Engine stops - eventually starts

[moonbandito]

The rock will sometimes just stop running. It happens when i ride the rockster off it's centerstand. The motor stops and won't restart easily - sometimes cranking for 15 seconds before gradually starting.

Anyone have this problem?

[riceburner]

The rock will sometimes just stop running. It happens when i ride the rockster off it's centerstand. The motor stops and won't restart easily - sometimes cranking for 15 seconds before gradually starting.

Anyone have this problem?

The only thing I can think of is that possibly your weight on the seat is causing an intermittent/poor connection somewhere. Do you carry anything under the main seat?

[timl]

Not sure I understand all the facts:

• Does this typically happen during cold start, or at any time?

• Do you use the choke/enrichener when trying to restart?

• You say "ride the rockster off it's centerstand". Do you literally put it in gear when on the center stand and let out the clutch? I've never tried that but I guess it could cause the engine to stall due to the sudden load. However, it should restart easily.

• If you push the bike off the center stand while started in neutral, and then put it into gear does the problem occur?

[NoRRmad]

Maybe the drop off the center stand is partially opening the sidestand which kills the engine with it's sensor-switch. Then(?) the sidestand takes a few seconds (thick grease?) to return to it's "up" position?

Jus' thinkin'.

[riceburner]

Not sure I understand all the facts:

• Do you use the choke/enrichener when trying to restart?

BINGO!!

That reminded me that my bikes used to do that before the fast idle lever got a bit sticky - the action of bumping off the center-stand is enough to jar the fast-idle lever back to it's lowest position - that's why the bike is then harder to start, it's not warmed up properly.

Moonbandito - keep a finger on the fast-idle lever as you drop the bike off the stand and you should be able to keep it idling ok. Don't forget to knock the lever off though when the bike has warmed up.

[moonbandito]

The problem, I think, was a clogged fuel system - fuel tank had a lot of debris - that at first looked like sand. It was black. I believe this debris came from the small 'u' shaped hose that connects the fuel filter to the fuel pump. The hose was cracked and degraded. I filtered the gas as I poured it into a 5 gal. can - and found about a teaspoon and a half of black particulate.

I did replace rubber fuel lines, quick disconnects (with metal instead of plastic), fuel filter, and a new battery (it's been an expensive week). I tried several 'ride off the stand' starts today and the motor did not stall. I suspect the debris in the tank, at the moment, as the root cause of the problem.

Check those fuel lines inside the tank. They don't last forever. At least mine didn't.

Some other possibilities brought up by the countermen at the dealer: sidestand springs are fatigued and sidestand cut-off switch is activated during the 'bump' off the center stand.

[NoRRmad]

Maybe the drop off the center stand is partially opening the sidestand which kills the engine with it's sensor-switch. Then(?) the sidestand takes a few seconds (thick grease?) to return to it's "up" position?

Jus' thinkin'.

Heh!

Does the sidestand behave differently since you've had the bike in pieces? Of course, the drop off the center-stand sloshes up the fuel pretty well, and any particles laying on the bottom of the tank might be put back into suspension... But I'd expect that problem to happen more at speed than in the parking lot.