Stalling after fuel fillup

[fishpd]

Occasionally, my 1997 R1100RT will not idle after filling with fuel.

I bought it last fall with 3,500 miles and it had two owners before I purchased it. There have been three episodes that have varied in lenghth (# of fills)and symptoms.

1st episode occurred at 4,000 miles. Symptoms were rough running and no idle immediately after filling up from an empty tank-within 1 mile. Added isopropal achohol thinking it may have been water in the fuel. After 2 tankfuls it was running normally.

2nd episode occurred at 9,000 miles. Same symptoms . Added isopropal achohol and after 2 tankfuls it was running normally, again.

3rd episode occurred at 12,000 miles. Same Symptoms. Added isopropal achohol one more time but after 6 tankfuls it still has the same symptoms after fillup.

Interestingly, the stalling and rough running occur after fillups after allowing the tank to drop below two bars before re-filling. After 15 to 40 miles the idle returns and the motor smooths out. If I fillup before the tank gets too low, the symptoms don't occur.

I put 60,000 miles on 96 R1100RT and never experienced this problem. I find it hard to believe that I could have gotten bad fuel three separate times.

I will be installing a new fuel filter and plugs, setting the valves and synching the throttle bodies shortly.

Anybody have any other ideas while I have it apart?

[Jeff]

Are you overfilling the fuel tank? If fuel goes into the breater hose and goes into the evap canister and the hoses are not routed correctly when you start and take off fuel goes from canister thru evap valve to the little hoses under the throttle bodies and you flood the engine out. Been there, happened to me from over filling my 94 RS

[fishpd]

Jeff: I don't think I am overfilling since I fill to just below the lip. I did take the tank off when installing the Heatroller and additional lighting, but the problem occurred before I removed the tank.

However, I will give the overflow some attention when I replace the fuel filter. Maybe the previous owner/mechanic mis-routed it.

Thanks for the tip.

JWF

[kbasa]

I'd give it a canisterectomy. You can find the instructions at the IBMWR site. www.ibmwr.org

I'd bet you're getting overflowing fuel into the charcoal canister.

[JimVonBaden1]

Do you fill your fuel tank on the center stand or the side stand?

My bet is the charcoal canister is getting excessive fuel in it. Time to get rid of it.

Jim:brow

[Mr. Frank]

Originally posted by JimVonBaden
Do you fill your fuel tank on the center stand or the side stand?

My bet is the charcoal canister is getting excessive fuel in it. Time to get rid of it.

Jim:brow

Which technique is more likely to overflow into the canister?

[JimVonBaden1]

Originally posted by Mr. Frank
Which technique is more likely to overflow into the canister?

To be honest, I am not sure where the drain is on your bike's filler neck. But if it were on the left side, it would be more likely to leak into the drain.

More importantly is how full you fill your tank. If you fill it past the bottom ring, and it is hot outside, or your bike is hot, expansion of the fuel in the tank will force the excess fuel into your charcoal canister causing it to run poorly untill it is dried out.

I always fill my bike on the center stand, and never past the lowest ring. Of course with my charcoal canister removed I wouldn't have that problem, but I would see the excess fuel drain out onto the ground where the old canister tube now drains.

Jim:brow

[oldcarkook]

How the hell can you find a seven year old bike with only 3500 miles on it! Wowzers. I'm calling you the next time I go shopping. Good score.

I would agree with others that the symptoms are indicating a flooded/choked canister.

When I'm traveling and know I'm going to be riding on, I will "overfill" my bike routinely and not think about it, but now I'll give that some second thoughts.

Interesting thread.:thumb

[fishpd]

So this week I changed the fuel filter, removed the canister, checked the valve clearances, balanced the throttle bodies and put on two new tires since it was on the lift.

The tank was really clean inside and the fuel filter was as clean as a whistle when I opened it up. The valves were very close to being spot on and so were the throttle bodies.

I filled the tank to the level that I usually do and....................It runs perfectly, for an Oilhead.

Since the tank was clean and the valves & throttle bodies were good, that leaves the tires and the canister as the potential culprits.

I'm guessing it was the canister.

Thanks for all the input.

[bmrrdr]

Hey John, I had a similar problem with my R1150gs last year. It turned out to be a dirt dobbers nest in the air intake. Real simple. It inly did it after I filled up. Good luck. Bret Foreman