I hope this is the proper place for my inquiry. If not I apologize.

Just got my '99 Road Star back from the tranny recall work on Sat. (4/9/11). Drove it around on Sat. for a short time and drove it Sunday for about 40 miles. Drove it at 65mph, 55mph, 35mph, 25mph, etc. Lots of varied speeds on my rides. Filled it with gas (3 gal) and "attempted" to drive off. About 1.4 miles down the road it appeared to be starving for fuel and died on me. I checked my petcock (yup it's open/on) pulled the choke and it started, ran for about 20 seconds and died. Tried to run it with the choke open. Ran for 30 seconds, pushed the choke back in, died 10 seconds later. This went on for about 15 minutes.

Called for a tow and they took it to my local Yamaha dealer, who is closed on Sunday of course. 45 minute ride on the flatbed to the dealer. While waiting for a ride home I started the cycle. I ran the engine parked for about 10 minutes and it WOULD NOT DIE ! Left it at the dealer cause I need to get this fixed of course.

So, where do I start looking ? I've had Seafoam in the tank for the past 3-4 days and was running 91 octane "non-reformulated" fuel in it. Has a fresh fuel filter on it. Float bowls sticking ? Fuel pump failing/not working correctly ?Is the Seafoam cleaning up some gunk in the carbs ? Ever so briefly the check engine light (?)(amber) came on but did not STAY on.

For starters I'd be interested in what the dealer did beyond the transmission work. 91 octane is a bit much unless you're running high compression pistons. There could be a number of issues going on fuel wise. Seafoam might have loosened something and partially plugged a filter.

GP

Was the pump buzzing like crazy when it starved ?

coalstoves wrote:
Was the pump buzzing like crazy when it starved ?

If the pump wasn't buzzing, that might be your problem. Mine messed up on me once, right out of the blue. I don't know what happened, but it has never happened again in over 10k miles.. Weird..

It was such a noisy location that I broke down in but I did not hear the pump buzzing.

It sounds like your tank pulled a vacuum. You said the bike started and ran after sitting for a while while waiting for a ride. Pinched vent tube??? That's what it sounds like to me.

You can remove the gas cap and if it runs OK then the tank vent is plugged. If it still does it try banging on the right side cover and on the fuel pump cover and see if you hear the pump running. If you have pliers take the fuel line off the carb and see if it is pumping fuel. If you have a length of fuel line long enough take the line off the petcock and run the spare length of fuel line from the tank to the carb.

Also check the roll-over valve. They will get dirty and stick closed causing the tank to not vent. The roll-over valve will be attached to the vent tube out the bottom of the bike. I took mine off along time ago and have not had that problem since.

i took my rollover valve off long ago..and i opened up the metered hole that comes off of the tank just a few drill sizes larger to let air in.. i smell fumes very rarely but no more trouble getting the gas cap off.. if i pulled into a station for gas after a run the tank would suck in air after i pried the cap off.. i now run pumpless without any trouble with venting or fuel flow.. it was worth taking it off..

Dealer advised me today that he and another mechanic drove the RS today. First time out ran O.K. Second driver/mechanic took the bike out today drove fine UNTIL he got back to the dealership where it promptly "PUKED" on him. Their analysis is that the fuel pump is overheating and shutting off. New fuel pump going in now and I have to remain optimistic that will fix the problem.

Only time, and god forbid, no towing from out in the boonies will tell.