Bike Stalls Shortly After Going on Reserve

[jblvalk]

Hey Everyone,

Have had an issue when I go on reserve, maybe about 5-7 miles later, I run out of gas.  Pull over, wait a few minutes, then the bike starts up just fine and I can get down the road to the nearest gas station.

My ride is a '98 Tourer - could it be debris in the tank?  Is there an easy way to address it if that is the issue?  Is there a solution out there that we can use to clean the inside of the tank?

Thanks in advance.

[Chrisj CMA]

At how many miles on a full tank are you going to reserve?

[f6john]

Could be a problem with the screen attached to the pet clock. That’s where I would go first.

[Daniel Meyer]

Bad petcock, plugged fuel screen, clogged or kinked tank vent line. Check them all. Not hard to do.

[jblvalk]

At how many miles on a full tank are you going to reserve?

Varies on how hard I ride, but typically I don't go on reserve until 135-140 miles.

[jblvalk]

Bad petcock, plugged fuel screen, clogged or kinked tank vent line. Check them all. Not hard to do.

If I remove the petcock to check those components, any suggestions on what to use when you reinstall it so that it won't seep or leak?

[Kokomo Kevin]

At 135 miles you should have at least 1 gallon reserve. I would fill bike up and switch it to reserve to see if it happens on a full tank. To be honest I run on reserve like this every once in a while just to clear anything out of screen. You just have to remember to put it back on main before you run out the tank.

[John Schmidt]

Bad petcock, plugged fuel screen, clogged or kinked tank vent line. Check them all. Not hard to do.

If I remove the petcock to check those components, any suggestions on what to use when you reinstall it so that it won't seep or leak?

A new o-ring where the petcock screws into the bottom of the tank.

[Gryphon Rider]

This post of mine from 2012 might provide some insight:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,37577.0.html

[Kokomo Kevin]

Great write up, I have a new cover set ready if I ever have a failure, they are available on many sites plus ebay

[jblvalk]

x2.  Great write up!  Will keep that handy.

In the meantime, I think I found the culprit.  The vent hose that goes directly from the tank was kinked, and I imagine it has been that way since the last time I replaced the air filter.

I just cut away the kinked portion and re-attached to the tank and carefully seated the tank back down to make sure there were no kinks.  Am hoping this was the issue - have yet to test drive it yet but will be keeping a close eye.

Thank you all for the input!

ps I would have sent pics but I found it impossible to easily include pictures in a post.    ??

[The emperor has no clothes]

x2.  Great write up!  Will keep that handy.

In the meantime, I think I found the culprit.  The vent hose that goes directly from the tank was kinked, and I imagine it has been that way since the last time I replaced the air filter.

I just cut away the kinked portion and re-attached to the tank and carefully seated the tank back down to make sure there were no kinks.  Am hoping this was the issue - have yet to test drive it yet but will be keeping a close eye.

Thank you all for the input!

ps I would have sent pics but I found it impossible to easily include pictures in a post.    ??

That was likely the problem. Posting pics here is a little involved, but once you do it a couple times it’s a piece of cake. You need a pic posting site, many of us use postimage.org. Once you have pics uploaded on there you can click on the hot link for forums tab, then paste it in your dialogue box.

[Hook#3287]

I just cut away the kinked portion and re-attached to the tank and carefully seated the tank back down to make sure there were no kinks.  Am hoping this was the issue - have yet to test drive it yet but will be keeping a close eye.

That hose doubles as a drain if you accidentally overfill the gas tank.  I have no idea if that was a Honda Engineering plan or not, but it is what it is.

If you cut it short and over fill, gas will come out at wherever the hose ends.

[3fan4life]

I just cut away the kinked portion and re-attached to the tank and carefully seated the tank back down to make sure there were no kinks.  Am hoping this was the issue - have yet to test drive it yet but will be keeping a close eye.

That hose doubles as a drain if you accidentally overfill the gas tank.  I have no idea if that was a Honda Engineering plan or not, but it is what it is.

If you cut it short and over fill, gas will come out at wherever the hose ends.

Gas spewing out onto the hot engine and exhaust will definitely get your attention!

[jblvalk]

I'm pretty sure I'm good.  I only cut away one inch if even that much before I re-attached.  Hose is easily draining well past the frame below - LOL!  When I overfill the tank the excess always comes out over the top of the filling hole and over the tank and then the bike 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm pretty sure I'm good.  I only cut away one inch if even that much before I re-attached.  Hose is easily draining well past the frame below - LOL!  When I overfill the tank the excess always comes out over the top of the filling hole and over the tank and then the bike 

I see you are in the desert also. Be careful about filling up and letting it sit outside.

[gordonv]

Just as a FYI, opening the filler cap so air can go in, is another way to diagnose this issue. Some close the cap on a plastic stir stick, which breaks the air seal of the cap, letting air in.

[jblvalk]

**Update**

Just came back from a ride where I successfully went onto reserve without petering out like before.  The vent line repair definitely worked.

Now onto brake/clutch fluid exchange, antifreeze flush, and the timing belts!

[Thunderbolt]

Be very careful if you decide to change the timing belts.  Mark stuff before you release the tensioners, the valve springs will depending on their position move the cams.  Some have used white out from the old typewriter days to mark the timing wheels.

[jblvalk]

Good advice.  I am still on the fence about doing the belts myself for this reason.  I have adjusted the valves before so I feel pretty comfortable in doing the belts but when you know you can destroy your bike if you do something wrong on the belts it becomes a little intimidating.