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Bike won't start

B

Bobcat

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
30
Went out this morning to ride to work. When I turned the key on I noticed that the fuel injection didn't sound right. It sounded really weak and my bike wouldn't start. I rode on Sunday and it ran great. Any ideas? vapor lock, dirty fuel filter? I filled it with premium and parked it in the garage after my ride so it's a bit of a mystery.

Bobcat
 
Bobcat said:
Went out this morning to ride to work. When I turned the key on I noticed that the fuel injection didn't sound right. It sounded really weak and my bike wouldn't start. I rode on Sunday and it ran great. Any ideas? vapor lock, dirty fuel filter? I filled it with premium and parked it in the garage after my ride so it's a bit of a mystery.

Bobcat
Click to expand...

You didn't mention if it turned over or not, so I'm just making an educated guess here. If the fuel pump activation didn't sound right, probably a battery problem. Batteries these days tend to fail without warning. You may have the voltage needed for everything to cycle, but not enough amperage to make thing happen.
 
I recently put a new gel battery in the bike. It would crank but wasn't getting enough fuel to turn over. The starter didn't lug down on the nemerous times I tried to get it going.
 
Bobcat said:
I recently put a new gel battery in the bike. It would crank but wasn't getting enough fuel to turn over. The starter didn't lug down on the nemerous times I tried to get it going.
Click to expand...

A vapour lock's not very likely with a high pressure fuel injection pump. That leaves either the filter, the pump or the injectors themselves.

When you turn it on, can you hear the fuel pump charging the system as the gauge needles do their self test?

If it's the pump or the filter, the assembly has to be removed from the tank. Is the filter a metal case one or the OEM plastic case one? The plastic ones I think were the subject of a recall where they were meant to have been replaced. They swell up and fail.

With the metal ones lots of other bikes use the same filter. I got a BMW one, but I'd try and get something a bit cheaper next time.

If the starter's not loading up, perhaps it's compression?
 
I could hear it charge the system but it didn't sound strong like it usually does. Just a weak wheeze sound. Bike only has 55k on it I wouldn't think it could be a failed fuel pump but how does one know?
 
Got the bike started but when I roll on the throttle it dies. Where is the fuel filter on the 2008 Nevada? Is it that metal round thing on the underside of the tank? Or is that the fuel pump? Strange how it was running fine then this happened. I still don't hear the strong sound that primes the fuel bodies but the ECU is working because I can hear it click when I turn the key on. Is the carbon filter the fuel filter? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I basically am when it comes to this kind of thing.
 
Bobcat said:
Got the bike started but when I roll on the throttle it dies. Where is the fuel filter on the 2008 Nevada? Is it that metal round thing on the underside of the tank? Or is that the fuel pump? Strange how it was running fine then this happened. I still don't hear the strong sound that primes the fuel bodies but the ECU is working because I can hear it click when I turn the key on. Is the carbon filter the fuel filter? Sorry if I sound like an idiot but I basically am when it comes to this kind of thing.
Click to expand...

The fuel filter and fuel pump are inside the tank towards the back. If you take off the tank, you'll see an oval shaped plate surrounding where the main fuel hose emerges (not the two vent hoses). If you remove this plate, it comes out as an assembly with the filter and pump attached. Probably a good idea to order the appropriate gasket first, just in case. The fuel filter is used by a number of different bikes including Triumph and BMW.
 
Thanks all for the help. Why can't these happen in the friggin winter? :x
 
We think that ethenol may have damaged the main fuel pipe on my bike. Does anyone know if I can use a generic piece of pipe or do I have to order the guzzi part?
 
Bobcat said:
We think that ethenol may have damaged the main fuel pipe on my bike. Does anyone know if I can use a generic piece of pipe or do I have to order the guzzi part?
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "main fuel pipe" ? If the lines inside the tank, then you need submersible fuel injection hose. If from the pump to the injectors, then just standard fuel injection hose. Covered well in other topics. Did you do a search on "fuel injection hose"?
 
Bobcat said:
We think that ethenol may have damaged the main fuel pipe on my bike.
Click to expand...

Just wondering-on what do you base that conclusion? Not saying it isn't so-but not saying it is, either, in lieu of actual evidence of same.
 
what percentage of ethanol was in your fuel ? I filled up the other day and noticed too late there was tag on the pump stating there "could be" up to 10% ethanol in the gas . Should I drain this gas out somehow? Or am I safe for just this one time? A bit nervous now. :shock: max
 
max said:
what percentage of ethanol was in your fuel ? I filled up the other day and noticed too late there was tag on the pump stating there "could be" up to 10% ethanol in the gas . Should I drain this gas out somehow? Or am I safe for just this one time? A bit nervous now. :shock: max
Click to expand...

Don't worry about that.
Europan gas generally holds 5% ethanol, so the lines are made for tolerating ethanol. Also there are really no proof that ethanol made any damage to any newer EFI Guzzi.
The Nevadas had a problem with swollen filter houses, but I haven't seen anything but guesswork blaiming on ethanol in those cases. If you've got one of the plastic-housing filters, it may have cracked. Just swap to a full metal bodied filter.
If you haven't got a Guzzi dealer near to you, go to a BMW, Triumph or Ducati dealer. They all use those filters, basically a Mahle KL 145.

This is the whole filter/pump package. It's a 2 min job to demount from the tank - when the tank is off the bike.
The pic shows a package been soaked in 5% ethanol gas during the last 7 years.....

4567518723_3bc39aea55.jpg
 
Even though I run Premium 92 octane it contains 10 percent ethanol. got the info from the Guzzi dealer tech in Portland. He stated that they have seen some problems from ethanol with the main line from the fuel pump cracking.
 
The fuel hose coming off the pump is a known issue on the Nevada. Should have been fixed by the dealer.. You need fuel injection hose and *clamps* to fix it.
 
Think you may be right. I drained the tank as best as I could then removed it. I took the unit as far out of the tank as I could but it kept hanging up. I noticed that the clear hose that connects to the fuel filter was lying in the tank. I'm not sure if I disconnected it trying to get the unit out of the tank however, I was being gentle with it. It attaches to the front of the fuel filter but very loosely. I'll by a new clamp and reconnect it tomorrow. Am I deluding myself that this could have been the problem? Perhaps it came off and there was enough gas in the filter and pump to get me home? It was less than one mile after fueling the bike. As I said it was running fine on Sunday but when I went to start it Wed It only made a weak sucking sound. Was the Pump attempting to draw fuel only to get nothing? Thoughts much appreciated.

Thanks,

Bobcat
A.K.A.
Ann
 
Think you may be right. I drained the tank as best as I could then removed it. I took the unit as far out of the tank as I could but it kept hanging up. I noticed that the clear hose that connects to the fuel filter was lying in the tank. I'm not sure if I disconnected it trying to get the unit out of the tank however, I was being gentle with it. It attaches to the front of the fuel filter but very loosely. I'll by a new clamp and reconnect it tomorrow. Am I deluding myself that this could have been the problem? Perhaps it came off and there was enough gas in the filter and pump to get me home? It was less than one mile after fueling the bike. As I said it was running fine on Sunday but when I went to start it Wed It only made a weak sucking sound. Was the Pump attempting to draw fuel only to get nothing? Thoughts much appreciated.

Thanks,

Bobcat
A.K.A.
Ann
 
If the hose is off, the filter cracked and so on, that is the problem; and the answer to the same.
The pump is providing all the pressure for the injection system, and is placed before the filter and both hoses.

Why the Nevada fuel system differs from the Breva and V7C is another Guzzi enigma.
 
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