58 miles on a full tank of gas!!! WTF?

[Cshores]

Filled up before a ride tonight and ran out of gas before I got home. Problem is the ride was less the 60 miles long. No known gas leaks BUT lots of backfiring.

Obviously the bike is running too rich but how would I go about fixing it? I ride a 2008 Mastiff (carb'd). Any professional guidance would be appreciated.

Cason

 

[stlmikie]

Where ate you located?

 

[Brew]

Wow, that's what I would call running rich! Are you sure your float isn't stuck and the gas wasn't spewing out of the overflow tube from the carb?

 

[Raywood]

Make sure your enricher is all the way down

 

[07bigdog]

Also make sure both your venturi ports on top of the carb are capped off. They have a tendency of blowing off and your gas consumption goes down the toilet. Also will backfire alot and stall out.

 

[BWG56]

That would still get you to about 4 or 5 bars

 

[Cshores]

I live in Carrollton, TX (NW Dallas). Not sure about what the "float" thing is but if you could explain how I can find/fix it that would be awesome.

The carb appears to be in tact with all of the right things in the right places. AND the enricher is not up.....I don't even have the ability to use it since I had my Wimmer Air Intake installed.

Definitely would like to know what is up because she isn't running as well as I know she can...

Thanks for all the posts!

 

[bruce]

you can go on the s&s carb. web site and print out a whole booklet about your carb. adjustments etc. even has pictures.

 

[woodbutcher]

pull the plugs to see if soaked

 

[B RADDD]

x2 on plugs

 

[francoblay1]

I do have similar problem... Plugs not soaked but totally black!, if I run her leaner it sputs through the air filter.... I make her run richer and no probs at low RPMs... Next thing I will do is open up the carb and check out what jets it has inside... My guess is I will have to go up on the intermediate jet. I am at sea level. I will follow this post very close.

 

[05 old dog]

i have a hard time believing the bike would even run burning that much fuel in that short period...wow does it idle ok...no gas under bike from overflow?

 

[Moespeeds]

Wouldn't run man. Either you didn't fill it all the way, or you were dumping fuel. BTW a stuck float will cause backfiring and running like shit, though I can't believe you didn't have gas all over the back of the bike.

 

[RCAdd1ct]

Mastiff's have a line between both halves of the tank?

How much gas did you put in when it ran out?

 

[Cshores]

I haven't seen any excess gas leaking anywhere...BUT there is a very strong smell of gas at certain times while riding (during acceleration for sure). Everything under the gas tank is attached (tubes and petcock appear to be doing there jobs).

While accelerating the bike seems to respond slowly and then backfires. While decellerating the bike also backfires. It has been getting progressively worse but never did I think I would need to worry about a 60 mile trip.

When I ran out of gas I put back in 3.3 gallons of gas. Pretty bone dry.

Haven't checked the plugs but will. Thanks again for all of the feedback.

Cason

 

[RCAdd1ct]

Isn't that tank a little over 4 gallons?

Or am I thinking of the chopper?