Engine cutting out. Now home, updates to symtoms

[Kiwi_Roy]

Seems to reason fuel component related then, fuel filter or something that gets moved around and then gets sucked back into place and causes fuel starvation. A loose connection somewhere but to go a whole tank regular running and then when new gas is added? Filter.

That's how my EV went, stop the bike, some of the crud falls down, start and runs ok for a while after a while builds up again. With the fuel injection eventually every scrap of rust ends up in the filter.

The Jackal/EV tanks are especially bad for rusting since rain/wash water runs into the tank rather than out the filler drain.
Radguzzi, when you get a chance pull the return line off and check for flow. Just remove the screw at rear of tank and slide it back a bit to remove the return line then watch the flow into a bottle while it primes.
As others have pointed out if the main filter, petcock filter are plugged or petcock is not opening the pump becomes extra noisy.

On mine it was the main filter plugged up solid, I just flushed it backwards and it's still going strong (no need to replace the filter)

[elvisboy77]

And most of all- hang in there!  You will figure it out!

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Life sure was simpler in the days of points condenser ignition and carburators.

[Madtownguzzi]

I am not sure which ECU you have but on my 98 V11 EV I was having a similar problem like yours that only happening on rough roads or going over a bump. It turned out to be the the wiring harness plug on the P8 ECU was loose so I took wire ties strung around the ECU to hold the plug in on the ECU. It has been running fine ever since. Remove the plug and reinstall to see if that helps. Also could be a bad realy. Move them around to see if that helps. Good luck

[Zoom Zoom]

The '01,s have the small ECU under the side cover. Also, the crank sensor is in the timing chest. (FWIW)

Like others, I too lean toward the TPS. Another thought is the air bleed(s) may have backed out allowing causing a too lean condition. This is easy and free to check.

John Henry 

[radguzzi]

All right,
Thanks all, I will go through and check the fuel lines as mentioned...  RonKom, I may be giving you a call.

Attempted remedies:

I first tried the Seafoam, easy to do.  When I pulled up to the freeway she gave up one minor cough for old times sake and then ran great for about nine miles, ran well for a few more miles and then more minor couches.

I made a premature fuel stop to gather my thoughts, check mail and messages here, had a bite to eat.  Before leaving the station I pulled the relays and reseated them. 
Rode way and not a hiccup for forty nine miles, then again at sixty miles.  Other than those two, she ran well. 
One more fuel stop and it all went to crap again, nearly immediately. 

So, yes, I will get away from the Marriott parking lot to pull fuel lines off... 

It is foggy here so I am going to just wait for that to lift or burn off and go have a try at how she may be acting this morning.

Thank you all very much for the assist, back later with more details.

Best,
Rob

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sorry for the late post....  I have been out running the rain.

So the thing straightened out for a tank full and now it is back to the same tuff...

More later, I just got in to Waterville, no Marriott rooms in Roanoke.

Thank you all.  Back when I can type on the iPad...

If it straightened out for a full tank.. it's not the TPS. Once it starts acting up, it keeps acting up.
C'mon Rad.. this isn't rocket science.
Pull the petcock, clean the screen, drain the rust out of the tank. Hope the fuel filter isn't plugged.

[radguzzi]

Yeah, I get that Chuck,  I am not sure that I have two 17mm wrenches with me so I will need to wait until Napa is open to buy anther one to pull the fuel tap off.  Even then I will need to run the tank down so I don't create a hazmat situation in the parking lot...     right...?  The tank will be completely open with the tap out... Correct...?

Is this screen the usual straw type arrangement as on many fuel taps...?  and yes, hope it is not the filter.

More later.

It is foggy here so I may sneak the thing outta sight to pull the tap off and hope that I do not have a Valdez incident.

[twhitaker]

If the tank is less than half full you can remove the tank from the bike and set it on its side in the grass to remove the fuel tap. No Valdez.

[radguzzi]

If the tank is less than half full you can remove the tank from the bike and set it on its side in the grass to remove the fuel tap. No Valdez.

Yup, as soon as I get on the road I will check the mileage and do just that.  A stop at Napa or some other parts store first to pick up the proper tools.

Thanks,
rd

[Bill Hagan]

Where are you now (as in when you next stop for maddening maintenance)?

Bill

[radguzzi]

Where are you now (as in when you next stop for maddening maintenance)?

Bill

Luckily Sue, said spouse back home called to let me know that there were no rooms at any Marriott hotels in Roanoke so we put together the stay at Wytheville, just South of there for the night.

I need to go find some additional tools to ensure that I can pull the FI lines off the tank to enable removal and pull the fuel tap.  Can't wait. 
I hate doing that at home let alone on the road but hey, makes for good stories... 

Back soon.

Best,
rd

[radguzzi]

Does anyone happen to know whether I need a 19mm for the FI line at the head of the tank...?

Do I need two, one to hold, one to remove the union fitting....?  I cannot see the fitting until I pull the securing bolt at the rear of the tank and pull it back.  I would rather do this all in one evolution with tools at the ready.

Thanks,
Rob

[Kiwi_Roy]

Will check the nut size in about 20 minutes, mine comes off with a screwdriver to loosen the worm drive clamp.

