ap impact: with mexico's army in the war on drugs -nklr

[Chris Norloff]

I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some intermittent issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph on the autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was coming out of the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest of the day. A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out of fuel. Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle operation (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I removed the petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose to the petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike it running great. Ideas? many thanks, Chris

[John Biccum]

Check the vacuum hose to the petcock. It should be gasoline free. I bet you will see gas in there, a symptom of a leaking diaphragm in the petcock. At high fuel demands and low vacuum (faster highway speeds for example) the leaky diaphragm does not flow enough fuel to keep the carb bowl full. Replace the diaphragm with a sheet of fuel resistant rubber (e.g Buna-n or nitrile) and convert your petcock into a manual petcock. Krokko sells an inexpensive kit to do this. Even better: replace the petcock with a Pingel or similar. From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Norloff Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 19:20 To: List KLR; chris01@... Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Mexico - gas problem? I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some intermittent issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph on the autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was coming out of the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest of the day. A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out of fuel. Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle operation (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I removed the petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose to the petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike it running great. Ideas? many thanks, Chris [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:20:06 -0500 "Chris Norloff" writes:

> I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some > intermittent issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while > riding 100-110 Kph on the autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I > checked, the fuel was coming out of the petcock fine. I then tried > to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest of the day. > > A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out > of fuel. Each time it's been after high-speed running. But > full-throttle operation (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a > problem. > > I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I > removed the petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The > vacuum hose to the petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent > problem, the bike it running great. > > Ideas? > > many thanks, > Chris

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> Chris, My guess is something in the fuel. Maybe a tad bit of water or ???? I know fuel is normally pretty good in Mexico but that would be my first guess. Maybe drain the carb bowl and inspect the contents for water drops. Drain is on the bottom right side if you haven't done it before. Normally takes an allen wrench if I recall correctly. On the Great Divide Ride in 2004 four of us were heading to Montana. Three had fuel issues from one fill up. I was fine filling up at the same station but the "other" end from where the other guys filled up. Next tank of fuel everyone was back at full speed. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT . ____________________________________________________________ Protect your home before it is too late. Click here for homeowner insurance information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIoQIFlIeIjYY67ADyaQCloaise49hFQ8NplQT7DQ12TUMgRi25Pq/

[Norloff Chris]

Thanks Jeff, I'll check that. Another detail I forgot to mention before is that when the bike completely died I pulled the fuel line off the petcock and gas *spurted* out. I've seen the hose drain, but not under pressure. I did try both regular and reserve fuel petcock positions, in case some water got in the tank - no difference. Many thanks, Chris

On Mar 23, 2009, at 8:54 PM, Jeff Saline wrote: > On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:20:06 -0500 "Chris Norloff" > > writes: >> I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some >> intermittent issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while >> riding 100-110 Kph on the autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I >> checked, the fuel was coming out of the petcock fine. I then tried >> to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest of the day. >> >> A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out >> of fuel. Each time it's been after high-speed running. But >> full-throttle operation (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a >> problem. >> >> I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I >> removed the petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The >> vacuum hose to the petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent >> problem, the bike it running great. >> >> Ideas? >> >> many thanks, >> Chris > <><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><> > > Chris, > > My guess is something in the fuel. Maybe a tad bit of water > or ???? I > know fuel is normally pretty good in Mexico but that would be my first > guess. Maybe drain the carb bowl and inspect the contents for water > drops. Drain is on the bottom right side if you haven't done it > before. > Normally takes an allen wrench if I recall correctly. > > On the Great Divide Ride in 2004 four of us were heading to Montana. > Three had fuel issues from one fill up. I was fine filling up at the > same station but the "other" end from where the other guys filled up. > Next tank of fuel everyone was back at full speed. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline > ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal > Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org > The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota > 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT > > > . > ____________________________________________________________ > Protect your home before it is too late. Click here for homeowner > insurance information. > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIoQIFlIeIjYY67ADyaQCloaise49hFQ8NplQT7DQ12TUMgRi25Pq/ > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Norloff Chris]

Thanks John, I'll check that. To confirm the fuel was flowing I sucked on the vacuum line and didn't notice any gas, but fuel had spurted out of the fuel line when I pulled off the petcock, so I may not have noticed gas in the vacuum line. Many thanks, Chris On Mar 23, 2009, at 9:00 PM, "John Biccum" wrote:

