GL1200 Sei Stalling, Stuttering

[Chuckster]

Hi Guys,
Bought a nice 1986 SEi last year and love it.
However, a few weeks back I noticed a couple of minor stutters while riding, and a bit of lag when cracking the throttle.

Ran some Sea Foam into the fuel tank and filled it with Premium Chevron Hightest.

A few kms down the road it started to sputter and run really rough. Got it home ok.
Next day started fine, but a few kms same thing. Cracked the throtle to full and Fuel System light came on, but bike ran ok temporarily. No Fuel System light on since.

No improvement. Topped it up with regular fuel and then had fouled plugs replaced. No improvement. Bad smell out exhaust of possibly unburnt fuel.

Mech doesn't know where to go and I am very concerned. Noticed no LED lights flashing on computer pod either.

Have heard all kinds of things, fuel filter, magneto, main computer, injectors on and on.

Can anyone advise of a systematic set of steps I can take to my mech that he can just begin to work through. Feel like we are in the dark, and sure would like my bike up and running again as wife and I were planning big ride in about 2 weeks, but no way now. All workable advice would be greatly appreciated and has anyone encountered anything like this before on an SEi?

P.S
I was reading a post and decided to check this out. I added Sea Foam to
my SEi and it is running like crap as mentioned. Stalling, fouling and burning lots
of fuel.
May have added too much to tank and gummed up the injectors according to earlier post.
How can I now proceed to resolve the injector problem or determine if that
is the problem? The only datum I have is bike started to run really bad
after introducing Sea Foam to tank.
Where do I go from here?? Am not a mechanic and am new to this site, so please bear with me as I try to muddle through this, and the fact that my Wing is kaput right now possibly with a self inflicted wound. Also, where could I get parts like a TPS or a pressure regulator or even replacement injectors as those seem to be common culprits for the type of failure I seem to be encountering.

Many thanks,
Chuck

[neoracer]

pm me your email and i'll send you the sei supplement which may help
next time time the fuel light comes on,before you turn bike off check the ecm trouble lights to see what codes its throwing,once you turn it off most likely the codes will clear
once the codes set the bike will often "correct'' itself,but problem will resurface once the bike is restarted

alot of the tests can be done by you at home with minimal tools,ohmeter,vacuum guage,connector cleaning etc., biggest problem is unless the problem is occurring when you are testing its a crap shoot to track the problem down

i've been having an occasional surging problem which doesn't seem to want to happen until it gets hot outside and on a long run

[jclayto]

I haven't seen this on my G. W. but I did have this happen on my V45 Magna, It would sputter flash all kinda lights on the cluster. Leave it off for a while and you would be good to go. Then when you would just begin to trust it again POW same thing. What I found on the V45 was, one of the CDI boxes was bad.

After I changed the CDI I ran the bike about 2K then I bought my wing, And I have only ridden the bike three times since. I still starts and runs nice.

Jim

[Chuckster]

Thanks on that. Feels to me just on instinct that it is a fuel delivery related problem, but frankly just not sure. Anyone know any Specialists on the SEi in the Vancouver BC area. My mech is more a tuneup service guy with carbs than injectors, but he may be able to do preliminary stuff.

Chuck

[Keener]

Chuck, there are a couple of members in your general area: firstwing85 whose name is Johan and lives in Aldergrove and AL-NVAN whose name is Alan and he lives in North Vancouver. Both have '85 models but they may be able to help. Contact through PM or e-mail as shown in the Members section.

[alnvan]

Hello Chuck
Sounds like a fuel delivery problem, I would replace the fuel filter first to eliminate that possibility and then check the connections to the fuel pump.
Call me after the weekend around 6 PM ( 604-985-5506 )

Alan

[bs175dths]

Why did you introduce Seafoam into the fuel system?
Answer: to clean the fuel system of rust and dirt particles. Seafoam won’t gum up the fuel system.
What it can do is dislodge rust particles in the fuel tank and allow them to get into and clog the injectors or the fuel lines.
Fuel filters (OEM and aftermarket) can and will pass rust and dirt particles large enough to cause havoc with the fuel system.
Adding too much Seafoam may dislodge a lot of rust, causing the engine to run poorly, or may change the fuel ratio so the engine is running rich. (smell of unburned fuel) or both.

To eliminate other causes, change out some common tune-up parts: new plugs, new air filter (even though it ‘looks’ okay), new fuel filter.
You may consider changing the fuel lines as well.
Keep in mind, there is always a possibility the fuel tank will continue to feed rust through the system until the Seafoam is done doing what it was intended to do, so clogging may continue through the new parts.

