Feels like I’m running out of gas.

[Jims99]

Went on a ride Sunday, in between the rain, bike rain great. Left the restaurant and about 2 miles in felt like I needed reserve. I was about 20 miles from normal reserve time. No change, got to station and filled up. Took about 1/2 mile and it cleared up. About 2 more miles and did it again. Just headed home and parked it. I pulled a few plugs and they looked fine. Going to change them all later today and see if that helps. As I thought about it, do you think maybe water in gas? I never did hit any rain, and I ride at least once a week. First 20 miles was fine. Could the petcock not be opening all the way? Vacuum lines are still flexible, going to try and shoot with starting fluid to see if any vacuum leaks.
Any other things to check? Bike only has 55000 miles and I have taken good care of her. Only have 4 days till leesburg bike feast. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. Jim

[hubcapsc]

Can be a sign of a petcock problem.

Could be a vent problem... the hose at the tail end of
the tank is the vent hose... maybe you could pull over
when the problem arises and open the tank, see if it
sounds like you're releasing a vacuum...

-Mike

[Hooter]

Or, if you suspect possible water, dump about a half can of Sea Foam at it and see if the problem goes away. You don't have to ride in the rain to have water in the gas. Non ethenol gas (if that's what you are using ) can do that on its own.

[Jims99]

Thanks Mike , I did try that, no vacuum sound. I did have petcock vacuum shutoff fail one time about 8 months ago, never happened again. It is the stock valve and I do manually shut it off most of the time I park for more then a day, but not when I’m going place to place. Haven’t had any problems with it since. I have thought about a rebuild just to be safe.

[Chrisj CMA]

Sounds exactly like what mine did when the fuel valve started going bad.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks Mike , I did try that, no vacuum sound. I did have petcock vacuum shutoff fail one time about 8 months ago, never happened again. It is the stock valve and I do manually shut it off most of the time I park for more then a day, but not when I’m going place to place. Haven’t had any problems with it since. I have thought about a rebuild just to be safe.

I think a petcock rebuild is in order. I would also check that your tank vent line has the "T" in it. If it doesn't, water from the road can get sucked in and block the vent.

[Jims99]

I do run Seafoam once in a while just for that reason, but it may have been a while since last time. I’ll throw some in before heading to work and see if that helps.
All these responses so fast, want to skip work and try them.
Thanks. I’ll repost anything I find this evening.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Sounds exactly like what mine did when the fuel valve started going bad.

Ditto.

Two times.

Once was just a tiny leak - was able to get home, albeit on back roads. The second time saw the diaphragm fail in such a manner that I lost all fuel flow.

There's another petcock on my dining room table at the moment. When the bike in question comes out of winter storage and I run enough of the tank through, I'm going to modify the spare petcock to eliminate the vacuum plumbing and swap the existing one with it.

[Tfrank59]

Question: had your bike been sitting a while before that ride?  sounds like could be bad gas to me, or a clogged fuel system.  try gassing up where you know the fuel is good (ethanol free?) and put some seafoam in there.  Go for a long ride (though not too far from home in case she dies on you ;-) and see if the problem abates.

[recman25]

   I don't want to hijack Jims99 question, but I just replaced my air filter. I now realize that the vent hose that was mentioned here is missing on mine. I have the 1" or so nipple on the tank but no hose. Where does it go, is it connected to anything etc? Not looking forward to taking that tank off again.

[old2soon]

If someone will ride behind you and they smell raw gasoline rebuild petcock time. Just ask Tailgate Tommy. RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

Jims99, please read the topic that I posted that addresses this problem:

Topic: Modifying the OEM fuel petcock to remove vacuum function  (Read 31690 times)

Wow, I just saw that my thread has been read 31,000 times!  If I had a nickel for each read, I could get the paint job I've always wanted!

[John Schmidt]

Jims99, please read the topic that I posted that addresses this problem:

Topic: Modifying the OEM fuel petcock to remove vacuum function  (Read 31690 times)

Wow, I just saw that my thread has been read 31,000 times!  If I had a nickel for each read, I could get the paint job I've always wanted!

Hey bud, please tell me you didn't say that.....at least not that color.   Forgot to add....we used to call that a taco wagon! 

Re. the petcock conversion, I don't recall the size needed but to convert one of mine some time ago I did what Grumpy does. He removes all the guts, then installs two different size o-rings(Viton), seals off the vacuum and weep holes and you now have a solid manual petcock that still uses the OEM control knob.

[Jess from VA]

  I don't want to hijack Jims99 question, but I just replaced my air filter. I now realize that the vent hose that was mentioned here is missing on mine. I have the 1" or so nipple on the tank but no hose. Where does it go, is it connected to anything etc? Not looking forward to taking that tank off again.

