Any ideas.... - Harley Forum

unfknblvbl · #1 08-14-2008, 05:23 PM

What may have caused this to happen: This morning I back the bike out of the garage and start her up. It'd been a couple of days so I was letting her idle while I was putting my gear on. Out of nowhere she decides to die. I thought, "hhhmmmm that was kind of odd, wonder what caused that

." So I attempted to start it again. She coughed and gurgled, but didn't start, so I gave it a second then tried again. I got the same thing, but this time a poof of white smoke/mist came out from behind the air cleaner cover, and the cover frosted over just a bit, but immediately went away. So I pushed it back in the garage and my first instinct was my fuelpak lost its programming. So I pulled the seat and checked that, but it was good. So I attempted to start it again and it started right up, no problems. Rode it 40 miles to work, not one problem, rode it home and not one problem. Things seem to be good now, but I was just wondering if anyone had any idea what may of caused this and why it may of happened.

Thanks

frisco-rigid · #2 08-14-2008, 08:21 PM

Hi Un

Honest to goodness bub,, why do you think I call em devil machines..?!

Sometimes they just do something that they've never done before and may never do again..
Hopefully it isn't some pre-cursor to a developing prob,, I bet not..

A white smokey mist, hmmm, my guess is prob just a carb back-fire with a mist of gas..

Did the AF element get wet recently.?

clif02 · #3 08-14-2008, 08:53 PM

Un- I don't have fuel injection but I've had that happen to me twice. And it happened after the bike sat for a few days. What you described is almost identical to what happened to me but I have had no issues or ill effects from it. Hey Frisco...maybe gas pooling in the carb & lines and overfeeding? I attribute the mist to vapor...but all is well. These bikes do funny stuff every now and again...

frisco-rigid · #4 08-14-2008, 11:46 PM

Hey clif

Glad to see you made it in completly..

Actually, if I was to chose between gas pooling creating a rich condition or a start-up lean condition, I would chose the latter..

A back-fire through the carb indicates a lean condition which can easily happen upon a cold start-up..
Often as I kick my motors, especially cold, I'll get a small carb BF because I didn't pump a shot or prime it sufficiently..
But, I never get a mist cuz it always ignites immediately, cool looking at night though..

Anyway, I negleted to remember UN's sickle is EFI so I cannot suggest much more..

Wrightturn · #5 08-15-2008, 01:13 AM

Hey guys,

Just a guess since have never lived with EFI. The Bike started and didn`t fully warm up. Fuel pak goes lean and bike won`t start. Attempts to restart continue the too lean condition until the Fuel Pak resets.

I can duplicate this on a carb bike. Pull choke and start the bike. Push choke in too soon. Try to restart the bike without pulling choke or priming on the carb. Get ready for the belch. Who says new bikes don`t have personality !

03fxst · #6 08-15-2008, 09:54 AM

I've had that happen as well after a stall or an early shut down when it wasn't quite warm. Not EFI but sounds like the same thing. A short hop to the gas station on a cool morning can do it. I Didn't know what caused it until reading Wrightturn's post. I'd be so caught up with the compression releases and worried about the starter clutch slipping that I'd forget she still wanted a little choke and sure enough pop out the carb with a small white cloud. Scared the heck out of me the first time.
I have to agree with Wrightturn, she is just reminding me she has a personaility of her own and that personality includes making sure I never, ever take for granted that she will start on the first try.

03FXST

unfknblvbl · #7 08-16-2008, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe my bike is aspiring to be a carb'd bike

. I'd rather it be carb'd.....

All seems well now.