As far as EFI parts, all the typical sources, stealer, aftermarket, fleebay, keeping in mind, used are used.
There is a special joy (sarcasm) involved with owning/operating a 25 year old machine. Additional joy is experienced when that machine in EFI. Rest assured, ANYTHING can be repaired but patience is required as well as time and money.

Welcome to one of the best sites for GL1200’s.
Lots of advice, encouragement and resources are available as a member.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

[Keener]

Chuckster, here's a tip provided by a self-exiled former member who has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to 1200s:

"...the Seafoam probably did dislodge some crappola. There is a little known cone shaped filter prior to the fuel pump that may be gunked up. It is seperate from the fuel filter which I believe is after the pump. It needs to be checked."

Hope this helps.

[Chuckster]

Thanks for data. Can someone advise me further about this little known cone filter. Exactly where is it? How best to get to it, and remove it? Is it a filter to be replaced or just cleaned up? How big is it?

It does not seem to be shown anywhere in Honda manual, or Supplement, so to save a bunch of digging time any further data would be appreciated

[Keener]

Can you follow the fuel line until you reach the cone filter? Its supposed to be before the fuel pump.

[firstwing85]

Can someone advise me further about this little known cone filter. Exactly where is it? How best to get to it, and remove it? Is it a filter to be replaced or just cleaned up? How big is it?

hello sir, I also have a Limited Edition and have the Engine out right now to install a new stator.
I will be home on Sunday night and then have 4 days off, I will take a look at my fuel line on Monday and take some pictures for you if you are not able to get answers sooner.
I'll be happy to help you any way I can..

it should be easy for me to find it since my engine is already out..

[neoracer]

the cone filter is located on the inlet side (left) on the fuel pump,its about 1 1/2" long,its just pushed into the inlet

first turnoff the fuel petcock,but be prepared to clamp off the hose once you get hose off since the petcocks often go bad,you can use low pressure air to clean out filter

[Chuckster]

Worked with the mechanic on this, got plugs replaced The plugs were all badly fouled, even though thery were only installed a couple of weeks ago with minimal riding. New fuel filther (the old one was not bad, not really plugged up), and checked the lines to fuel pump, and checked as mentioned for the cone filter inside the inlet to the fuel pump, as well as on the line and there is no cone filter to be found. Fuel pump, regulator seem to be ok. Bike also has fresh fuel in her.

Pet cock was ok, and next is the engine balance. Had several of the electrical connections also properly greased with no real notice of any corrosion.

Gonna have her ready early next week and will get a chance to fire her up and take her out. Am hoping this will resolve matters and put me back on the road.

Thanks for all the comments, and anyone with any other ideas, let me know, as I am saving all of this data for reference.

Chuck

[Keener]

Here's hoping all will be well when you take her out, Chuck.

[Chuckster]

Ok guys, here's the latest update.....frustration!!
So, as matters stand, new plugs, new fuel filter, checked fuel pump, checked air filter, engine balance done, checked for cone filter (none found). Ran out most of the fuel and filled it with regular, checked pet cock and in the process had some electrical connections checked and lubed and clutch fluid changed. Plugs were changed twice already badly fouled. So finally all set with a 3rd set of plugs I picked up the bike today.

First noticed it idled very high. Had mech adjust it down, even though he said in shop bike idled fine for about 15 minutes on the day before.
Left and the bike ran fine....for about 4 minutes. Same problem occurred.Sputtering, not idling, stalling and hesitation.
I limped the bike back to mech and first thing he checked was a plug. Again badly fouled witin 5 minutes. It is starting to seem that as the bike warms up, it runs worse. Three bars on the temp. guage and it is running rough.

BTW- Absolutely NO code lights were on or flashing that we noticed either with bike on or just with ignition key on.

I called the mech once I got home and he restarted the bike, this is now 20 minutes later and he thought it was odd that the fan came on....still. He is wondering several things. And here is where I need some direction from members.

He says the problem is NOT with a restricted fuel flow. He says the bike is burning RICH. He wanted your ideas, and also wanted to know if there were any sensors, oxygen or such in the exhaust, as a place to go look for rich fuel problem.

He is also wondering if there is a temperature sensor that may be a problem. Where is it, how do you get to it?
Also does the temperature sensor perhaps allow more fuel into the system than required? Could this sensor keep the rad fan on too long as well?

Is there any other ideas or suggestions that I should pass along to the mech as to where to go to from here before I get an overwhelming urge to push my beloved bike off a nice high local bridge??

BTW- Once we resolve this matter, we can get back to my compressor, that pumps, but no air. But best to have a running bike first. Compressor seems like it could be an interesting adventure too.

Thanks,
Chuck