NC35 Dying

[hawk2993]

Hi Guys,

After a major service, i was on the free way for about an hour before my bike just died...the revs started dropping and it cut out.

This isn't the first time, in fact, it's the fourth time this happened, so far, they've rewounded the stator, so the battery and stuff is charging fine and they went through the electrics but didn't exactly tell me what they fixed? something to do with the switch housing.

I don't know why it's still dying randomnly :/ . I did go through heavy heavy traffic in the tunnel, so the engine was real hot, the temp gauge was at H. But, it was still fine. And after the tunnel I was up to speed and the temp gauge was back to normal.

I really need help! I'm on the verge of selling the bike.

Thanks.

[speedy231278]

Temp gauge shouldn't reach the end of the scale through normal running, even in heavy traffic when it's already hot. You should be able to get the bike nice and hot on a ride, then leave it ticking over on your drive for probably 10 mins or more before the temp gauge starts thinking about reaching for the red. Having said that, while the bike will run a little poorer when it gets really hot, it shouldn't drop revs or cut out, I find you generally lose a bit of power and the throttle response is a little hesitant. Does this issue always occur when the bike gets hot?

It's probably worth cleaning the radiators and flushing the cooling system out. The bottom rad tands to get bunged up with road crap really easily, and the cooling is pretty marginal, so it has a big effect, even in the winter.

[hawk2993]

Nah the bike's heat isn't affecting the riding, it cuts out randomnly, today I tried to start it, wouldnt start, but when i put the fuel tap to reserve, it started, but it was really hard to start, almost drained my battery completely. Then I rode it and switch the fuel tap back to on, 5 minutes later it cut out again. And yes, I have fuel in the tank lol.

[speedy231278]

How much fuel? It wasn't simply right on the edge of running onto reserve? If it only runs properly when the tap is set to reserve regardless of how much fuel in the tank, maybe there's some crap in the fuel tap or fuel filter on the main section rather than the reserve section? Or does it do this a little while before you actually reach what should be the reserve fuel level? I had an issue a while ago where the bike would act like it was running onto reserve about a litre early, missing, lack of power, but it would keep running after a fashion. Turned out there was a kink in the fuel hose. It didn't affect the fuel flow when the fuel level above the fuel filter was high enough for gravity to overcome the restriction, but as soon as it got anywhere near reserve or empty, I had issues.

[hawk2993]

Still alot of fuel, not even half tank I'd say, i only went about 40-50km, and it was on a full tank. I could still see the fuel easily when i popped the tank cap.

It runs on reserve but its still hard to start up, i almost drained the battery starting it up on reservce, when the tap is on on, its pretty much impossible to start. I'm pretty sure something must've failed cause it was running fine for an hour on the freeway before it broke down. Now it'll only last 5 minutes on 'on', and i reckon that it's just running the fuel that's already in the system and not from the tank. After that, I have to wait for a while, then put it in reserve and start it up and run her on reserve.

[speedy231278]

I'd be looking at the fuel tap. Take it apart to see if there's any crap in it or the filters. Also, check the vacuum hose unless the tap has been modded, to see if maybe it's not pulling the diaphragm open properly. I'm not sure how long the fuel in the pipe and float bowls will last, but it certainly is no longer than five mins and probably more like a minute in my experience, but unless you do it deliberately I guess you're not really going to pay attention to how long it takes. How about turning the fuel off from reserve, and seeing if the bike dies in the same timeframe as when going from on to res? That would probably confirm an issue with the fuel tap or filter for the main part of the tank.

[Baz]

Sounds like the vacuum hose to me. My did same thing but without the overheating problem so that happening as we'll might just be coincidence. Make sure the hose has been reconnected properly if the tank has been off (the NC30 has two places it fits but only one works, not too sure on the 35?) and also that it is not kinked. A new one is only £3 from rick oliver so might be worth replacing anyway. If its not the vacuum hose at least it's a cheap and easy option to try first!

[speedy231278]

Same spigot arrangement on the 35. It's probably the same tap.

[speedy231278]

Effectively, it's the same tap. NC30 part ends 013 or 023 depending on when the bike was built. NC35 part ends 043. All are superceded by 16950-MR8-073. A mere £138.43 plus VAT!!!

[Cammo]

Sounds like the vacuum hose to me.

+1

Best to replace the hose to eliminate it as the cause.