fuel starvation problem

[Deano]

hi  guys  need  your  wisdom 

i  have  a 1988 fj1200  it  starts  great  can ride  it  for  about 10 mins  then  it starves  itself  of  fuel i shut  it  off and  restart  runs  fine  for  about  the  same  amout  of  time  then  have  to  restart  it  again  ive  switched  pumps  and  pump relays   and  have  tried  rideing  with  cap  open  .  it  has  to  be  something  simple  i  hope!!!!!  please  help!! 


thanks  Dean Ritchie  in  victoria  bc

[Dan Filetti]

Dean-

See if the problem goes away riding with the gas cap open.  If so, then you need the gas cap flapectomy.

Dan

[Dads_FJ]

kinked gas line?  have you had the tank off Dean?

[flips]

Hi there 

+1 to what Dan & Dads_FJ

This happened on my 86.The fuel lines kinked.I followed Mr blackstock's lead to fix it.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4411.msg38941#msg38941

Might even be a fuel cap venting issue....might need a "flapectomy"

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2024.0

Cheers 

Jeff P

[Deano]

kinked gas line?  have you had the tank off Dean?

yes  ive  had  the  tank  off  didnt  see any  kinks  and  ive  tried  the  open  cap    still  same  .  i  just  dont  get  how  it   runs  great  for  a few miles  then  dies  and  after  restarting  it  runs  great  again  for  same  amount  of  time 

ty for  your  reply Dean

[Pat Conlon]

You can pull your tank off, look at the lines and everything looks fine.
Only to put your tank back on, and have the kink reappear when things get warm.

My advice is to....Follow exactly, the factory oem fuel line routing
The single hose from the petcock to the Y splitter should be run *under* the 2 branch lines.
If you run the petcock line on top of, or over, the branch lines, you will get a kink.

[FJmonkey]

yes  ive  had  the  tank  off  didnt  see any  kinks  and  ive  tried  the  open  cap    still  same  .  i  just  dont  get  how  it   runs  great  for  a few miles  then  dies  and  after  restarting  it  runs  great  again  for  same  amount  of  time 
ty for  your  reply Dean

With a kinked line the fuel flows slower or not at all. Imagine that the kink is slowing the flow down, like the hose got smaller. With the engine at idle the fuel demand is minimal.  The reduced fuel flow has no problem keeping bowls full. Once you start riding the fuel demand increases. The demand will eventually be greater than the kinked hose can provide and the bowls go empty. Now that you are stopped at the side of road wondering what hell is going on, the fuel has a chance to catch up and fill the bowls again. Same thing happens if the fuel tank goes into a vacuum lock. The air pressure in the tank is reduced when fuel drains into the carbs and the filler cap does not allow air in. Crack open the cap and air pressure equalizes and fuel flows freely again till a vacuum is formed again. The "Flapectomy" insures that the now missing flap cannot seal the air out while riding. A clogged fuel filter will also restrict flow. Some owners have discovered that the PO put one on, not knowing it was there they never changed it. Not sure but I am guessing that your 88' is a gravity feed like the 84 to 87 years. Hope this helps.

[Travis398]

Not sure but I am guessing that your 88' is a gravity feed like the 84 to 87 years.

88 was the first year for the fuel pump

Hope that helps

and it sounds like he already checked that.................

hi  guys  need  your  wisdom 

i  have  a 1988 fj1200.....................................  ive  switched  pumps  and  pump relays   and  have  tried  rideing  with  cap  open  .  it  has  to  be  something  simple  i  hope!!!!!  please  help!! 


thanks  Dean Ritchie  in  victoria  bc

[FJmonkey]

88 was the first year for the fuel pump

Hope that helps

and it sounds like he already checked that.................

hi  guys  need  your  wisdom 

i  have  a 1988 fj1200.....................................  ive  switched  pumps  and  pump relays   and  have  tried  rideing  with  cap  open  .  it  has  to  be  something  simple  i  hope!!!!!  please  help!! 

thanks  Dean Ritchie  in  victoria  bc

This why I don't hunt for crocodiles or poisonous snakes. I'd be standing right on top them wondering where the hell they went... 

[Pat Conlon]

....and I'm standing right beside Mark wondering WTF just bit me.....

[RichBaker]

Have you checked that the pump has 12V when the engine stops running?  Tried switching the reserve switch?  Check the ground (earth, return) wire for continuity, maybe you have an intermittent wire....

[fj1289]

Along the line Rich is going down - also check the points on the pump.  They could be worn and sticking when they get hot, then work again for a while after cooling down.

Chris W. 

[Travis398]

it  starts  great  can ride  it  for  about 10 mins  then  it starves  itself  of  fuel i shut  it  off and  restart  runs  fine

Are you sure it's out of fuel?
You can hear the pump run to fill the carbs, So I am guessing if they are drained (or dry) it would take a minute or so to fill them back up.

Which means the bike might not start right up like you are saying.

To add more confusion............The 88 model not only got the new fuel pump but also got the new (at the time) digital control ignition which provides the control circuit for the fuel pump.

[Deano]

is  it  better  to  run  @low gear  hi  rpm  or  hi  gear  low  rpm  i meam  what  does  this  bike  like  better  1988  fj1200? 
just  wonderin  lol

[FJmonkey]

is  it  better  to  run  @low gear  hi  rpm  or  hi  gear  low  rpm  i meam  what  does  this  bike  like  better  1988  fj1200? 
just  wonderin  lol

Depends if you are racing or cruising, you have gobbs of grunt and only 5 gears. You be the judge.... The FJ power plant will give way more than most riders need or want. Pick your gear to suit your needs/wants.....