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Bike Stalling only when breaking hard.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by James Sposto, Jun 28, 2016.

  1. James Sposto

    James Sposto New Member

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    1983 Maxim - got it used about 6 weeks ago.

    Ok - my bike was not idling well. Had to keep revving it when stopped to keep it from stalling. Otherwise it ran fine.

    I took the carbs apart and cleaned them, put them back on. Seemed to fix the problem. The bike ran well, didn't stall at idle, didn't rev up randomly. Better. I planned on syncing the carbs soon (we didn't have the meeter to do it when my friend and I cleaned the carbs.)

    NOW - a couple of weeks later, the bike is stuttering on acceleration, and it's getting worse. I'm assuming that it's the carb sync issue. Will be doing that soon...

    But worse, when I brake hard the bike simply STOPS running. Instantly. I've tested this on the road, and I've tested it standing still. I thought there might be a loose wire or something from when we took it apart to get to the carbs. So I bounced the front forks hard - still ran fine. Wiggled the wires while it was running - no problem. BUT - If I held in the brake (either brake, front or back) and bounced the forks - OFF - The engine just cuts off. So it's only a fork bounce (like in a hard stop) while the brake lever is pulled that makes this happen.

    Anyone have this happen, and what do you suggest?


    Thanks.
     
  2. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

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    Several possible things could be causing problem. Carbs not synched is one possible , vacuum leaks , should asked stock airbox or pods? When you pulled carbs did you pull any jets? Floats? All things that could cause this.
     
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  3. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Floats are off a bit
     
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  4. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    pull the fuse that lights up the brake lights and try it again
     
  5. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    the only difference between a bounce without brakes and a bounce with brakes is the fact that the brake light is on. I'm betting that there is some electrical issue associated with the brake light circuit.
     
  6. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    But the issue wasnt whether the brake light was coming on or not--- the bike is stalling on a hard braking situation. That says to me it is a carb/float level issue
     
  7. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    ^ What he said.
    Unless......

    Kickstand switch. Sticky sticky, grime and goo. Stop hard. Kickstand goes Bouncy bounce. switch moves just a teeny little bit. Cut ignition. Stall.

    I'd bet on fuel levels being low though. Stop hard, fuel slosh forward, pilot circuits starved, kerchunk.
     
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  8. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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  9. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    But he also said "and I've tested it standing still" and it only stops when the brakes are applied. "So it's only a fork bounce (like in a hard stop) while the brake lever is pulled that makes this happen." That would seem to rule out he kick stand. He also says that it stops "instantly", no coughing, no sputtering, no nothing. Still sounds like loss of spark to me. But I have to admit that I'm curious.
     
  10. Yardawg

    Yardawg Active Member

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    Could it also be something in the wiring or something
    wrong with the kill switch? That's up there by the brake lever......
     
  11. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam

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    That was my first though as well. Mine is extremely finicky and I really need to repair/replace it.
     
  12. ant797

    ant797 Member

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    Ok - my bike was not idling well. Had to keep revving it when stopped to keep it from stalling. Otherwise it ran fine.


    you know you can raise the idle with an adjuster at the back of an the middle of the carbies
     
  13. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    bike didn't run well, cleaned the carbs and it seemed better, so far so good
    a few weeks later it's having problems again.
    if it's electrical it and it cuts out with the fork/brake thing, it should do the same thing with the idle at 2.5 k........try that
    otherwise drain each float bowl onto a clean white rag and look for specks of dirt, if you really cleaned the carbs good there should be nothing in there but gas.
     
  14. James Sposto

    James Sposto New Member

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    So - I had the carbs synced and new plugs put in. It is magically fixed and running great, no longer doing it at all. Either a short "fixed itself" and will reappear at any time, or it was simply the carb sync issue as the first poster mentioned.

    Thanks for all the suggestions.
     

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