90 VFR750F Fuel or Ignition Issues

Hey everyone, haven't been on the forum in a while. I've been busy with school and work. I've been having some issues with my VFR, first off the bike would just die on me at a stop when I went to take off. Did troubleshooting and it ended up my R/R went out so the battery wouldn't charge, when I cracked the throttle to take off, the spike in ignition pull seemed to kill it. So I bought a 5 wire R/R for a gixxer because of larger heat sink and more reliability. In the meantime I pulled the clutch and stator covers and painted them. Changed the oil and oil filter as well. All went back together fine and has no oil leaks. First time I fired the bike up after new R/R, and oil change she ran great I used the choke to speed the idle up and get her to operating temp in the garage. Then I hopped on and rode it around the block, ran fine without any issues. The next day I started her up and went for a ride, filled my tank and about a mile down the road she started to spit and sputter a little. I stopped at a stop light and when I took off she just died. Pushed to the side of the road and she cranked over fast and healthy, she would fire and try to run but just pop and die. So I knew it was not the R/R, I pulled the seat and checked electrical connections I was working around, everything seemed fine. Hopped back on and she fired right up, I rode about another 3 miles and same thing happened at another stoplight. This time she would not fire back up, only way I could get her to run is by using the choke. She would fast idle steady with the choke on but as soon as I gave it gas it would die. Eventually my battery started getting low from cranking her over so I pushed it about a mile to my buddies house. I got a ride home and grabbed some tools and did some research. Everything pointed to the fuel pump or relay. So I got back to the bike and bypassed the fuel pump to gravity feed, she fired up and purred great. Rode home and she wasn't running the best, but I presume it was from low fuel pressure. Next morning she fired up fine again with the gravity feed. So I pulled the fuel pump and cleaned the points and the fuel filter, and hooked it all back up. She started and ran fine then all the sudden idle slowed and she died. Tried to crank her back over and she was dead, I could hear the faint click of a solenoid. Checked my fuses and connections and I found where the wire goes to the starter there is a hanger that bolts on with one of the clutch cover bolts. When I tightened the bolt it spun the hanger and tweaked the wire. Pulled the wire away a little and she turned over like normal again. Tried to start her again and same problem as the day before, So I went back to gravity feed and she fired up no problem. When I revved the bike up I could see and hear the fuel pump kick on for a sec. So I hooked the fuel pump back up and she ran fine. Put everything back together and fired her up again, rolled down the drive way kicked her into first and when I took off she died again. Same symptoms as before, Turns over healthy but will not stay running. At this point I was cold and sick so I pushed it back in the garage and here I am now.

What's my next move? bypass the fuel relay? New fuel pump? I'm trying to do whatever I can to know exactly what needs to be replaced before I replace it. I don't have money to blow on parts that are useless.

Any advice is appreciated
Thanks

 

Update

Pulled the fuel pump relay and connection just to check them. There was the weird corrosion on the relay itself, cleaned it off and fired her up. I've seen the same corrosion on a Yamaha quads regulator, not sure what it's from. Anyway I fired her up and let it fast idle to operating temp then I went for a few mile ride with multiple stops and she ran great. I don't want to get too far from home because pushing a 500 pound motorcycle isn't fun. So ill let it sit and cool down, then try again. That way the people on the block don't call CHP because some kid is doing laps around the block on a loud motorcycle :smug:

 

Lot of your symptoms point to water in your fuel, so I'd suggest draining your float bowls and trying again. I assume you had switched to reserve b4 the refill, sucking dry the bottom of the tank where water, rust flakes, all-and sundry collects, thence right into your carbs IF that junk didn't clog solid your fuel filter first !!!!! Yes, water can clog a fuel filter easily.

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But you think got it's sorted, so ignore the above. :crazy:

 

That is very possible, it happened right after I filled up. Ran it again around the block and it was fine, I'll ride it again tomorrow and see what happens.

 

Update, ridden the bike quite a bit. I added a fuel additive called HEET. Supposed to mix with water then allow the water to mix with gas and be combusted. Bike runs good, but now I believe my starter clutch is going out. Time for another thread!