Casper Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 I took my 01 Katana down to the local you wash place. I washed the bike really good, and everything was fine. I rode home and had no problems. The next day, I rode the bike downtown from Dublin. As I got to around 670 and Neil, it started to sputter. I would cruise, but if I gave it gas it sputtered. As I got off on Cleveland Ave, as soon as I put it in neutral, it died. I couldn't start it. Put the choke on and it started fine. Turned the choke off and it was fine. It rode the rest of the afternoon without problem. Then last night I rode up to Kenton. Everything was fine on the way up. On the way back however, it did the same thing. I had to pull into the rest area on 33 between here and Marysville. Let it sit for ten minutes or so, and it was fine for the rest of the ride home. Now today it started doing it again. My initial thought was water in the airbox. But by now that should be dried out. I'm lost. I have no idea if its even related to me washing the bike. I've been through a tank of gas already and filled up, so its not bad gas. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatwad Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 I'm no bike mechanic guru, but in my honest opinion your problem stems from the fact that you went to Kenton. Your bike, being telepathic, (like most bikes) knew this and said "What the fuck is in Kenton?!? Hell with that, I'm tappin out," or something to that effect. Solution: Don't go to Kenton. And it has been my experience that washing a bike is the worst thing you could do. First time I did it, lost my map. Second time, brand new Qualifier went flat. Third time, bent both fucking wheels and almost lost the bike. I have learned my lesson. My bike likes being a dirty little whore. And as such I ride it that way. (You dirty, dirty Gixster) :twisted: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Kenton is half way to Toledo. My ex and I met up there for dinner. As for washing it, yeah... I definitely won't be doing that again. But I need to figure out what the fuck I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzukisportrider2004 Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 look for water under the plug boots and a around the plugs also plug the plugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owndjoo Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 look for water under the plug boots and a around the plugs also plug the plugs +1 on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 look for water under the plug boots and a around the plugs also plug the plugs No water under the plug boots nor around the plugs. What does "plug the plugs" mean? Sorry if that's a novice question. More info: My airbox has a drain tube. That's normal. However, it has a plug in the end of the drain tube. That's odd (at least with what I've seen). The plug is factory, I checked. I pulled the plug, and oil and water drained out. That's odd. About a 1/4 cup of the water/oil mix drained out. WTF? I rode for about an hour tonight after unplugging that drain hose and now everything seems to be fine. I figure I'll pull the airbox tomorrow and replace the air filter. So now the question is, "why in the fuck is there oil in my airbox"? The water is most likely from me washing the bike. But where did the oil come from? My possible answer: About a month ago I changed the oil. I over filled it because I'm a fucking idiot. The owner's manual said 4L, so I put in 4L. My dumbass didn't see the 3600mL marking on the engine casing. So I started it with 4L of oil. It smoked like holy hell. That's an easy one... blow by. Drained the oil and filled with 3.6L. No more smoke, and it ran fine. Sweet. Could the oil I drained from the air box be from the blow by? I've seen that happen in cars more times than I can count. I can only assume this is the correct answer. Just figure I'll post it up on here to get a few more opinions and for others to see incase this happens to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzukisportrider2004 Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 sorry pull the plugs maybe you fouled one you will have oil in the air box it normal on a katthis is why i never powerwash my bike i always hand wash it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 I made extra careful to only use the power wash on the plastics. I didn't even spray the engine. That's why this is pissing me off so much. But yea, I'll never do that again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samhain138 Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Ive heard alot of bad things happen when folks wash their bike w/ water. Sorry to hear of your troubles. Ive never used water on my whips, just honda polish, ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
