what would cause Venture to shut down?

[DblTrbl]

Last Saturday on day two of my trip from NH to SC I was on I-85 going around Charlotte NC. I had been on the trike for almost 5 hours straight and was cruising along about 70+ in the far left lane. My lane was coming to an end in one mile so I started to make my lane change. As I went to change lanes, I could feel I had no power when moving the throttle. I downshifted and gave it some gas, still no power and by the time I got over one lane, the trike shut down and I coasted over 3 lanes to the shoulder. I have no idea how I made it to the shoulder without getting hit as everyone was driving well over 70mph and it was extremely heavy traffic.

 

After getting to the shoulder I tried to start the trike but it would not start. I opened the gas cap thinking is may be some type of vapor lock. It still would not start. I checked my fluids and everything was fine.

 

I called AAA and they showed up in about 45 minutes and hauled me 10 miles back to the nearest bike shop. After about 45 min they went out to get my VIN# and mileage so they could write up the work order and check the trike out. While he was getting the mileage he told me to kick it into neutral and then tried to start it.....if fired right up and seemed to be fine. I was able to ride it to Maggie Valley NC and through many of the roads, curves and hills as well as back to NH without a single issue.

 

Any ideas why it would shut down? My thoughts were a vapor lock of some sort or the engine had just had enough and wanted a break............

[gggGary]

Anything here is just a crapshhot guess. But I'm going with an electronic failure due to heat, what were the air temps? Trike, full load, hills, heavy traffic, all increase heat. I've owned bikes that were notorious for heat related ignition coil failures, once cooled off they went right back to working "just fine". That same bike was also prone to vapor lock type fuel delivery problems also related to high heat situations (KZ1300). Have you added any wind deflectors , other wind blocking items on the front of the bike? The fuel pump sits in a rather "wind isolated" area that probably gets even hotter on a trike conversion. Did you hear anything unusual related to how the fuel pump ran when you turned the key on? IE longer louder operation as it filled low float bowls?

[gibvel]

Going to assume you checked the obvious. Didn't accidentally hit the on off switch, did you?

[bongobobny]

When you say "would not start" I have to ask did it turn over but refuse to catch, or you hit the starter button and nothing happened??

 

 

 

Just piggy backing on my buddy Gibvel...

[Kirby]

My money is on a fuel pump that is failing or fuel filter beginning the stop up.

[Trader]

As I went to change lanes, I could feel I had no power when moving the throttle. I downshifted and gave it some gas, still no power and by the time I got over one lane, the trike shut down and I coasted over 3 lanes to the shoulder.

 

After getting to the shoulder I tried to start the trike but it would not start. I opened the gas cap thinking is may be some type of vapor lock. It still would not start. I checked my fluids and everything was fine.

 

Any ideas why it would shut down? My thoughts were a vapor lock of some sort or the engine had just had enough and wanted a break............

 

So it was running...just no power and then quit or it just completely died and it was just enertia that was turning the motor over?

 

One sounds like a fuel delivery problem...if it just died suddenly it sounds like an electrical issue

[DblTrbl]

I was cruising along about 70 mph and when I gave it throttle to change lanes I notices it wasn't accelerating and no response from the throttle. By the time I got over one lane it just died.

 

All my electrical seemed to work. I think for some reason it stopped getting fuel for a while.

[DblTrbl]

Going to assume you checked the obvious. Didn't accidentally hit the on off switch, did you?

 

NOPE

[DblTrbl]

When you say "would not start" I have to ask did it turn over but refuse to catch, or you hit the starter button and nothing happened??

 

 

 

Just piggy backing on my buddy Gibvel...

 

When I turned the key it turned over but would not start.

 

It had plenty of fuel. As I said, I had been riding for about 4-5 hours straight, running 65- 70mph. It was in the high 80s with lots of humidity.

 

It ran fine after it cooled down (after being transported to the bike shop). Cruised 70 mph all the way home and also did about 450 miles of mountain driving while in SC and NC.

