stranded in BFE, Stella 4T stalling out every 1 to 2 miles!

Spiffy · Post by **Spiffy** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:14 am

so I was taking a long trip, everything was good most of the way... then in the evening it starts stalling out, a lot... let it rest for just 30 seconds and it stars up and goes another 1 or 2 miles and then stalls out again...

what's the deal?

last time this happened was when it was cold and I was just starting out in the morning... dealer said to let it warm up more... obviously that's not it this time because it was already warmed up...

seemed to only do it up an incline at first so I took it easy but it got worse...

I let it sit for an hour but it was still doing it..

so I got a motel and am hoping it fixes itself by morning... I'll look for anything glaringly obvious...

suggestions?

noodoggy · Post by **noodoggy** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:23 pm

i dont have a 4 stroke so I am not an expert on this by any means, but it seems like it might be a one of two things: overheating...the oil cant maintain its viscosity. or something to do with the fuel mix/ fuel flow. that's where I would start. wish i could be more help. just using my miniscule car knowledge to help figure it out lol

Spiffy · Post by **Spiffy** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:03 pm

I was also thinking fuel and air... I didn't think of the oil as that seems unlikely... it's gone farther and recovered before... We're wondering if it's some kind of tank vacuum caused by that evap valve but I cleared out... will be starting it up soon...

soulfool · Post by **soulfool** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:34 pm

just thinkin here , and it may be completely irrelevant , check ur fuel level , the first few times i had this happen to me and thought something was up i noticed i had about quarter tank of fuel , on enquiring at the dealer i found that the fuel gauge level includes the reserve tank and the little fuel lever below the seat needs to be turned to reserve position.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:43 pm

Sounds like you may have filled the tank too high. The gas gets sucked into the evap canister and it causes vapor lock. I too had this happen several times- once I even had the dealer come and tow it to the shop for me before I figured it out. If you unscrew the cap slightly (letting air in) it should run for you if this is the case. I've had to run it with the cap slightly open before, just long enough to get me home.
Anyway, I hope it's just this, cause that's an easy fix!
Good luck.

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:57 am

^^^ That is probably it. Gas in the EVAP system can make a mess. when you get home get a vented 2T gas cap from your dealer and that should help. Be VERY careful not to overfill the 4t. Better to refill sooner than "flood" the evap system.

Spiffy · Post by **Spiffy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:07 am

I ended up just unplugging the evap hose from the tank and that worked... will need to get a vented cap... it wasn't even a full tank...

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:42 am

Good deal, just make sure you cap it off so it doesn't suck in air anywhere and make a lean situation.

jimmbomb · Post by **jimmbomb** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:18 pm

good thing that you got an internet connection in that part of BFE!..

PS.. when you get your new gas cap.. please let us know where you got it... I need one too

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:57 pm

I was gonna add that it sounded typical of a clogged fuel filter but it seems you found the problem.

This evap system. Don't want anybody to break any laws

but suppose, just suppose, that thing got jettisoned into the nearest patch of woods. Would the bike still function OK?

Spiffy · Post by **Spiffy** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:54 pm

viney266 wrote:Good deal, just make sure you cap it off so it doesn't suck in air anywhere and make a lean situation.

I was a little worried about that, but didn't have any caps... so it's still just unplugged...

got back late last night and will mess with it more later when I have some energy...

hotstove · Post by **hotstove** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:20 pm

I had the same problem with a Buddy. I took it back to the dealer and they noticed that they did not drill a vent hole in the gas cap before they delivered it to me.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:37 pm

Southerner wrote:This evap system. Don't want anybody to break any laws but suppose, just suppose, that thing got jettisoned into the nearest patch of woods. Would the bike still function OK?

Yes, provided you vented the cap and plugged up the outlet at the gas tank and inlet at the air system on the other end.

The evap system is solely required for sale in CA. Outside CA you can do as you like AFAIK.

The systems cause problems in most scooters that have them. (Stalling, hard starting rough idling, poor running.) The reason companies don't simply design a better one is that the state has design requirements for them and they don't play well with scooter designs (location and size of gas tanks, etc.).

On the Stella, the problem is gas splashing up into the hose and getting into the air system. Not overfilling the tank helps, but the vapor lock can still occur on a hill or even when coming to a hard stop or anything else that would get the gas sloshing around.

The easy way to bypass the system: Drill a pair of 1/16" holes in the top of the gas cap. Remove the hose that exits the top of the tank and goes to the little black canister. Insert a steel bearing (big enough to fit and form a nice seal) in the hose. Replace hose.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:05 am

Sounds like the good ol' days of removing the smog crap from cars all over again. Glad I don't live in Califunky.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:49 am

Southerner wrote:Sounds like the good ol' days of removing the smog crap from cars all over again. Glad I don't live in Califunky.

Yup, California SUCKS. No one should ever move here again.

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:12 pm

Yup, California SUCKS. No one should ever move here again.

I second that. In fact I think some people who are here should leave NOW! this place SUCKS.

I'll stay.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:49 pm

Southerner wrote: Glad I don't live in Califunky.

So are we.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:15 pm

No need to get testy. It just seems that you're drowning in environmental regulation, among other things.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:02 am

Southerner wrote:No need to get testy. It just seems that you're drowning in environmental regulation, among other things.

While a lot of the California regs are byzantine bureaucratic BS and the Air Resources Board that creates and administers them is a bit of a sham, they've still succeeded in improving the air quality and keeping it from being much worse than it is. I'll happily take the pains in the asses of the less effective parts of air quality control in exchange for better air that comes from the more effective parts. I'm not saying the air here couldn't be better, but it would be much worse if not for regulation and we don't need to keep adding to the problem. Ozone levels (bad as they are) are less than half what they were in 1980.

Number 8 on the top 10 metro areas with deadliest air pollution, according to the American Lung Association? Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, AL. The coal plants causing much of the pollution aren't regulated by the Clean Air Act and the state has resisted improving or replacing them.

So take your pick: a state that's trying to improve its air quality but doesn't get it right all of the time and sometimes gets wrapped up in bureaucratic snafus or a state that's letting Alabama Power call the shots and refusing to mandate air quality controls despite severe public health and environmental
consequences.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:52 am

It's true B'ham can be pretty bad but I live about 140 miles from there. And it would have to be the worst case in the state by far.

I don't argue with the goal of better air quality at all.

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:53 pm

I totally agree with ericalm's last post.
Being a native of So Cal (born and raised) the air quality is so much better now than it was when I was growing up.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:11 pm

I have to throw a bit of CA pride in as well. If regulations are the price we pay to live in paradise, regulate me twice!

Modern Buddy

stranded in BFE, Stella 4T stalling out every 1 to 2 miles!

stranded in BFE, Stella 4T stalling out every 1 to 2 miles!

Gas cap