I believe you can slip a vent line on the nipple near the rear of the tank just by lifting it in back a couple inches without pulling it all the way off.  It just goes down.

[recman25]

I believe you can slip a vent line on the nipple near the rear of the tank just by lifting it in back a couple inches without pulling it all the way off.  It just goes down.
[/quote]

 Thank you!! I was hoping thats all I had to do!

[Jess from VA]

My recollection is a little sketchy here, that vent line may be the one with the T fitting farther down (the other side of the T being empty), so that water can't be sucked up the line.

I don't know if the available Valk parts schematics pictures show this in enough detail, but you obviously want to reproduce this properly.

On the right, #s 31-32 (I think)

https://shop.procaliber.com/oempartfinder.htm?aribrand=HOM&arian=MOTORCYCLE#/Honda/GL1500CFA_(99)_VALKYRIE_INTERSTATE,_USA,_VIN%23_1HFSC410-XA000001/FUEL_TANK/GL1500CF-99-A/14MBYXE1AMBY4F1700AE

You can probably do this cheaper than OE parts (if you get the hose diameter right; 4.5mm?), but they are not that steep.

I think this vent line ends up being tied to (or close to) three total lines under the bike, including the wider plugged dragon drool tube (which is supposed to be plugged).

[recman25]

  Thats great, thanks, and thanks for the illustration.

[Lyle Laun]

Sounds like a kinked/plugged vent line

Lyle

[RonW]

his vent line isn't even thar.

[recman25]

 I was afraid this would happen. My question about the vent line was separate from original poster.

[The emperor has no clothes]

his vent line isn't even thar.

There are 2 posters with problems. Recman doesn't have the vent line. Jims99 does, or at least he didn't state it was missing.

[RonW]

Okay, glad we got that straightened out then.

[Jess from VA]

Thats great, thanks, and thanks for the illustration.

Welcome.

One other nice pointer to help.  When not pulling the tank off (and having to unhook the petcock and gas line and vent, and tank sending unit on interstates), but only stretching all that stuff out to get under it in back, a short 2 X 4 on it's edge is about as far as the tank wants to come up still tied in to all that, and it's the perfect spacer to use when trying to work underneath (with both hands) by just raising the rear of the tank.  Do pull the seat (it's just a key turn). 

The other item that comes in very handy working on bikes is one of those headband LED lights, even in daylight.  It's so much better than drooling with a mini mag lite in your mouth.   

[Jims99]

Jims99, please read the topic that I posted that addresses this problem:

Topic: Modifying the OEM fuel petcock to remove vacuum function  (Read 31690 times)

Wow, I just saw that my thread has been read 31,000 times!  If I had a nickel for each read, I could get the paint job I've always wanted!

Thanks. I’m going to try this tomorrow if I can’t find a rebuild kit at local dealer. Really appreciate all everyone’s help.

[Jims99]

Update: tried new plugs and seemed to work, but then I sprayed starting fluid around vacuum lines and found the rpm’s went up around petcock. Couldn’t find any leaks on line, so hopefully getting a rebuild kit tomorrow. All symptoms seem to point to valve. Thanks

[hubcapsc]

Update: tried new plugs and seemed to work, but then I sprayed starting fluid around vacuum lines and found the rpm’s went up around petcock. Couldn’t find any leaks on line, so hopefully getting a rebuild kit tomorrow. All symptoms seem to point to valve. Thanks

You can use the search feature here to find people talking about
rebuilding petcocks, things to look out for, helpful tips and pictures
(unless they were on photobucket  ) ... are you getting the OEM
rebuild kit (16953-MBZ-B51) ?

I like this article in shoptalk, especially the easy test you can
do before reassembly to see if the vacuum function of the
petcock seems to be working after you install the rebuild kit...

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/petcock.htm

-Mike

[Jims99]

Update: tried new plugs and seemed to work, but then I sprayed starting fluid around vacuum lines and found the rpm’s went up around petcock. Couldn’t find any leaks on line, so hopefully getting a rebuild kit tomorrow. All symptoms seem to point to valve. Thanks

You can use the search feature here to find people talking about
rebuilding petcocks, things to look out for, helpful tips and pictures
(unless they were on photobucket  ) ... are you getting the OEM
rebuild kit (16953-MBZ-B51) ?
Thanks hubcapsc
I like this article in shoptalk, especially the easy test you can
do before reassembly to see if the vacuum function of the
petcock seems to be working after you install the rebuild kit...

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/petcock.htm

-Mike