Calling all KLXers
#22
03-15-2007, 04:17 PM
RE: Calling all KLXers
ORIGINAL: deej
Its too warm for carb icing, besides I've ridden in 0 weather and 100 degrees and have never had a problem.Turning up the idle won't fix the problem, it just makes it idle faster when there is nothing wrong with it. That's just treating a symptom not the root cause of the problem. But thanks for the ideas. I am going to start with cleaning out the bowl and see what happens.
Its too warm for carb icing, besides I've ridden in 0 weather and 100 degrees and have never had a problem.Turning up the idle won't fix the problem, it just makes it idle faster when there is nothing wrong with it. That's just treating a symptom not the root cause of the problem. But thanks for the ideas. I am going to start with cleaning out the bowl and see what happens.
That vaporization process leaves resident fuel moisture at 32 degrees at the carb inlet. Viola! Carb inlet ice. Airplanes and older, carb equipped automobiles are equipped to deal with this with manual or automatic carb heat devices. When carb ice occurrs, it's often a mystery...sometimes only happens during ideal circumstances of temperature, humidity, riding...driving or flying conditions. Not that there's a lot you can do about it on a motorcycle, but it can make you feel better if you don't find out what caused it otherwise. One indicator if that's happening is to wait a few minutes after it dies for engine heat to back up through the carb a bit and melt it out. Doesn't take long either. Then, when you restart the bike, if it runs perfectly, you may well have diagnosed the problem. Maybe Gerbings should build us a carb blanket...
Good luck.
Bill Dragoo
www.rideok.com
#23
03-15-2007, 05:23 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Calling all KLXers
ORIGINAL: Shadetree
Just a note on carb icing, since you're trying to rule out all possibilities. Carb ice can occur even in 60+ degree temps. Fuel vaporization takes approximately 34 degrees from it's surroundings. That's why it feels cold on your hand. (Forgive me if you already know all this, but it could be pertinent.)
That vaporization process leaves resident fuel moisture at 32 degrees at the carb inlet. Viola! Carb inlet ice. Airplanes and older, carb equipped automobiles are equipped to deal with this with manual or automatic carb heat devices. When carb ice occurrs, it's often a mystery...sometimes only happens during ideal circumstances of temperature, humidity, riding...driving or flying conditions. Not that there's a lot you can do about it on a motorcycle, but it can make you feel better if you don't find out what caused it otherwise. One indicator if that's happening is to wait a few minutes after it dies for engine heat to back up through the carb a bit and melt it out. Doesn't take long either. Then, when you restart the bike, if it runs perfectly, you may well have diagnosed the problem. Maybe Gerbings should build us a carb blanket...
Good luck.
Bill Dragoo
www.rideok.com
ORIGINAL: deej
Its too warm for carb icing, besides I've ridden in 0 weather and 100 degrees and have never had a problem.Turning up the idle won't fix the problem, it just makes it idle faster when there is nothing wrong with it. That's just treating a symptom not the root cause of the problem. But thanks for the ideas. I am going to start with cleaning out the bowl and see what happens.
Its too warm for carb icing, besides I've ridden in 0 weather and 100 degrees and have never had a problem.Turning up the idle won't fix the problem, it just makes it idle faster when there is nothing wrong with it. That's just treating a symptom not the root cause of the problem. But thanks for the ideas. I am going to start with cleaning out the bowl and see what happens.
That vaporization process leaves resident fuel moisture at 32 degrees at the carb inlet. Viola! Carb inlet ice. Airplanes and older, carb equipped automobiles are equipped to deal with this with manual or automatic carb heat devices. When carb ice occurrs, it's often a mystery...sometimes only happens during ideal circumstances of temperature, humidity, riding...driving or flying conditions. Not that there's a lot you can do about it on a motorcycle, but it can make you feel better if you don't find out what caused it otherwise. One indicator if that's happening is to wait a few minutes after it dies for engine heat to back up through the carb a bit and melt it out. Doesn't take long either. Then, when you restart the bike, if it runs perfectly, you may well have diagnosed the problem. Maybe Gerbings should build us a carb blanket...
Good luck.
Bill Dragoo
www.rideok.com
#24
03-15-2007, 05:29 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Calling all KLXers
Oh 26 degrees out this morning, and you know what the best thing is about riding your bike to work besides the fun factor and the fuel economy? Yea that's right, no waiting for thefrozenwindshield to thaw out.
Its going to be nice out today once it thaws.But the roads were bone dry.......Weird though, 55 yesterday, then mid 20's this morning and I bet it gets close to 60 today. Global warming,....I'm just saying.
Its going to be nice out today once it thaws.But the roads were bone dry.......Weird though, 55 yesterday, then mid 20's this morning and I bet it gets close to 60 today. Global warming,....I'm just saying.
#25
03-15-2007, 05:35 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Calling all KLXers
Oh I just remembered something, back in the day I had a 73 Datsun pickup that would do the same thing, but it would just die on the way to work, I would pull over and wait a minute or two and then it would be fine, I finally figured out what it was, the heat tube from the manifold had worked loose causing the carb to ice up. I also had about 5 years ago a 1967 Dodge W200 4X4 Power Wagon that would do the same thing, I could actually watch the carb freeze until the engine got hot enough to maintain a high enough temperature to run. So I know about icing, and will be watching for that on the bike. Oh and hereis a picture of the truck,....I should have never sold her........
#28
03-15-2007, 07:06 PM
RE: Calling all KLXers
I had the bike nearly die on me, rolling along at 55-60 pouring down rain and 40 degrees. I had been rolling steadily for ~8 miles and I let off the throttle coming up to a downhill corner and when I opened it back up the bike began to sputter and die. Holding the clutch in it would somewhat idle but it dropped off fast. I coasted in the bike lane, no throttle, just decelerating, clutched it and revved it a few times. The sputtering cleared up and I made it the 5 miles home with no further incident. Sustained rpm's in those conditions would lead me to believe it was carb icing in my case. Dieing out at stopsigns I don't think it would be an ice problem, however when it was in the 20's and light snow I was just messing around in the yard and it ran great but if I sat still idling for a short time it would idle down and then just quit.
#29
03-15-2007, 07:17 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Calling all KLXers
ORIGINAL: scat
Deej, Tony and myself have had the same problem.
Carb icing [:'(]
Deej, Tony and myself have had the same problem.
Carb icing [:'(]
#30
03-16-2007, 01:37 AM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Calling all KLXers
Well it just goes to show you that you shouldn't dismiss anything before you're sure, I am really thinking it is carb icing now. Got on the bike and rode down town to the post office and pulled in and the bike died. I checked the mail, looked at the new field and stream, walked back out and the bike started up and idled as if nothing was wrong. Rode home and it did the same thing, waited for a minute or two and started it up, and back to normal. So for all you guys that called icing, thanks, that includes you too CarlB, thanks for the PM. Well I need to go find a fork and dig into a nice slice of humble pie.