Feul Problem

[BA]

I was riding home on the freeway this afternoon when my '99 Magna started to loose power.  Felt like it was running out of gas so I switched it over to reserve (this was about 20 miles sooner than usual).  Well, it just kept going slower and slower.  I pulled over onto the shoulder and it quit on me and wouldn't start.  Tried it a couple more times and it felt like it got a little gas so I pulled the choke and got it started.  Pulled off at the next exit and filled it up (about 1/2 gallon less than usual).  Got back on the freeway and road about more 4 miles and it died again.  Flipped it over to reserve and it eventually started again.  Played with the reserve switch on the way home and have identified the problem exists only when it is not on reserve.  It runs fine sitting in my driveway and I can't duplicate the problem without a load on the engine.  If I remember correctly there is a filter inside the tank that may be clogged.  Is this correct?  Does the reserve bypass this filter?  If there is one, how do I replace or clean it?

[Sledge Hammer]

Before you take your tank off, if you haven't already checked the tank breather hose, that would be something easy to do. Mine was acting like it was fuel starved under load and also took less gas on fill up. Sure enough, I had an accumulation of sling-off from the chain at the open end of the beather line. Just to show that Honda does do dumb things from time to time, both the coolant tank overflow line and the fuel tank breather line are routed down to the left side of the engine right near the front sprocket. Just something simple to check before going into the tank...

[BA]

I'll check the vent, but that doesn't explain why it would run OK with the fuel valve in the reserve position?

[Greg Cothern]

Auto fuel shutoff diaphragm sounds like the culprit.

[Sledge Hammer]

I'll check the vent, but that doesn't explain why it would run OK with the fuel valve in the reserve position?

Agreed, and I forgot that I had taken Greg's advice about pouring in some SeaFoam before cleaning the grunge from the breather. I didn't get to run the whole tank through in one ride, so it may be that it had only begun to work by the time I cleaned the breather tube.

I will say that except for the typical lean surging, it is running fine now.

[BA]

OK, I did find a couple problems.  First, I pinched the end of the vent tube whan I installed the CycleistiC center stand so I corrected that, but it didn't fix the problem.  Then I took apart the vacuum opperated fuel cut off and found a small hole in the diaphragm.  I'll have to check with the stealer tomorrow to see how much it is, and how long it will take to get one.  Anyone know if you can get this anywhere else?

[Greg Cothern]

Some folks have suggested that a bit of silicone would temporarily work, but places such as www.hdlparts.com and other OEM parts sellers should be able to get it for ya.  I believe this is an item used on other bikes as well so should be available.