Wilsons Sandbox

> Whenever I switch to reserve, the engine sputters, stutters, and > hesitates. You have to really, REALLY rev it to keep going and get to > a gas station. Then, after you fill up, it will be hard to start, > stutter, sputter, and still hesitate for a while (even after > returning the petcock to normal). > > Each time I've filled up, it's only taken 4.8 to 5.0 gallons. It is > very frustrating to be limited in this way, and the bikes behavior > caused my wife no end of frustration today on the way to work (i.e. > it made her late).

Sounds like the bottom portion of your tank is full of water or another contaminant that isn't mixing when you refil. Especially if it does eventually return to normal a while after you fill up and switched the petcock back. You can try draining a gallon or so while on reserve, or just wait until you hit reserve again and drain the tank. Or try the drygas. Also drain the carb bowl when you flush the tank. If that doesn't work, try pulling and cleaning the carb. (Just trying the easy fix first...) Krokko -- Dr. J. Christopher Krok John Lucas Adaptive Wind Tunnel Caltech MS 205-45, Pasadena, CA 91125

I have access to battery load testers, shelve/hand held and would wonder just how much power this little battery should output under load. But if I can milk this battery out the rest of this season I will replace in the spring with a sealed type battery, since this one has already barfed acid on my frame and right dogbone and bolt. Other than the acid barf I have no complants with the stock battery considering its the orginal battery on a 2001 bike that bascially just get pushed into a shed for the duration of the long Yooper winters. Knocking on wood here.. even my lawn tractor battery is still cranking the mower fine and that orginal battery is even older with the same winter storage. Bottom line folks make sure you keep the water level up on these batteries and they should last a few years no problem. Have since picked up a Battery tender which I am currently adding pigtails to all the small batteries so I can just plug in as I feel its needed and let it charge/do the plate maintence as needed. To me the AGM type is the way to go and will get a Yusma (sp?) brand sealed battery since it fits without mod to the bike. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Conall" wrote: > yep, it doesn't matter how long you ride the bike to recharge the > battery, if you don't have enough fluid in the battery it will not > hold a charge. I had the same experience just a couple of weeks ago. > I suspect the hot weather is the primary reason you'll need to add > distilled water to the battery, however if the battery always depletes > the water, the battery may be being overcharged for some reason ,for > example the battery maintenance charger or the bikes electrical > system. Battery tester will show good with no load on the battery