420gsxr1000 Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 sorry pull the plugs maybe you fouled one you will have oil in the air box it normal on a katthis is why i never powerwash my bike i always hand wash it +1 +1 NEVER POWER WASH, AND IF ALL YOU DID WAS HIT THE PLASTICS WELL, THATS NOT MUCH, SO USE YOUR HOSE AT HOME MY 2 CENTS(opps sorry for th caps...not shouting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Unfortunately, I don't have a hose at home. I live in an apartment complex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaFrozenGixxer Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 I am going to school to be a motorcycle tech and the worst thing in the world you can do is wash a bike with a power washer!!!!!!!!! If you did that there is a good possiblity you sprayed alot of the necessary lubricant and such from your engine along with getting water around your plugs and fouling them up. Also you could have blown some gaskets or seals that create compression in your cylinders...all of which is a bad thing..lol But without hearing the bike run or lacj there of starting I can't say much more then only use a regular hose no power washers...lol they are the devil for bikes. But good luck with your issue if you haven't resolved it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Again, I stayed away from the engine. I know its bad to powerwash the engine. That's just common sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzukisportrider2004 Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 still running bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Okay, here's the update:After I thought it was going to be okay, it did it again. This time worse. So, Jason (droptop) and I pulled the tank and drained the gas. I replaced the fuel filter. Put it back together. Put good fuel in. I just happened to notice bubbling from around the choke actuator on the #1 carb. Eric (nether93) told me that is most likely from the float sticking and flooding the carb. Makes sense. The choke is at the top of the carb. Fuel isn't supposed to be up there, yet fuel is bubbling out. Okay. So I pulled the tank again. Pulled the carbs. Drained the carbs. Pulled the bowl cover from the #1 carb. Sure enough, there's calcium/lime deposits. Ah, so now the story gets better. How does water get in the fuel? Bad gas? Bad seal around gas cap? I'm not sure, but either way there was most certainly water in my gas. So I popped the covers off the other carbs. Sure enough, same thing. So I cleaned the carbs out really good, and made sure the floats and needles weren't sticking. I finished this up last night. Tonight I rode the holy hell out of the bike. I rode every way I could trying to get it to fuck up. Nothing. No stuttering, nothing. So, is it fixed? We'll see. I rode for about an hour and a half tonight with no problems. I'm going to ride to work tomorrow and see how it acts. I think I've found the problem though and fixed it with the help of Jason (droptop) and Eric (nether93). I'll post an update when (if) I get home after work tomorrow. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaFrozenGixxer Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 water can also get in the tank if you dont plug the...damnit....we just went over how to wash bikes today...I know it's dumb but some people had no clue on how to wash bikes....and they are going to be tech's.....remember that when you go to a dealership...lol but it can get in the gas tank true like a relief valve or something along those lines...sorry I can't be specific...long week getting screwed over by the school seems they like to take your money but not give you money they owe you. also it could get into the carb if you dont have a tight seal... around the carb. But those are just words from a tech in training....sorry again for my lack of technical jargin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudPops Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 You are all missing the message here. Our bikes are one with us, we ride them because we love them. Ya take your your Love to see the X, Whaddya expect?Pops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Doh....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 I rode for five hours yesterday with no problems. Looks like its fixed. Sweeeeeeet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmagicglock Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 I'm no bike mechanic guru, but in my honest opinion your problem stems from the fact that you went to Kenton. Your bike, being telepathic, (like most bikes) knew this and said "What the fuck is in Kenton?!? Hell with that, I'm tappin out," or something to that effect. Solution: Don't go to Kenton. And it has been my experience that washing a bike is the worst thing you could do. First time I did it, lost my map. Second time, brand new Qualifier went flat. Third time, bent both fucking wheels and almost lost the bike. I have learned my lesson. My bike likes being a dirty little whore. And as such I ride it that way. (You dirty, dirty Gixster) :twisted:one of the best OR quotes of all time, what happened to this guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 Holy thread resurrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantxtc Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 You most likely have oil in the airbox due to the crank case breather venting in there. Not a big deal and it is normal bro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmagicglock Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 You most likely have oil in the airbox due to the crank case breather venting in there. Not a big deal and it is normal bro.well if he didn't get it fixed in the last 3 years i think he's hopeless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagr Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 This is disturbing.i cant belive the Creator owned a Kannatuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxr750girl Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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