2001 F650 - Cutting out problem (HELP!) - Horizons Unlimited

**GregM** · #1 11 May 2005

Hi y'all,
Just rode into Cusco and for 100 miles the bike was constantly cutting out. Felt like fuel, but checked that air-box and filter clear, and spark is good. In-line fuel filter is clear as well.

Not sure what the issue is - here's the symptoms:
- fairly hot day (but had hotter with no problems)
- fairly high (but been much higher with no problems)
- Engine cuts out (feels like fuel starvation), but not under constant conditions (can be under load, or just maintaining speed, or on overrun)
- the bike coasts to a halt, I wait 45 seconds the it fire straight back up again

Looking at the fuel pump it looks like an electrical sealed unit, with no chance to open it and diagnose an issue.

I've just bought some injector cleaner and will drain and refill with fresh gas.

But anybody got any better ideas / similar issues?

thanks, and happy travels
Greg

**John Roberts** · #2 11 May 2005

Blocked fuel tank vent? I know that doesn't fit all the symptoms, but it's easy to try slackening the filler just a tad. Well, face it- the cures don't always match the symptoms in my experience! Keep us posted, good luck.
J

**amcwillie** · #3 11 May 2005

unplug the battery for an hour or so and let everything reset. Been with people riding the 2001 model at high altitudes down there and it helped. Be prepared to do it several times untill you get to lower heights. The 2002 and 2003 models we were riding in Peru last month did not have that problem.
Good Luck
Curtis

**GregM** · #4 15 May 2005

Hi guys - here's an update.

After spannering on the bike in Cusco (dismantling and reassembling the fuel process) I discovered salt-like cyrstals around the bottom of the fuel pick up filter.

I cleaned it off and it seemed fine for a 2 hour spin around Cusco.

Naturally as soon as I headed off for Nazca it reappeared. I spent 3 hours at the side of the road and in the end decided to cut open the filter (it's non-serviceable) and the bike then ran fine for the next 7 hours, and 3 hours today.

Final synopis? I think I picked up some especially crap fuel somewhere and it's been clogging the system.

I'll be Lima soon and hope to replace the fuel pump and the injector. Sitting at the side of the road with the tool-roll out isn't my idea of fun.

Then again, I'm the first to tell other people that these are things that you remember!

Many thanks for the replies. I really ve got this problem nailed!

cheers again,
Greg