[James1892]

Morning!

Firstly, the bike is a VT1100C Spirit, vance and hines pipes.

I was out on Sunday, With the mrs on the back, bike was running great, all be it, I had to stick it on reserve to get it going in the morning as i'd forgotten to go for fuel.. but after that, I'd done around 50 miles riding then on our way home, I got up to around 95 mph, and the bike sort of died, slowed right down as if i'd ran out of fuel, then kicked back into life.

Now I can get up to around 95 mph, with a bit of work but no higher, which is a ball ache! I've been over my usual stuff, vacuum hoses, air filter blocked, carbs are tight, and clean, plugs are fine.. but what I have noticed a few things that could be causing a issue;

Fuel filter looks older than me! ... I'm presuming if I lay down and look under the bike, by the rear arm, its held on by a clip either end, looks like it could be fiddly to get out? if that's it, i'll change it anyway!

also, the tank, it has a outlet on the right hand side looks like a hose should go on it? now its blocked from when I had my tank painted, BUT, its never had a hose on it, and the bikes ran fine for months before now, just wondering, being in England, and having a California model spirit, should it have a hose on there or anything?

lastly, which I'm going to try on my lunch, I increased the A/F mix by a turn and a quarter to eliminate popping and banging on decel, could that have caused it?

if anyone has any advice, it would be great, cheers!

 

[wlmmrtn]

Sounds like you picked up something out of the tank while you were on reserve and either plugged your filter a bit or partially plugged your line. I'd check that first like doing a fuel flow test, also if you have a balance tube between your carbs hanging down between the carbs that is hanging down in the wind (I'm not too familiar with the spirit routing) tuck in back out of the wind so the wind won't cause a suction.

 

[James1892]

Thanks for the response, I'm going to try a new filter at lunch time, it doesn't look too bad to get at? I'm going to check those pipes as you say to make sure, I did notice just before that one of the pipes at the front by the radiator, must be a breather as its never been attached to anything, was sticking out the side, maybe causing a vacuum like you say. will tuck it up and see what happens. Cheers.

 

[7xclm]

What year is your bike.

 

[James1892]

what year is your bike.

1998

 

[7xclm]

Do you have voltage to the spark plugs. Do you have fuel going to the carbs. Do you have voltage to the fuel pump. That is where I would start.

 

[adlowe]

Fuel filter looks older than me! ... I'm presuming if I lay down and look under the bike, by the rear arm, its held on by a clip either end, looks like it could be fiddly to get out? if that's it, i'll change it anyway!

Yup.

also, the tank, it has a outlet on the right hand side looks like a hose should go on it? now its blocked from when I had my tank painted, BUT, its never had a hose on it, and the bikes ran fine for months before now, just wondering, being in England, and having a California model spirit, should it have a hose on there or anything?

Sounds like the tank vent. Should have had a hose on it held in place by a clip. What model year bike have you got? Did you buy it new? Why a CA model? Other CA emission controls removed?

lastly, which I'm going to try on my lunch, I increased the A/F mix by a turn and a quarter to eliminate popping and banging on decel, could that have caused it?

How many miles before your Sunday ride did you do it?

Anytime something changes suddenly, the first question must be: What did you just do? Backtrack through anything you did to determine if it could be a cause. Then you move on to things that you didn't do -- in this case air and fuel being the first two things to check.

 

[James1892]

Yup.



Sounds like the tank vent. Should have had a hose on it held in place by a clip. What model year bike have you got? Did you buy it new? Why a CA model? Other CA emission controls removed?



How many miles before your Sunday ride did you do it?

Anytime something changes suddenly, the first question must be: What did you just do? Backtrack through anything you did to determine if it could be a cause. Then you move on to things that you didn't do -- in this case air and fuel being the first two things to check.

got the filter swapped in 15 mins .. was fiddly.. and I swore a lot, but its sorted.. my bike had done around 150 miles before the ride with the new A/F setting, I've set it back to how it was, see what happens on my ride home from work,

and I know the bike is a CA model, and yes the air box on top of the carbs has been removed by me, when I first got the bike, is there other emissions controls? is it worth pushing a pipe on the tank vent?

Cheers.

 

[swifty2014]

Since it is a Cal. model it probably had hoses and tubes going to the cannister system which is probably all taken off now.
The tube under the tank that is now plugged may be the tank vent and causing a restriction now. Open it up and see if that helps.

 

[John Hopkins]

It sounds really serious, I don't think you can repair it, you should sell it to me for a couple of grand.. anyway you won't be able to ride it much longer the top speed limit on any road is only 70mph.

