Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 250 & 400 => Topic started by: zeffer111 on July 06, 2008, 12:12:59 AM

Title: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 06, 2008, 12:12:59 AM
Hi everyone. I just bought a 1991 GSF400 a month ago.
This is my first bike and have to say generally riding it has been a blast. I've put on around 700km in the last month.
I have been lurking in the forums for a little and see there are many helpful people around.

I have been experiencing a problem with the bike. When I pull the clutch with the engine is running at high rpm, lets say, above 6k rpm, the engine dies. I have to release the clutch while in gear to "bump start" the bike while rolling.
To manage to not stall the bike, I have to quickly pull the clutch, downshift, let out clutch, and repeat till 2nd when stopping for a stop sight.
This has been happening more and more frequently recently.
It also seems to happen more when I and riding more aggressively.
Today on the last 60km of a 200km ride I was driving in 6th at around 80km/h I tried to speed up, but couldn't, and ended up having to pull over the bike because it just slowly died.
I had a couple of liters in the tank, but put it on reserve anyways.... still wouldn't start. I took out the PRI screw and turn to PRI for a couple minutes. Turned it back to res. and it started... thank god. I rode home normally.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem could be? I have a 650km trip planned in another 5 days and would hate to cancel it.
Any help appreciated.

thanks


Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: gsxr400 racer on July 06, 2008, 10:58:07 PM
try checking out your plugs if they are black get some new :beers: :welcome: :motorsmile:
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: interfuse on July 06, 2008, 11:01:52 PM
Why are you in sixth gear driving 80 km per h???? You are probably lugging the motor. These bikes like to have the snot reved out of them. They make NO power below 8k rpm. 6th gear is highway only... I rarely ever shift into it.


Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 07, 2008, 12:11:49 AM
Why are you in sixth gear driving 80 km per h???? You are probably lugging the motor. These bikes like to have the snot reved out of them. They make NO power below 8k rpm. 6th gear is highway only... I rarely ever shift into it.

I was just cruising through a small town and was being noise conscious, it was when I was leaving that I wanted to speed up.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 07, 2008, 12:14:48 AM
try checking out your plugs if they are black get some new :beers: :welcome: :motorsmile:

I'll pull the plugs tomorrow and check them out.

Is it possible that there is a vacuum issue with the petcock (possible clogged) and that when driving quickly in a high gear, the carbs can't pull enough fuel?
I really am pulling at straws here... I'm no too mechanically inclined.

thanks for the help.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: Banditmax on July 07, 2008, 05:35:38 AM
Why are you in sixth gear driving 80 km per h???? You are probably lugging the motor. These bikes like to have the snot reved out of them. They make NO power below 8k rpm. 6th gear is highway only... I rarely ever shift into it.



Dunno what your bandit makes power like but i can accelerate smoothly from 80k in 6th if im just cruising away.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: interfuse on July 07, 2008, 09:42:42 AM
Dunno what your bandit makes power like but i can accelerate smoothly from 80k in 6th if im just cruising away.

I can't say I've ever tried. The only time I ever use 6th is when I'm running out of RPMs in 5. Bandit 400s are no fun driving around low rpms. Might as well get off and push.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: gsxr400 racer on July 07, 2008, 11:20:38 AM
Dunno what your bandit makes power like but i can accelerate smoothly from 80k in 6th if im just cruising away.

I can't say I've ever tried. The only time I ever use 6th is when I'm running out of RPMs in 5. Bandit 400s are no fun driving around low rpms. Might as well get off and push.
have you ever rode a 250 ninja  :banghead: :yikes:
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: PitterB4 on July 07, 2008, 11:41:47 AM
Some of your symptoms also sound like they could be a blocked or kinked vent from the tank.  The next time it does it, open the tank and see if you get a whoosh from air entering the tank.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: gsxr400 racer on July 07, 2008, 11:54:42 AM
 :congrats:Thats a good one and real simple but yet real important often over looked
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 08, 2008, 08:50:23 AM
ok, so far this is what I'm going to do.

-replace the spark plugs, because I have no idea how old they are and I would to eliminate that possibility.
-replace the inline fuel filter that I found. It was on of the clear type and I could see there was some rust deposits.

I removed the tank and petcock and tried to remove as much of the fuel as I could. What came out was orange, with lots of specks in it.

In the next couple of weeks I plan on cleaning the tank out completely and applying something like KREEM to it.
Does someone have a better product or method to recommend?
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: VW_NUT on July 08, 2008, 10:04:23 AM
KBC Coatings makes a nice tank seal kit.  It sealed hangin_biposto's tank up, and it was really really bad.  I MIG welded the whole bottom of the tank.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: andrewsw on July 08, 2008, 05:58:40 PM
Clutch? Who uses the clutch once you're rolling?  :trustme:

watch out that *none* of that sediment gets in the carbs!!!
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 09, 2008, 11:18:40 PM
Ok, I replaced the plugs and replaced the inline fuel filter.

I took out the air filter to clean and oil it and noticed that there was a small pool of oil at the bottom of the air box!
What do you think caused that, is it normal, should I be concerned?
I just bought the bike so I don't know too much of the history, but it could it be that they simply oiled the air filter too much?

thanks
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: PitterB4 on July 09, 2008, 11:32:45 PM
A little oil in the bottom of the box is normal.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: zeffer111 on July 09, 2008, 11:35:29 PM
A little oil in the bottom of the box is normal.

is it caused my excess oil in the air filter?
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: Red01 on July 10, 2008, 03:46:20 PM
A little bit is normal because the crankcase ventilates thru the airbox and that air contains a light mist of oil that will settle and collect over time.
Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: hangin_biposto on July 11, 2008, 11:55:19 AM
In the next couple of weeks I plan on cleaning the tank out completely and applying something like KREEM to it.
Does someone have a better product or method to recommend?

+1 on the KBC coatings system. I have heard the KREEM system is smelly, messy, and can harm your paint.

You CANNOT BE IN A HURRY with the KBC kit though. It works awesome, but you absolutely must be sure the tank has dried completely between each of the three steps. This is not a day project.

http://www.kbs-coatings.com/KBS-Cycle-Tank-Sealer-Kit_p_7-31.html

This is what the bottom of my tank looked like before the welding and sealing, and it has not leaked... a small miracle, really, given what we started with:
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/Rockhopper15/PA120018.jpg)
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/Rockhopper15/PA120024.jpg)

Title: Re: when pulling clutch at high rpm engine dies
Post by: andrewsw on July 11, 2008, 02:29:06 PM
 :yikes:

you realize that now you have a zombie tank...