QuestionFirst I know you said you have experience on the older models but hoping you can assist me here.
This started last year before I parked the bike for the short 2-3 month winter. I was riding and everything was fine, as I was crossing a bridge the bike started to act like it was running out of fuel, I immediately changed it over to reserve but nothing happened, it stalled. I pulled to the side still coasting in gear when it fired back up and took off. I assumed it was just out of gas though I had filled it the day before. As I was going down the other side of the bridge same scenario happened. I was going about 70 MPH. I stopped at a gas station and checked my fuel and it was nearly full. I took off and went back home and parked the bike. I recently took teh bike in for a full service tuneup. Oil, Radiator, Valve adjust you name it. I rode it back and forth to work 3 or 4 days with no issues. I decided to ride out to Napa last week, about a week after my tune-up. I made it about 70 miles when it started to sputter and stall on me. I stopped and checked teh gas and all seemed fine, same issue as when I parked the bike before.
We headed home after that and it did it a few times on the way home. Usually going up or down a hill but not always, again I was going 70-75.
The last few days it has been doing the same thing, it even stalled totally yesterday and wouldn't start for a bit, I checked for fire and it has spark, I am sure it is lacking fuel somewhere. I pulled the fuel line from the petcock today and it poured out. It starts, will idle no issues, I thought maybe go slower 50-60 and see what happens, it stalled again.
I have talked to a few people and I am getting so many responses and to test this and that, but nothing changes it does the same thing.
I have tried opening the fuel cap when it stalls I pull off open it and no gushing of air sound to make me think no air flow. A mechanic that I talked to said maybe the fuel pump. I cannot seem to find a fuel pump on this bike and looking at the Honda site and parts finder I cannot find one there either, would this be a vacuum fed bike? I really haven't done anything to the bike yet to test it because not sure where to start. If it had started after sitting I would assume carb, but since it started after riding everyday for a summer I am unsure.
Someone else told me that the evap cannister could be sucking gas in causing this, they said maybe I overfilled the tank and I need to let it dry out before riding again and don't overfill tank.
The only thing I added was something called seafoam, I have run it through a tank and a half so far at what it recommends for fuel seafoam mixture for cleaning the fuel system. It does it every few miles now, sometimes it will get me to work no issue, sometimes it will stall 2 or 3 times.
Any help would be great.
AnswerSorry Wil, but like you said, my experience is limited to pre 82 Hondas so I can't give you a specific answer. This is the second question as many days on this model and this problem. Based on your description, you are probably right it's starved for fuel. The only thing that can prevent the fuel from getting in the carbs are the float needles. Those wouldn't all go bad at the same time. There are only two systems that can effect all four carbs at the same time. The fuel supply lines including the vacuum valve and the fuel tank vent system. I've never seen a tank vent go bad but you've checked the lines. The canister you referred to is used to trap fuel vapors venting out of the tank and the carbs. It is essentially the fuel tank vent system. So if it was plugged or the lines were getting pinched, I could imagine it would shut the fuel off to the carbs. You could disconnect the tank vent line to the canister and see if it makes a difference.
If you are careful to shut the fuel valve off every time the bike is shut off, you could by-pass the vacuum valve and run fuel directly to the carbs to see if it makes a difference. Be warned the vacuum valve is there to prevent fuel from dribbling into the cylinder when the engine is shut off. If the cylinders get enough fuel in them, it can hydraulic lock and bend a rod when you try to crank the engine over. This would be bad!! Process of elimination is about the only way to find these random problems. There's no fuel pump on this model. Earlier Magnas had fuel pumps.
Let me know if this doesn't help and I'll think a little harder.
Good luck
Rich
