V11 Lemans question - barely running

[alanp]

I went on a nice ride on the V11 Lemans today and on the return trip, when I got about 3 blocks from home, I stopped to talk with one on the neighbors.  Shut the bike off for about 5 minutes.  Restarted fine, went about a block and the bike seemed like it had run out of gas; sputtered and died.  There was a little gas in the tank ( not much), so I tried to restart it.  Started fine and idled OK.  Gave it the gas and it sputtered.  I feathered the clutch and got about 1 more block with the bike runnung and cutting out on about a one second cycle - rev, cutout - rev, cut out - rev, cut out and finally it died.  A very strange cyclical pattern.  Pushed it the last block, fortunately only slightly uphill.   

Tried it again after it had cooled a bit.  She starts right up and idles fine, but sputters when I try to rev it.  Everything looks OK.  Anybody have any ideas on what this could be and how to diagnose? 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'd say vapor lock at first glance. Do you have fire sleeve over the fuel line? Next, I'd look at the fuel filter. Pump's running, ok, I take it?
It certainly *is* fuel delivery, for whatever reason.

[LowRyter]

open the gap cap.  Listen for a big hiss.  fill 'er up.  see if that fixes it.

Besides what Chuck said, you might have hit the starter button without thinking before the fuel pump had primed, adding to what was said.

[lucky phil]

Put some fuel in it. Ive run out at the same location now twice. Long down hill run to a give way sign followed by a short steep up hill over the top of which is a petrol station. So its splutter,splutter cough, and roll through the give way sign and hit the up hill section and she fires up again. Hit the top of the hill and on the down side and its off line again and I roll into the servo.
A V11 hides about 2 liters in one side of the tank due to the frame spine. They need a balance line from the rhs to the lhs of the rear tank.
Ciao 

[Kiwi_Roy]

The symptoms seem like a plugged filter but don't you have a plastic tank?
Check also that the electric petcock is opening & petcock filter not blocked, pull the line off downstream and run it into a container, should run out at a good rate when you turn the key On.
Checking the main filter is a bit more difficult unless you have a frame mounted regulator in which case pull the line off going to the tank and check flow there.
For the in tank regulator about all you can do is measure the pressure, should be 40 - 45 psi to the injectors.

This is a very handy document for understanding fuel injection systems.
http://www.dpguzzi.com/efiman.pdf

[kevdog3019]

Mine did this once. Fuel pump electronics. There's a plug to the right up under the tank. Make sure that's tightly fit together or the pump won't get juice. When it cools it sometimes gets enough juice but only a short time as it heats up again. I had mine towed before I found it. Let's hope it's that simple. Sure sounds familiar.
Kevin

[alanp]

Thanks for the ideas, good info.  I added gas and started it cold and it runs OK, so I am thinking either vapor lock or maybe Kevdogs fuel pump electrical glitch.  I will just have to ride it some more to find out.

On the vapor lick issue, I thought the symptom for that was not starting when hot?  Mine started and idled finewhen hot, but wouldn't run for crap. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thanks for the ideas, good info.  I added gas and started it cold and it runs OK, so I am thinking either vapor lock or maybe Kevdogs fuel pump electrical glitch.  I will just have to ride it some more to find out.

On the vapor lick issue, I thought the symptom for that was not starting when hot?  Mine started and idled finewhen hot, but wouldn't run for crap.

Vapor lock is not necessarily an either/or situation. I'm not saying that is the problem, but for whatever reason, you are getting just a little fuel. It could very well be what Phil says and you are out of fuel. That is consistent with your symptoms, too.

[oldbike54]

 Circa 1990 sold a T140 V to a young fells . A couple of weeks later he calls and says ,"there is something wrong with the Triumph" . After questioning him regarding the symptoms I advise to put in some gasoline . He insists it has fuel , to the point of becoming upset . Let's just say after traveling to his house and putting a gallon of gas in , the problem disappeared .

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

A couple of summers ago, a kid was standing beside his hondayamazuki.. they all look the same to me.. on the side of the road. I turned around and asked if he needed help. He said, "Yeah, I was just riding along, and it suddenly quit. When I crank it, it runs a little bit and quits."
I asked him if his reserve was on.
"Reserve?"
 

[rocker59]

Put some gas in it.  You may be out.  The low fuel lights can fail, so if not counting the miles, you may not have realized you're low on fuel.

If it continues once you've added fuel, look into vapor lock.  The one way ball valve in the vent will stick.

[JBBenson]

Make sure your tank vent is open and not clogged. If you open the gas cap and you hear hissing then the rubber hose venting the tank might be pinched or clogged.

Checking necessitates lifting/removing the gas tank.

[LowRyter]

Thanks for the ideas, good info.  I added gas and started it cold and it runs OK, so I am thinking either vapor lock or maybe Kevdogs fuel pump electrical glitch.  I will just have to ride it some more to find out.

On the vapor lick issue, I thought the symptom for that was not starting when hot?  Mine started and idled finewhen hot, but wouldn't run for crap.

Looks like she's fixed.

Did I mention about rattling some chicken bones and throwing some salt over your shoulder?  It never hurts.