[DblTrbl]

Anything here is just a crapshhot guess. But I'm going with an electronic failure due to heat, what were the air temps? Trike, full load, hills, heavy traffic, all increase heat. I've owned bikes that were notorious for heat related ignition coil failures, once cooled off they went right back to working "just fine". That same bike was also prone to vapor lock type fuel delivery problems also related to high heat situations (KZ1300). Have you added any wind deflectors , other wind blocking items on the front of the bike? The fuel pump sits in a rather "wind isolated" area that probably gets even hotter on a trike conversion. Did you hear anything unusual related to how the fuel pump ran when you turned the key on? IE longer louder operation as it filled low float bowls?

 

 

you may be correct with the high temps and speed I was running. Also I had been on the road for 4-5 hours without stopping. Could have overheated something.

[XV1100SE]

From the symptoms indicated....it's your fuel pump.

 

I had the same thing...running fine and then tried to accelerate and the motor cut out. Five minutes later it ran fine. Did this to me a couple times on different rides. I was lucky it was still under warranty.

 

Can't hurt to replace the fuel filter if it hasn't been changed in a while. But if it was a blocked fuel filter causing the issue it wouldn't matter if the bike was hot or cold.

 

My money is on it being the fuel filter.

[RedRider]

A quick check for the fuel pump is to pop the cap end off and look at the points. Do a search on here for what they should look like and how to get to them (remove clutch side battery cover, cap end cover will be staring at you).

 

I run for long hours (Death Valley and surrounding areas - in July) and don't have heat issues. However, it doesn't mean you are not.

 

RR

[Drews]

Fuel pump

[steamer]

You said you where running 4-5 hours straight. I'm assuming your trike has an aux fuel tank? I can't run more the 130 miles without stopping to fill up. Is it possible you lost fuel feed from the tank you where pulling from? Or do you have the set up where you have to transfer from the aux tank to the main? Maybe the problem is with your duel fuel system?

[bongobobny]

Hmmmm, only if he has one Steamer, they are an accessory through Hannigan or from Carbon _One. Can't remember if his has one or not, but you have a good point!

[MikeWa]

I agree withy the group. Loss of power then dies = fuel. On a trike I don't know what your fuel delivery setup is but it still sounds like fuel.

 

Mike

[DblTrbl]

You said you where running 4-5 hours straight. I'm assuming your trike has an aux fuel tank? I can't run more the 130 miles without stopping to fill up. Is it possible you lost fuel feed from the tank you where pulling from? Or do you have the set up where you have to transfer from the aux tank to the main? Maybe the problem is with your duel fuel system?

 

Steamer, I do have Aux fuel tank. I carry 10.5 gal total. When traveling by myself I will usually go at least 250 miles before stopping for fuel and food.

 

After talking with a couple Master Techs for Yamaha, I believe it had something to do with the electronics.

 

I was able to ride home at 70 mph with no issues. It was a lot cooler coming home then going down. Since riding season is quickly coming to an end, I'm planning on changing all fluids over the winter as I go thru the trike and add the rest of the parts that have been sitting in boxes for the past year. Will make sure it's 100% for next riding season!!

[Trader]

. Since riding season is quickly coming to an end, I'm planning on changing all fluids over the winter as I go thru the trike and add the rest of the parts that have been sitting in boxes for the past year.

 

:yikes::yikes::yikes:

[WildBill1]

Tip over angle shut-off switch located in goose neck of frame. It probably will shut you down again unless you replace it.

[Ky. Rider]

I had to replace the fuel pump sending unit (not the same as the fuel pump) on my 06 that was causing it to shut down periodically. After it would cool for 15 - 20 minutes it would be good to go for awhile. Similar to your problem so it seems but if not that I do believe it is fuel related.

[DblTrbl]

Tip over angle shut-off switch located in goose neck of frame. It probably will shut you down again unless you replace it.

 

Hard to believe it would be the "tip over angle shut off" since my I'm riding a trike.. but never rule anything out...

[WildBill1]

Well, next time it stops with you rock your tricycle back a forth and see if it starts.