the 1200 tried to kill me

[lilfroger]

This week I've been riding the hubbies 1200.  His just didn't have a whole lot of miles and mile was coming up fast for another oil change...so I figured I'd run his up for a bit

Well the dumb thing sputtered and stalled on me the first day when I first started it.  Though 'it's been sitting for a while and just doesn't want to get going' it had been over a month since it had been fired up.  Filled the tank later that day and it was running fine.

I noticed when I filled it that the filler on the tank was peeling.  Mentioned it to the hubby that night.  I think the paint is down in the fuel system.





But the bike ran fine for two days. 

Today I got it back down around a gallon in the tank and it started to sputter again.  I was taking a left turn and the dang thing sputtered right as I was trying to roll it on  Freaking D-Max behind me...T-100 next to me...Explorer coming on.    I was not happy. 

But it rolled on and I made it through the fun ride.  It is going to the shop on Tuesday & I am going back to my 883.

[QUACKSTACKER]

that would be quite the "pucker factor" if i do say so myself!  glad it turned out ok!

[Cumminalong]

Jo,

I doubt that little bit of paint is doing anything at all. If it's been sitting as long as you said, the gas will dissolve that stuff pretty quick.

Check the tank vent on the cap.

If it's clogged up, it puts the tank in a vacuum state and has the effects that you are describing.

It'll run fine under light throttle, as it can still get a bit of air in the tank, but once you open it up it can't pull the pull the fuel.

It'll show up more if his bike is a carb model vs. a FI model.

Another kinda obvious thing is to check the air filter.

This is no BS......

I was out riding my Grizzly for almost a week strait, up in Tenessee. Ran great the whole time. Came home cleaned it up, put it away.

About 2 or 3 days later, I go out to take it for a quick ride and it would run, but didn't have any throttle response or power. WTF?? I check to make sure I had gas, the fuel shutoff was on, choke wasn't on, etc.

I shut it off, pulled the air box and, HOLY CRAP, a friggin mouse got inside the airbox, built a nest and damn near ate through my airfilter in the process. It was using my airfilter as it's nest.

I could just see myself trying to fish mouse parts outta my engine.

[Mitch]

Lol. That is priceless. When I got my bike, a friend of mine came over on his 1200 Nightster,  mainly to talk shit about me getting a Metric bike, then before he left he says "I bet your horn don't sound like this." No sound. Then no lights, turn signals, dash lights (if your wanna call em that.) I laughed my ass off. I trouble shot the thing for about 20 minutes, took that cover off the horn, and it turns out the engine shake rubbed the hot wire raw and grounded itself out to the engine. Go Harley. I like them, some day I would like to have one, but that is ridiculous. If you look at the engine mounts, they are designed to allow the engine to shake like it does. Sure it looks cool, but it seems pretty retarded to me.

[lilfroger]

It's EFI. 

Either way it is between the shop & the hubby now.   I'm going back to my 883   at lease he loves me and would never try to dump me

[lilfroger]

Well figured I'd give you guys an update on this one.

The bike got out of the doc's office today.  They pulled the tank...flushed and cleaned it.  Stripped the filler neck. 

Replaced fuel lines...replaced clamps...replaced filters.  Flushed the entire fuel system. 

The service guy took it out and rode it down to below where it started freaking out on me and said there was no more issues.

Lets hope that this is a one time thing and all fixed up and not some gremlin that will haunt him forever now.

[Cumminalong]

Come on now.......it's a bike......

The Gremlins are NEVER gone.

[lilfroger]

I actually sent the 7 year old out to hang his bell as soon as it got back.  Maybe if I'd hung his bell before it wouldn't have happened

[Cumminalong]

My wife would have gone.........."Maybe if it RING his bell, it will be a preemptive strike and he won't mess anything up."

[lilfroger]

As long as he is only breaking his bike I don't mind