Just cold...or worse?

[dav3]

Hi all, long time "lurker" now after some help so finally got around to registering!! Im Dave, from Ashbourne (derbyshire). Got a '96 XJ600 which in the last few weeks of arctic weather has been struggling...

Bike starts on choke and rides a while, but then after a while will start dying when the clutch is pulled, and will not idle. Like its not getting fuel. This is with the fuel tap in the normal on position. If i switch to "prime" position it starts ok and seems to run no problem.
Is this the fuel pump buggered?
Its seemed worse in the last 2/3 weeks (when the real cold weather hit) and being as my commute is 8 miles at 6am i dont expect it ever really warms up.... It was alright in the warmer weather too... do they suffer that bad in the cold?!?! Its kept outside too, poor thing...

Thanks,

[humey53]

Just down the A52 from you in Mickleover.

Welcome to the forum; hope to see you round some time

Merry Christmas,

[teejayexc]

Dec 22, 2010 23:55:35 GMT dav3 said:

Hi all, long time "lurker" now after some help so finally got around to registering!! Im Dave, from Ashbourne (derbyshire). Got a '96 XJ600 which in the last few weeks of arctic weather has been struggling...

Bike starts on choke and rides a while, but then after a while will start dying when the clutch is pulled, and will not idle. Like its not getting fuel. This is with the fuel tap in the normal on position. If i switch to "prime" position it starts ok and seems to run no problem.
Is this the fuel pump buggered?
Its seemed worse in the last 2/3 weeks (when the real cold weather hit) and being as my commute is 8 miles at 6am i dont expect it ever really warms up.... It was alright in the warmer weather too... do they suffer that bad in the cold?!?! Its kept outside too, poor thing...

Thanks,

Hi Dave, divvys are quite prone to carb icing.

Have a looksie here; diversionclub.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=generaltecinfo&thread=9771&page=1


Oh, and welcome to Divvydom

[bobh]

If it's OK on "Prime" then it might be that the vacuum pipe to the petrol tap has a leak so it's not opening the valve properly. The cold weather may or may not be a factor - if, say, there was some condensation in the pipe it would stop it functioning when it freezes.

[dav3]

Thanks for the welcome, merry christmas to y'all!! I didnt expect there to be many local members, now im looking forward to getting out and meeting you guys one day........

hmmm, cheers for the thoughts. Carb icing sounds a good possibility, and as it looks straightforward to fix I'll go with that one first. No garage + snow = no real motivation to tinker with the bike

Anyway, Hope santa is good to yous!

[neilmud Lord Protector]

There are a few threads about additives to stop carb icing, unleaded super petrol may help or adding IPA (iso propronal alcohol not the beer) may help.

Neil

[Doofer]

Could it be fuel starvation?

When I kept my bikes outside I sometimes found that the air vent in the fuel filler cap would block with ice, causing the bike to start fine, then 'run out of fuel' a short while later as the blockage had caused a vacuum preventing the fuel flowing.

I'd be inclined to check the vacuum pipes first though, it could be that the cold weather has caused a damaged pipe to finally crack giving the impression of a weather related cause.

Doof

[biblebasher]

if i woz you, i'd leave it on prime, make sure you have enough fuel, and ride it like that till the weather improves.

[dav3]

Ahh doof, that sounds similar... its only on days when i can actually see frost and ice coating the bike, so maybe it is just not able to breathe? i hadnt thought of that! Hm cheers!

Anyway the weather's warmed up now, so hopefully wont have to worry about it for a while. Ever the optimist!!!