I am new to this board, and have really appreciated the information I have gotten from the board to keep my 06 R* at its best.

I have an 06 RoadStar Silverado with lots of chorme goodies. The only performance changes I have made so far are Cobra Speedster Slash Cut pipes. The Air Filter is stock, the AIS is in place. Recently when I have gotten the bike up to temperature, and I live in a hot climate at sea level, when I turn the key on the fuel pump runs continuously and gasoline runs down the side of the engine case and the engine floods. It starts only by opening the throttle full open and cranking away. I assume the floats are sticking open for some reason and will no doubt have to fix them some how. Please advise on what you think may be happening and how to address this. It is a mess and there is nothing like lots of gas around hot exhaust to get your attention.

As all motorcycles are a continuous work in progress, I look forward to working together on this one and to helping out when ever I can.

Welcome to the Clinic Crusiebob,

You've answered your own question.

The fuel pump usually shuts down when the bowl is full. You probably have some dirt in the float bowl needle seat which doesn't allow the needle to seat completely.

Doc

Thanks Doc, I wonder how dirt got into a system that has never been open????

I guess I am entering Tinkerville for real now. I will clean out the float bowl and see what happens.

Bob

I've had two different Raodstars, and they both did what you described. It's called "Percolation". You may notice that the carb is real close to the cylinders. On HOT days, this tends to heat up the carb. Not to mention that "carb Heater" that is installed from the factory.

The best way to start your bike once it floods, and it will, is shut the gas off at the petcock, and turn the starter. It will start shortly, then let it run for a few before you turn the gas petcock back on. It should run fine until you stop again. You may prevent some of this by getting in the habit of turning the petcock off each time you stop the bike on hot days.

The next step is to change to an aftermarket air cleaner box. This allows for better air flow around the carb, and it will reduce the heating of the carb.

NO, your needle and seat are not dirty. NO, your floats are not sticking. It's a pressure thing. HOT GAS, LOT'S OF PRESSURE, BLOWS BY THE NEEDLE AND SEAT.

No fix for it, just get used to it. You could remove the fuel pump. I've heard of people doing it, although maybe not for the same reason.

Good luck.<br><br>Post edited by: russdustus, at: 2006/10/30 12:51

i&acute;d be inclined to check the float height before anything, then check the needle valve is seating properly.

i&acute;ve had mine for 5 years now, and the temps here average 40+&ordm;c all summer. never had percolation occur.

The key word used by Cuiserbod is &quot;recently&quot; so something has changed. If his bike was acting OK before and now it's not, then the first thing to suspect is whatever was added or taken off.

Doesn't look like he's changed anything so I would suspect that for some reason the needle valve is sticking open. It doesn't necessarily have to be a piece of dirt; it could just be deposits on the seat and/or the valve.

erizo right, while you're at it you might as well check the float level.

Doc

the Percolation is what it's doing - I think as the fuel boils in the float bowl the floats lower causing the fuel to be pushed out the main jet by the pressure of the pump and the boiling... the roadstar does not have an overflow inside the carb.. (design flaw)

be very careful when trying to hold the throttle open because it's flooding .. if your bike backfires that vaporized fuel can / will ignite! including your right foot / leg (don't ask me how I know) if your bike is doing it a lot (ie more than once a summer) I'd be throwing a fit at the dealer...

I'd recommend when you bike starts puking fuel... go take a 20 minute break... it can continue to puke fuel even when you are moving especially if you're going slow, you're at high altitude, it's really hot out...

make sure your bike isn't running hot - make sure your pipes aren't leaking making the bike run leaner than it's set up to be... (lean = hot) make sure it's jetted correctly consider getting an oil cooler if you do a lot of sitting in traffic / idling / riding into the mountains (thin air = less cooling)

I had a dealer in colorado say they have to adjust all their roadstars for the higher altitude - the lower the float bowl settings and they remove something else (I was talking to the manager - not a service guy - so he didn't know what)
~Guido<br><br>Post edited by: davehrn, at: 2006/10/30 15:16

Thank you all for your comments. It sounds like this may be an issue with other R*, but one that can be fixed. It started before I changed the pipes so probably not related to that. Although I notice a little more heat with the new pipes, and believe it is more due to the routing change from the stock rear pipe to the Cobra rear pipe. I have not messed with the PMS yet, so may be on the ragged edge of lean. It does not back fire, although it sure did until I reinstalled the pipes with new gaskets. My lady was quite impressed by the fire shooting out of the pipe when we tested it out.

For the rest of the story, I live in South Florida, it gets real hot here, and I ride in a lot of traffic. I always turn the petcock off when I stop, too many years of gravity feed bikes I guess, and the flow stops as soon as the engine starts. When the scooter is hot and I have to start it, I leave the petcock off and turn the key with my left hand and press the start button with my right. So far that seems to work, but I think this weekend I will mess with the PMS out a half turn and clean the float bowl and check the seat. I agree that it is percoaltion as the flow stops when the engine starts cool fuel makes everything alright.

Do I really need a carb heater????

A recent picture of a work in progress.

If I were having this problem I would be checking out the float, needle,heater,etc.If the carb checks out normal.I would then take it back where I got it and raise hell .I would also contact the http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Its a fed site and is self explanitory on checking on and reporting saftey hazards for vehicles.&quot;Its percolation and this is how to deal with it&quot; doesnt fly with me. ......Coug<br><br>Post edited by: Cougar, at: 2006/10/30 16:14

Crusierbob wrote:
Do I really need a carb heater????

Here's a post from a while back ....

http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_simpleboard/Itemid,/func,view/catid,12/id,1558/#1558

Doc