Iron Butt Ride went O.K. and Then....

[Six Guns]

I left this past Thursday morning at 4AM and made it to Ocala FL. at 10:53PM EST. The Interstate ran like a champ the whole way. No problems at all. The next day I rode to Orlando and it started to rain on the way down. It started to rain hard and then the bike started to act like it was running out of gas. I pulled over to the shoulder and it quit on me. I had plenty of gas and 2 weeks prior at the wrench party at Valkpilot's house we had installed a pingle. I took my key for the gas cap and opened it up and let some air in the tank and closed it and it started right up. I made it to Orlando just fine but it was raining to beat the band. On the way back to Ocala I left the gas key in the gas cap and it was a good thing that I did because it started to happen again. I had to open the gas cap at least 3 times so that it would not shut down on me. The question I have is, how could I do an Iron Butt without any problems and now this starts to happen. It was dry weather all the way down here and I didn't have any problems. It starts to rain and my bike wants to shut down on me. I know it has something to do with the vent tube but what could have happened? I'm starting my way back to DFW today with the gas cap key in the gas cap so that it doesn't shut down on me. Could the vent tube have gotten kinked when we put the gas tank back on but the problem not shown up until it started raining? Could the tube be too long and water is what's causing me my problem? Just need some suggestions. Thanks for any help you can provide. 

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

If the" T" in the vent tube was removed or plugged up it could have pulled water in the bottom and created a vaccum. I removed my T and put a shorter hose on the vent, it just goes below the top of the engine to let overflow (only happen once after filling to the max and parking in the texas sun) run down the back of the block and I've never had a problem in the rain.

[Valkpilot]

I left this past Thursday morning at 4AM and made it to Ocala FL. at 10:53PM EST. The Interstate ran like a champ the whole way. No problems at all. The next day I rode to Orlando and it started to rain on the way down. It started to rain hard and then the bike started to act like it was running out of gas. I pulled over to the shoulder and it quit on me. I had plenty of gas and 2 weeks prior at the wrench party at Valkpilot's house we had installed a pingle. I took my key for the gas cap and opened it up and let some air in the tank and closed it and it started right up. I made it to Orlando just fine but it was raining to beat the band. On the way back to Ocala I left the gas key in the gas cap and it was a good thing that I did because it started to happen again. I had to open the gas cap at least 3 times so that it would not shut down on me. The question I have is, how could I do an Iron Butt without any problems and now this starts to happen. It was dry weather all the way down here and I didn't have any problems. It starts to rain and my bike wants to shut down on me. I know it has something to do with the vent tube but what could have happened? I'm starting my way back to DFW today with the gas cap key in the gas cap so that it doesn't shut down on me. Could the vent tube have gotten kinked when we put the gas tank back on but the problem not shown up until it started raining? Could the tube be too long and water is what's causing me my problem? Just need some suggestions. Thanks for any help you can provide.  

First of all, congrats on the IBA success!  Sounds like you really cooked the miles away.

Now to the troubles:

Your vent tube was missing when we took the tank off at the wrench party.  Disco and I made one, but didn't have a 'T' to install as a vacuum break.  We figured avoiding an overflow situation onto the engine was more important than having a 'T'.  

As suggested, the end of the tube is probably getting water in it and not allowing the tank to vent.  You can either cut the tube shorter as Mr Bubbles did (just avoid cutting it so short it dumps gas on the hot engine or alternator in case of an overflow) or keep burping it with the key until you can get a  'T' installed.

Sorry that you had the problem, but I think it's explainable and you can relax about there being something seriously wrong.

[godfire]

The previous owner of my Valk removed the "T" because he couldn't decide where it should go????

Anytime it rained hard or if road dirt got into the end-tube I had problems. I thought mud-daubers were out to get me.

A little research.... a "T" and life is good.... I was suppose to be at that wrench party.... Sorry Victor, If I was there I would have insisted on a "T" . I'm sure that will fix your problems.

Ride Safe!

[Disco]

Congratulations on the SS1000, Victor!   

Sorry you had troubles... 

[Hoghead]

Way to go Victor. I went to FL to pick my bike up. I was just shy of the 1000. 998. 

[Doc809]

Welcome to the IBA! I wear my patch proudly. L

[Rocketman]

Way to go Victor. I went to FL to pick my bike up. I was just shy of the 1000. 998. 

That's funny.  I picked mine up in Florida too.  Same problem, though.  I was going to be ~20 miles short.  So, one lap around Houston, and I was good.
Not sure what the "official certification" people would say about that, but I never felt the need for the piece of paper, so I never found out.  I know I've done two or three of them, and I don't care if people take my word for it or not.

[5_19]

Way to go Victor . I think VP is right on target with the T.

[Six Guns]

Thanks for all the responses. I left Ocala on Saturday and got back home on Sunday. No Iron Butt ride on the way home. Too much rain to deal with. Got rained on in every state on the way home. It's good to know that my problem is easily fixable.