoam last night and started it up, but had to keep the throttle on the whole time trying to get the Seafoam to start circulating. I'm about to go out and check again, but does this sound like a fuel issue to you? My next step was going to be to specifically hit the carbs with Seafoam.
Ideas on specific other things to look at?