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garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis
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« on: November 16, 2012, 08:47:42 AM » |
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Yesterday I went out on the new to me 99 Interstate, 37,000 miles. After about 20 miles, it started to feel like I was running out of gas (I had plenty of gas). Flipped the fuel selector from on to reserve several times, seemed to run fine. Several miles later it started dropping cyclinders like when you run out of gas, then quit running. Opened the gas tank, pried the rubber gasket a little on the lid, sat there for a minute, it started and ran fine for several miles. Then it ran out again two more times. I would switch from on to reserve several times, open the gas tank, and thought I would try drive it home. It ran fine for 20-25 miles till I got home. If it's the petcock, why would it run fine the 20-25 miles to get it home. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, Gary
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John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15248
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
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« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2012, 09:07:38 AM » |
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Gary, sounds almost like the vent tube is pinched. Have you had the tank off recently? That would be the first thing I'd check.
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16788
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2012, 09:12:04 AM » |
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On the one hand, maybe what you're describing is caused by the tank vent hose
(comes out of the back of the tank, sort of goes down under the seat) being kinked
or blocked somehow. When you open the gas cap, it starts venting through there...
On the other hand, when Stanley Steamer's petcock failed, he had to tow it home,
so if you don't find a vent hose blockage, maybe it is time for a petcock rebuild...
These are just guesses on my part... others might give better info...
-Mike
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Thunderbolt
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« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2012, 02:55:25 PM » |
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I'm with John on this one. Sounds like a kinked vent hose. I exits the rear of the tank and has a tee in it part way down to the kick stand. Check the tee and the bottom for dirt dauber nests or bugs if there are no kinks.
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ryord
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« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2012, 03:03:06 PM » |
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I had the same problem, It was a pinhole in the diaphragm of the OEM petcock.
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valkyriemc
Member
Posts: 392
2000 blu/slvr Interstate, 2018 Ultra Limited
NE Florida
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« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2012, 04:16:18 PM » |
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Search--> petcock - plenty of reading. Subject comes up frequently. Petcock posts runs into the high hundreds if you count the old tech archieve.
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Veteran USN '70-'76
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garyheskett All 49 x 3 st.louis
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« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2012, 04:34:55 PM » |
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No John, the tank hasn't been off (at least since I've had it). But I can see it coming off in the very near future. Might as well reverse the spring in the petcock so I won't have a petcock problem anymore and check the vent hose. I rode it today, and it ran fine. I'll try run the tank near empty and then take it off. Thanks for the suggestions..
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Chiefy
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« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2012, 05:55:23 AM » |
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Might try leaving a spare key in the gas tank lid and go for a ride. If the problem starts, pop open the lid. If it clears up, your vent is almost certainly the problem.
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 1998 Valk Standard 52,500 miles |
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Rocketman
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« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2012, 07:58:47 PM » |
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Might try leaving a spare key in the gas tank lid and go for a ride. If the problem starts, pop open the lid. If it clears up, your vent is almost certainly the problem.
Concur. That would narrow it down between tank venting and petcock problems. Mark |
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