95VFR -need help

Hey guys, I am a newbie here. I 'm excited to find such a great site for VFR owners! I've had a my bike for almost 10 years, never any probs till this weekend. I had some minor maint done (chain and cables lubed, new back tire)at the dealership, they test rode my bike, everything was great. I start to roll my bike out of the dealership and it starts bogging down and eventually dies. It will only start with full choke on but it's barely running and eventually dies. Needless to say I'm pretty ticked at the service guys because my bike was perfect when I rode it in . I roll it back into the dealers shop,plenty of fuel, we check the fuel pump it's working but it's not getting any juice.This is where it gets weird...he sprayed some switch lube into my kill switch and flipped it on and off several times...the bike fired right up and runs great for about 5 mins and then bogs down and dies again. He tells me I have an electrical problem and will continue to troubleshoot (for $75.00 an hour ). Would a defective kill switch cause this??? Thanks for any help!!

 

What? does this just die like a switch was shut off? or more like it slowly just runs out of poop like thats what I'm hearing and to me that sounds like a fuel issue. Take a look at the fuel vent, making sure it's not bent I've seen that happen.

 

95 VFR bogs down

It doesn't shut off like when you hit the kill switch. With full choke on it's barely running then it bogs down and eventually dies. Then it will not start at all. If you let it sit for 20-30 mins it will start with the same results. I rode the bike to the dealership 30-40 min ride with no probs at all, then the mechanic test rode it with no probs either! I will check the fuel vent. Thanks for your help!

 

When it dies, drain the float bowls on the carbs. If you don't get any fuel out, you now know the problem.

 

^Good tip. As it was running good when you took it in I'm thinking it's going to be something simple, pinched fuel line, etc. it's definitely fuel related, when taking a tank off and on theres a couple things you need to watch out for one of them is bumping the fuel shut off valve, ask how I know sheesh

 

Thanks for the tips!

One thing I forgot to clarify, the dealer unhooked the connection for the fuel pump and ran power straight from the battery to the pump, the bike ran fine. He then said it was electrical. I'm pretty green with doing more than an oil change...I just can't afford the dealership anymore and I feel better doing the work myself. I bought a shop manual and I'm jumping in. Thanks again, I will post the results.

 

Bad..Bad...Bad...

1. No fuse - can fry the pump.

2. If the bike has carbs, and the floats are not perfect, it will fill the cylinders up with gas - which can leak down into the crankcase - and cause hydrolock - which can do serious damage to valves. Not to mention that gas is a bad lubricant. Plus the gas washes all the oil off the walls of the cylinder.

3. If you crash, and the fuel line is ruptured, the pump will continue to pump out fuel even if the bike is off - all over you, the hot bike, the hot mufflers, the battery, the ground beneath you etc...

Running the battery directly to the pump is great for testing the fuel pump and as an emergency fix. However, the tech should be fired! Allowing the bike out of the shop like that is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Definitely have it out with the service manager - and don't mince words!!!

 

let me try again

Thanks Masonv45, I'm sorry I did not give you enough info, he only did it as a quick troubleshoot (he tested the pump to check if it was getting current-he said it was not) and then re-attached the connections. He then sprayed some lube into the kill switch and flipped it several times, then the bike started up and ran fine for about 4-5 mins...then bogged down and died again. I was thinking it might be the switch?

 

No, it's not the switch. Pinched vent line, fuel line or clogged fuel filter. See my previous post about draining the float bowls.

 

Gotcha

will do thanks again.

 

Forgot about that one, yea could be a fuel pump not getting power. Hmm I messed up on that one.

 

What's the idle speed at??? Did he adjust it too high then mess with some other setting to compensate by chance???

 

Thanks for your reply

Not that I'm aware of, The bike ran fine (normal idle) once it started up, but after 3-4 mins it then bogged down and died. It would not start for another 20-30 mins. Now when it starts up (only on full choke) it is barely running. I'm going to check out all the recommended areas by masonV45 and RVFR and see what happens. How often do you guys replace your fuel filter?

 

When it dies, stop and open the gas cap. If it breaks a vacuum when you do, then the vent is plugged. Now that the vacuum is broken, (by opening the cap) the bike should start again. The more full the tank, the less airspace. And, the shorter time between failure. Had a vent go plugged on my race bike, what a drag at the 3rd turn when it stalled! Loosened the cap a tad and finished the race. (In the back)

 

I'd check the fuel filter first.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted!

I started working on the bike last night, I had an idea to shoot some PB blast into kill switch and let it sit. Long story short I flipped the switch several times and she fired right up! I guess the contacts in the switch were stuck and the current was not getting to the fuel pump after all! Thanks again for all the tips! The bike is running great!

 

Good to hear!!! Many times I have been baffled by over trouble shooting things, fortunately this group of ppl has always brout me back to reality and has really given me some good advice. I'm glad it didn't end up costing you anything, or seaious downtime either!!!

 

WOW! Imagine that! A dealer tech that actually had a handle on the problem right up front. They really aren't all bad!

 

I was thinking it couldn't be the kill switch because the bike fired up. If the bike starts, it's not the kill switch. And if it was the kill switch, while running, the bike would shut down immediately, not bog down. The kill switch is either ON or OFF.

Not sure how the 95 wiring is setup, but the kill switch usually cuts power to the coils - which also supply voltage to the fuel pump.

Glad the bike is running though )

 

See, I'm a bad, bad motorcyclist and VFR owner as I NEVER EVER use the kill switch. I know it's something they teach in the MSF classes (as us military types have to take them every few years), I just don't use it. It honestly didn't occur to me to spray the heck out of it, I'm glad that was the cheap and easy solution in the end!!!