> Check the vacuum hose to the petcock. > > > > It should be gasoline free. I bet you will see gas in there, a > symptom of > a leaking diaphragm in the petcock. At high fuel demands and low > vacuum > (faster highway speeds for example) the leaky diaphragm does not > flow enough > fuel to keep the carb bowl full. > > > > Replace the diaphragm with a sheet of fuel resistant rubber (e.g > Buna-n or > nitrile) and convert your petcock into a manual petcock. Krokko > sells an > inexpensive kit to do this. Even better: replace the petcock with > a Pingel > or similar. > > > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] > On > Behalf Of Chris Norloff > Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 19:20 > To: List KLR; chris01@... > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Mexico - gas problem? > > > > I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some > intermittent > issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph > on the > autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was > coming out > of the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine > for the > rest of the day. > > A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out > of fuel. > Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle > operation > (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. > > I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I > removed the > petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose > to the > petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike it > running great. > > Ideas? > > many thanks, > Chris > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[Bogdan Swider]

On 3/23/09 8:20 PM, "Chris Norloff" wrote:

> > > > I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some intermittent > issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph on the > autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was coming out of > the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest > of the day. > > A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out of fuel. > Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle operation > (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. > > I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I removed the > petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose to the > petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike it running > great. > > Ideas? > > many thanks, > Chris > > >

I experienced the same problem years ago, Chris; it drove me crazy, some would say crazier. This is what I recommend you do: The next time these symptoms reappear do two things while ridding. Pop the gas cap ( you ll have the key in it ) If that helps you have a venting problem. (No, not your wife bending your ear) My guess is that it won t help. Next engage your choke/enricher. I ll bet the bike will then run much better, pointing to fuel starvation in this particular situation, not others. Have you done the carb vent mod? When I got around to doing that my ride stopped sputtering at high speed. Can t prove it but I think that heat from the sun warming the pavement (never happened on dirt or on cloudy days) somehow kept the original, not vented, carb hose, that lives near the ground, from breathing. Anyway these are easy, simple attempts that can do no harm. Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Norloff Chris wrote:

> > Thanks Jeff, I'll check that. > > Another detail I forgot to mention before is that when the bike > completely died I pulled the fuel line off the petcock and gas > *spurted* out. I've seen the hose drain, but not under pressure. > > I did try both regular and reserve fuel petcock positions, in case > some water got in the tank - no difference. > > Many thanks, > Chris

Chris, If there was water in the tank, going to reserve would make it worse. Did you drain the fuel bowl, like Santa Clause? Checking it twice? Last Sept I bought gas in a prairie gas station that sells a lot of fuel, and the bike died deader than Ted Danson's hair follicle after starting. It was the final 150 miles of a 6250 mile trip--with nary a fuel hiccup the entire trip. Had to drain the fuel bowl twice and then, off we went. If you get the chance, shine a flashlight into the tank (after dark); residual/trapped water (collecting in the front tank wings) will appear to be a 'bubble' when viewed above. It will best be seen by you peripheral vision as you move the light back and forth slowly. Water being heavier than fuel will most likely collect in those tank wings, but may dislodge under motion/power and slide backwards toward the petcocks, especially if going up hill. It is also why (some)tank wings leak--the water gathers there and rusts a hole in the tank. revmaaatin.

[fmhilton]

Chris, I would not overlook the poor gas... You could have water in the gas... Open the drain on the bottom of the carb after you connect a drain hose. Let it drain into a clear container so you can assess the liquid. If you find water you might consider a complete drain of the tank to remove any other water. Mike H.

----- Original Message ----- From: Bogdan Swider To: chris02@... ; List KLR ; chris01@... Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:07 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Mexico - gas problem? On 3/23/09 8:20 PM, "Chris Norloff" wrote: > > > > I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some intermittent > issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph on the > autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was coming out of > the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest > of the day. > > A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out of fuel. > Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle operation > (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. > > I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I removed the > petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose to the > petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike it running > great. > > Ideas? > > many thanks, > Chris > > > I experienced the same problem years ago, Chris; it drove me crazy, some would say crazier. This is what I recommend you do: The next time these symptoms reappear do two things while ridding. Pop the gas cap ( you ll have the key in it ) If that helps you have a venting problem. (No, not your wife bending your ear) My guess is that it won t help. Next engage your choke/enricher. I ll bet the bike will then run much better, pointing to fuel starvation in this particular situation, not others. Have you done the carb vent mod? When I got around to doing that my ride stopped sputtering at high speed. Can t prove it but I think that heat from the sun warming the pavement (never happened on dirt or on cloudy days) somehow kept the original, not vented, carb hose, that lives near the ground, from breathing. Anyway these are easy, simple attempts that can do no harm. Bogdan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norloff Chris]