Seriously new fuel filter, cut the old one in half lengthways to examine whats in it, remove the carbs and fit new repair kits about £15 from Biker busters I think, take photos of everything before you disconnect a single hose clip or bolt, do not separate the two carb bodies and make sure every jet and passage is spotless, hold the diaphragms up to the light and gently stretch them looking for pinholes or splits, make sure the floats are at the same height, count the number of turns you undo things and write it down and when you replace the diaphragms make sure the small locating tag is in the right place and put a small smear of gasket gel in the groove to relocate the diaphragm rim and hold it in place while you refit the spring and cover.

Edit: and fill up every 60 miles at the speeds you ride you will struggle to get 100 miles from a tank full.. And if you want more speed I can offer a R1 Dynamite race tuned to 186 mph.

John.

 

[rjmockster]

Well, as a 98 1100 spirit owner myself I can tell you that port to the right bottom rear end of your tank is definetely a vent and yes a hose does hook up to it. One other thing I would check into is replacing your fuel hoses, it's possible you've got one collapsing when pulling fuel through it hard enough at higher speeds because you should be able to hit about 120 mph or so (if youre crazy enough lol).

 

[John Hopkins]

Please lads, don't offer too much help, I just offered to buy the heap of junk riceburner off him!

John.

 

[James1892]

John, come buy it? I could use space! or take my bandit chop? ..

The carbs have been apart many a time, and are clean and correct.. fuel filter has made no difference, it actually cut out and died on my way home, got progressively worse to ride, then I lost it about a mile from home, It won't start and the battery won't hold a charge, according to the charger, it was full this morning and as soon as I hit the start button its back to recovery.. gunna have to stick one of them on and see what happens.. then hopefully the charging system is working right and that's the end of it..

I'm guessing if the battery was totally dead, that would make some sort of difference to the way the bike was running? and once its given up, that's when its cut out.. that's what I'm hoping anyway..

 

[spiritoftheshadow]

sounds like a charging problem to me probably cut out if the bike was running on batt alone it would explain most of your symptoms the higher you rev the more power it would be draining from the batt eventually getting to where there wasnt enough juice to fire the plugs

 

[James1892]

yea that's what I'm thinking, I'm on my way for a new battery, will stick it on, see if it will start and test the charging system, am I right in thinking I hold it at around 3k revs, and check the battery with a multimeter to make sure its charging?

From there I'm guessing my next step is the R/R?

when I hit the button the stator is making a noise, so I'd imagine that's fine..

 

[John Hopkins]

Very simple check of charging system.

New battery 12,6 volts dc

press starter 9.4 volts dc

at idle 13 volts dc

at 3k revs between 13.6 and 14 volts dc

if revved over 3k the voltage may drop slightly but never below 13.2 volts or above 14.8 volts.

Unless you already own one do not spend more than £10 on a digital multimeter.

And if you fill in the user CP up there on the black bar I will know where you are.

John.

 

[jpr1968]

Very simple check of charging system.

New battery 12,6 volts dc

press starter 9.4 volts dc

at idle 13 volts dc

at 3k revs between 31.6 and 14 volts dc

if revved over 3k the voltage may drop slightly but never below 13.2 volts or above 14.8 volts.

Unless you already own one do not spend more than £10 on a digital multimeter.

And if you fill in the user CP up there on the black bar I will know where you are.

John.

31.6v at 3k, must be a supercharged battery.

 

[John Hopkins]

31.6v at 3k, must be a supercharged battery.

Oops.. Maybe I got that a bit wrong.. whaddaya think..

John.

 

[adlowe]

I'm guessing if the battery was totally dead, that would make some sort of difference to the way the bike was running?

Bike won't run at all after voltage drops to something below 8.5 volts. For some folks, the threshold is even higher.

sounds like a charging problem to me probably cut out if the bike was running on batt alone it would explain most of your symptoms the higher you rev the more power it would be draining from the batt eventually getting to where there wasnt enough juice to fire the plugs

Doesn't work like that. As long as there's voltage to fire the plugs RPMs don't matter. Once there isn't enough voltage, RPMs don't matter.

yea that's what I'm thinking, I'm on my way for a new battery, will stick it on, see if it will start and test the charging system, am I right in thinking I hold it at around 3k revs, and check the battery with a multimeter to make sure its charging?

From there I'm guessing my next step is the R/R?

when I hit the button the stator is making a noise, so I'd imagine that's fine..

1) Why a new battery? If the old one holds a charge and passes a load test then it is fine.

2) Next step is checking for a loose or corroded electrical connection. Testing the stator and regulator/rectifier come after that.

3) If your stator is making noise then you have a serious problem. It is NOT a moving part, merely a bundle of wires. It should be silent. Now your STARTER...

 

[James1892]

Sorry bud, I meant starter*

the battery charged fully, then as soon as I hit the start button it dies .. goes onto recovery and takes about 5 hours to recharge.

Like you say I'll have to inspect everything and see where I'm at.

basically at the moment, I have lights and flashers, horn is flat, can't start it up it won't even try and turn.

I'll try the battery and then check out the wiring.