Is the pump noisier than usual, like it's being strangled?

The filter is easy to back flush once you get it out of the frame.

You might find this useful, it's based on a 98 but if your fuses are behind the sidecover I'm guessing it is the same.
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=77937.0

[Groover]

I'd suggest a crescent wrench at this point. Not sure, I can't help you much here. Not familiar with that bike. Also, you may have some water in the tank maybe? Could there be a ball of water that gets in the way sometimes and not others? I guess removing the taps would clear that. Good luck.

[twhitaker]

Not enough room in there for a crescent wrench. One 19mm should do the trick. As mentioned above the worm drive clamp might be easier to remove. The coupling nut has right and left hand threads with the regulator threaded for the latter. Once the nut is loose grab hold of the reg. and spin the nut with your fingers.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Yes, it's 19mm, just checked mine, same size for the petcock and the front fitting of the fuel filter, sorry I couldn't get at the rear one.
The other hose at the front is just a spigot, a tank vent I think.

If either filter or the petcock is blocking flow the pump will make more noise than usual
If the main filter plugs the pressure goes from 45 to over 60 and it relieves back through the pump's internal relief, hence the strangle noise.

On mine the regulator is bolted to the chassis, just the downstream hose comes back.

[Ronkom]

Rob left here (Lynchburg, Va) a couple hours ago, no calls to come & pick him up yet (fingers crossed). We:
1.Checked the flow of the electronic petcock (a gush each time the key turned on)
2.The gush was an indicator of a clean inlet screen on the petcock but we pulled the petcock & checked the screen anyway (REAL gush). At least that made sure any water in the bottom of the tank was washed out.
3. Pulled all the fuses & relays, cleaned the plug surfaces.
4. Sidestand switch was disabled, but Rob unplugged it from the harness under the tank & removed it from the bike.....to be absolutely sure.
At this point Rob took the bike out for a test ride. I told him to "jiggle" the key & killswitch & see if he could cause the symptom as he was riding up the road. He was gone so long, I was gearing up to go up the road & look for him when he came back grinning.
He said it missed just a bit when he first started the bike, but then it ran fine.
I said the next thing I'd suggest if the problem persisted would be to replace the relays for the fuel pump & CPU. I have the set of stockers I pulled from my EV when I bought the bosch replacements that Pyro Dan sold. I gave Rob 2, so he'd have some back-ups (besides the sidestand switch relay which is unused when the switch is deactivated). He decided to go ahead & put them in, then he loaded up & headed out. The bike sounded fine going up the road. I'm awaiting a final report on how the rest of the ride to Maine went.
Ronkom   
 

[rocker59]

 

[canuguzzi]

 

[desmoface]

Man, it's amazing how awesome this group is...Well done, everyone, especially Ronkom.

Steve

[rodekyll]

Just a thought -- if the problem persists after all this work -- what happens if the gas cap is popped when the symptoms occur?  (could it be a tank suck issue with the vent?)

[Chuck in Indiana]

Attaboy, Ron..

[BillinPA]

I'm glad he contacted you Ron, I knew you would be helpful as always!

[Stormtruck2]

We may not have shyte for Guzzi dealers in the states, but we have a whole passel of service centers.  WG Service Centers.^TM  Way to go guys.

[radguzzi]

I made it to Chambersburg.p, PA.

Details after I get something to eat.

A huge thank you to Ron and everyone here as well.

Back in a few.

Best,
Rob

 

[guzzi4me]

Film at Eleven.....

[Kiwi_Roy]

I'm glad you are up and running.

Ron, Roncom
When the dust settles , please give us a report of what the problem turned out to be.
What were the symptoms and what conclusion you came to.

This was an interesting problem and one we may all learn from.

[Aaron D.]

Going 81/84?

Anyway, if you have trouble as you approach New England don't be afraid to let us/me know.

[radguzzi]

well the internet server blows at this motel so I am relegated to talking into my galaxy 3 to send this message, the iPad will not connect.

so as Ron said we did a bunch of diagnosis for the fuel system and checked  things out and on the test ride it seemed to run better, still with hiccups though.


I decided to make a run for it packed up and headed toward 81 again to go north.  as I was going down rockfish gap Turnpike I had the thought that we had not checked anything on the ECU, the plug or anything like that.

And then it dawned on me, there is a PC 3 connected to this motorcycle, I unplugged it plugged the stock ECU in and long story short rode to Chambersburg with nary a hitch.


There is aslight flat spot a couple of miles per hour either side of 70 but nothing like that rocking horse on a pogo stick doing hopscotch feel like it had earlier in the day.

I need to thank the Guzzi community for all the help, suggestions and support and of course Ron for opening his facility to help out a stranger in need.  The common bond beong motorcycles and Moto Guzzi in particular

This is why we pay it forward, at  some time everyone will need a helping hand.  Luap has done us a great service by maintaining this site for us however we owe each other a huge round of humble thanks, this is a great community and I am proud to be a part of ot.

I think it is time for me to send in my 2015 support to WildGuzzi.

Kindly over look any typos here, I am.doing this on a small device. 

Thanks again for the assistance.

Ron, you are the best.   Thank you

Rob