Thanks Bogdan. Today it ran fine for 2 hr. at 100-120 Kph, then died, but restarted once I pulled over. I'll put my spare key in the gas cap so I can check it while rolling if it happens again. Yes, I've done the carb vent mod, but I wonder if it's still okay. When it died today it was at the hottest part of the ride. Thank you Chris On Mar 24, 2009, at 9:07 AM, Bogdan Swider wrote:

> > > > On 3/23/09 8:20 PM, "Chris Norloff" wrote: > > > > > I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some > intermittent issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while > riding 100-110 Kph on the autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I > checked, the fuel was coming out of the petcock fine. I then tried > to start the bike, and it was fine for the rest of the day. > > A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out > of fuel. Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full- > throttle operation (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. > > I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I > removed the petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The > vacuum hose to the petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent > problem, the bike it running great. > > Ideas? > > many thanks, > Chris > > > > I experienced the same problem years ago, Chris; it drove me crazy, > some would say crazier. This is what I recommend you do: The next > time these symptoms reappear do two things while ridding. Pop the > gas cap ( you ll have the key in it ) If that helps you have a venti > ng problem. (No, not your wife bending your ear) My guess is that it > won t help. Next engage your choke/enricher. I ll bet the bike > will then run much better, pointing to fuel starvation in this parti > cular situation, not others. Have you done the carb vent mod? When I > got around to doing that my ride stopped sputtering at high speed. > Can t prove it but I think that heat from the sun warming the paveme > nt (never happened on dirt or on cloudy days) somehow kept the origi > nal, not vented, carb hose, that lives near the ground, from breathi > ng. Anyway these are easy, simple attempts that can do no harm. > > Bogdan

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Norloff Chris]

I haven't drained the tank or the carb because I figure if I can ride 50 Km on reserve with no problem, then I've confirmed there's no water in the fuel ... or is there something I'm not thinking of? Thx Chris

On Mar 24, 2009, at 7:03 PM, "fmhilton" wrote: > Chris, I would not overlook the poor gas... You could have water in > the gas... Open the drain on the bottom of the carb after you > connect a drain hose. Let it drain into a clear container so you > can assess the liquid. If you find water you might consider a > complete drain of the tank to remove any other water. > > Mike H. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bogdan Swider > To: chris02@... ; List KLR ; chris01@... > Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:07 AM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Mexico - gas problem? > > > > > On 3/23/09 8:20 PM, "Chris Norloff" wrote: > >> >> >> >> I'm in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, now and am having some >> intermittent >> issues with the KLR. The bike cut out once while riding 100-110 Kph >> on the >> autopista -- it felt like fuel, but when I checked, the fuel was >> coming out of >> the petcock fine. I then tried to start the bike, and it was fine >> for the rest >> of the day. >> >> A couple times since, the bike has run rough like it's running out >> of fuel. >> Each time it's been after high-speed running. But full-throttle >> operation >> (climbing mountains at 8500 ft.) isn't a problem. >> >> I've tried both reserve and regular fuel petcock positions. I >> removed the >> petcock and confirmed the filter screens are clean. The vacuum hose >> to the >> petcock looks fine. Other than this intermittent problem, the bike >> it running >> great. >> >> Ideas? >> >> many thanks, >> Chris >> >> >> > I experienced the same problem years ago, Chris; it drove me crazy, > some > would say crazier. This is what I recommend you do: The next time > these > symptoms reappear do two things while ridding. Pop the gas cap ( yo > u ll > have the key in it ) If that helps you have a venting problem. (No, > not your > wife bending your ear) My guess is that it won t help. Next engage > your > choke/enricher. I ll bet the bike will then run much better, pointi > ng to > fuel starvation in this particular situation, not others. Have you > done the > carb vent mod? When I got around to doing that my ride stopped > sputtering at > high speed. Can t prove it but I think that heat from the sun warmi > ng the > pavement (never happened on dirt or on cloudy days) somehow kept the > original, not vented, carb hose, that lives near the ground, from > breathing. > Anyway these are easy, simple attempts that can do no harm. > > Bogdan > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >