1995 Suzuki LT-F4WDX - Im Stumped

[tazman4]

Starts fine and will run fine for maybe 5 - 10 minutes, then it sputters down to where it will barely move. It will idle fine but bogs down when given gas. If I turn it off then immediatly start it back up again, it will run fine for maybe 20 - 30 feet then sputter down to barely moving again. It will spuuter & cough & bog down for maybe 25 -30 minutes & then it will start picking up to the point that eventually it will run fine for as long as I want to ride it. I thought maybe water in the fuel, so I put some heat in it but that didnt help. I drained some fuel into a jar, but didnt see any water in it. I just dont even know where to begin. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

[oxidized_black]

if you dont want to tear the carb apart as a last resort, try putting seafoam cleaner in the tank and running it through, sounds like something is gummed up maybe ...

[tazman4]

Thanks for the quick reply... I should have mentioned that I ran some seafoam through it also, but that didnt help either.

[oxidized_black]

it could be time for a rebuild on the carb, if you do take it apart, check the needle and seat at the float. i would soak the carb and blow it out with air too ... check and make sure all the vacuum lines are clear ... does this bike have the electric fuel pump?

[tazman4]

Vacuum operated fuel pump...

[oxidized_black]

it would be good to know the vacuum isnt cutting the fuel off and on first before a carb rebuild ,,,

[tazman4]

Thanks oxidized_black, hopefully I can get to it this weekend if not too cold outside.

[tazman4]

Well it's been too cold, for me anyway, to work on it, but I believe its now blown the voltage reg again. I just replaced this last year! Started up fine & idled fine, but when I reved it up the headlights got real bright and blew out & it died. Now with no headlights, it wont start up at all. Pretty sure Ive got an electrical problem & probably not fuel related at all now.

Any thoughts on what would cause it to burn out the volt reg again?

[oxidized_black]

a bad ground usually does that ... dam, thats not good news replacing another one ... check all the grounds ... battery, cdi, just go thru everything and sand areas that connect to the frame, and clean connectors as best you can and dielectric grease it all

checking all the wiring you may discover a short somewhere too, around the neck of the handlebars, under the fuel tank and seat on the frame rail ... where ever you see wearing on the protective covering, peel it back and look, electrical tape to repair ...

Edited January 30, 2014 by oxidized_black

[tazman4]

Thanks again oxidized_black!

Gotta wait for it to warm up a bit more & Ill go through it.

[oxidized_black]

i hear ya on that !!

it was really warm here for 4-5 days, but it got cold and started snowing again ...

[Tim-ANC]

Yes, probably is an electrical problem with your idle, but curious what type of fuel tank valve you have. Straight (on, off, res) or vacuum operated (on, pri, and res)

[tazman4]

There is no off option, its on, pri, and res.

[Tim-ANC]

Pull the vacuum tubes off these ports on you carb and check for fuel in them. If able, let idle a few minutes first.

[tazman4]

I'll give it a shot if I can get it to start, but it has to warm up here first.

Was -13 this morning!

Thanks Tim-ANC

[Tim-ANC]

Damm, -13 in Illinois? 28F here in Anchorage. Makes me feel tropical in comparison.

[oxidized_black]

Damm, -13 in Illinois? 28F here in Anchorage. Makes me feel tropical in comparison.

T-Shirt weather

[tazman4]

Yep, record breaker last night, only supposed to get down to about 8 tonight though. Thats a little better!

[tazman4]

Pull the vacuum tubes off these ports on you carb and check for fuel in them. If able, let idle a few minutes first.

Well hopefully this weekend I can get to this! Still cold here, but supposed to get to 40 by weekend.

Tim-ANC, what if I do find fuel in one or both of these? Carb problem, fuel pump problem?

Thanks

[Tim-ANC]

It would mean either the fuel pump or tank selector valve are leaking through the vacuum diaphragms. Would need to replace.

[tazman4]

Thanks! Ill post back what I find this weekend.

[tazman4]

Well it finally got warm here!

I checked all the wiring, even took the harness apart and checked it all out, and everything looks good. I cleaned all connectors & put dielectric grease in all of them. Replaced the voltage reg/rec & it fired right up. Checked the vacuum lines from the carb & there was no gas in either of them. So far its running fine again. It seems that all the problems were being caused by the reg/rec but I havent figured out what has caused it to go out twice within the span of a year.

Any other ideas besides bad ground connections?

Thanks!

[oxidized_black]

i am thinking more of a poor quality electrical unit that was made; looking in the suzuki forums, youre not the only one this happens to. i wonder if an aftermaket unit was ever made a bit heavier duty ??

[Tim-ANC]

"Put dielectric grease in all of them"

Did grease the inside on the connectors?

[tazman4]

The reg/rec I just installed is different from the original & the one I put in last year, so maybe better luck with this one... hopefully.

Sorry no, put grease on all of them, not in all of them.

[Tim-ANC]

Oh, good on the grease. You know it inhibits electrical current flow.

I know we're thinking spark problem, but how is your fuel tank venting?