I just recently completed a 9000+ mile cross country trip and prior to leaving did all the normal maintenance items (air/fuel filter, plugs, oil change, spline lube, etc). In the beginning of the trip the bike was running fantastic. Once I hit higher elevations (5000ft+), however, the bike would stall at idle even with the elevation plug installed.
Back closer to sea-level in California the bike again ran great with a noticeable increase in power. All the way across the lower states the bike seemed fine. Performance was good and so was fuel mileage.
At the Tail of the Dragon I had the bike dynoed (for ****s and giggles) and also had an Air/Fuel analysis done. This was a WOT run, but the graph showed that I was running very lean toward the top RPM range (eg ~80mph A/F = 16).
Coincidentally (maybe?) that night we ended up doing the last 600 miles as we were eager to get home. On my last tank I went only 130miles and was so low on gas I didn't think I would make it; my fuel mileage had plummeted. Environmental conditions were similar to other areas of the trip and weight had not changed at all. Tire air pressure was the at the same level it was through out the trip. This seems to contradict the fact that I was told I was running lean.
Once I got home I checked the normal items. The air filter was just fine. The spark plugs all look great and were consistent with one another. Turned out that the fuel filter was almost completely clogged. I could barely blow air through it!! That was swapped out for a brand new OEM BMW filter. I was certain that the clogged filter was impeding fuel flow, lowering pressure, thus causing my lean condition.
Well, I have ridden the bike three times since the fuel filter change and I am still running lean. I know this by doing the starter button test. After the bike is warm I put the choke lever on the first position. This causes the bike to hold a steady engine speed of ~1,300rpms. Pushing the starter button causes the engine speed to increase to just over 2000rpms.
In addition my bike is still stalling, or getting ready to stall, when I come to a stop. Where do I go from here? I just recently had my stock injectors cleaned and plan on installing them in place of the Ford injectors I have in there now. Some may say that they are the problem but why? I have had those injectors in for thousands of miles before the trip with no issues.
The only thing I can think of is that the fuel filter was too clogged for too long and wore the pump down and it has become weak because of the abuse. Is that a possibility? I do not have a fuel pressure gauge to determine if it is putting out adequate pressure. Judging by sound alone the fuel pump is performing no different.
Thanks for the help.
Back closer to sea-level in California the bike again ran great with a noticeable increase in power. All the way across the lower states the bike seemed fine. Performance was good and so was fuel mileage.
At the Tail of the Dragon I had the bike dynoed (for ****s and giggles) and also had an Air/Fuel analysis done. This was a WOT run, but the graph showed that I was running very lean toward the top RPM range (eg ~80mph A/F = 16).
Coincidentally (maybe?) that night we ended up doing the last 600 miles as we were eager to get home. On my last tank I went only 130miles and was so low on gas I didn't think I would make it; my fuel mileage had plummeted. Environmental conditions were similar to other areas of the trip and weight had not changed at all. Tire air pressure was the at the same level it was through out the trip. This seems to contradict the fact that I was told I was running lean.
Once I got home I checked the normal items. The air filter was just fine. The spark plugs all look great and were consistent with one another. Turned out that the fuel filter was almost completely clogged. I could barely blow air through it!! That was swapped out for a brand new OEM BMW filter. I was certain that the clogged filter was impeding fuel flow, lowering pressure, thus causing my lean condition.
Well, I have ridden the bike three times since the fuel filter change and I am still running lean. I know this by doing the starter button test. After the bike is warm I put the choke lever on the first position. This causes the bike to hold a steady engine speed of ~1,300rpms. Pushing the starter button causes the engine speed to increase to just over 2000rpms.
In addition my bike is still stalling, or getting ready to stall, when I come to a stop. Where do I go from here? I just recently had my stock injectors cleaned and plan on installing them in place of the Ford injectors I have in there now. Some may say that they are the problem but why? I have had those injectors in for thousands of miles before the trip with no issues.
The only thing I can think of is that the fuel filter was too clogged for too long and wore the pump down and it has become weak because of the abuse. Is that a possibility? I do not have a fuel pressure gauge to determine if it is putting out adequate pressure. Judging by sound alone the fuel pump is performing no different.
Thanks for the help.