Dog Shuts Down

[DRB11]

I've had my 04 Bulldog for 2 months and have ridden about 250 miles.
No problems until last week coming to a redlight downshifting to 2nd gear-sputters like it's out of gas- shuts-off. Lights stay on - go to neutral starts right up. Rode two times since then with no problems. Today after riding 25 miles, started up a steep hill in front of my house in 2nd gear starts to sputter like it's running out gas and dies in the middle of the hill.
Go to neutral, starts right up made it home. I've read every post I could find on unexplained shut-offs and my problem doesn't seem electrical or is it? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[littlef66]

Maybe the gas cap isnt venting correctly?

 

[lee]

could be. If it happens again loosen the gas cap and if its not venting properly you will hear the air gushing in. You can then unscrew the venting thing (technical term there) from the inside of the cap.

 

[DRBarnhart]

A couple of other thoughts...

When it starts to sputter switch the fuel petcock to "Reserve". If it picks up again you could have crap on the screen.

Another possibility would be to take off the float bowl and make sure there isn't something blocking the needle valve that the float connects to. If this is blocked causing a low fuel level in the bowl the engine starves out also.

Dennis

 

[BBChopper]

Maybe the gas cap isnt venting correctly?

Yup!!!!:2thumbs:

 

[DRB11]

Thanks for the advice. I rode the past two days with no problems. I did get the gushing air sound once when I took the cap off.

 

[Raywood]

Thanks for the advice. I rode the past two days with no problems. I did get the gushing air sound once when I took the cap off.

Then you need to pull it apart and clean it out. It's gumming up on you and not allowing the check ball to vent and creating a vacuum for the carburator and causing your issues.
Most here just remove the check ball altogether.

 

[DRB11]

I'll do it! Thanks, Ray. :2thumbs:

 

[K9Anniv]

Maybe the gas cap isnt venting correctly?

That's exactly what happened to me this past w.e. I overfilled the tank for one thing, causing gas to leak out onto my new paint!:angry: :bang: Then the cap didn't "click" when I screwed it back on. The bike would start, but when I'd put it in gear it wouldn't take off...no power, sputtered and died. It would start ok, but after a couple attempts to move forward with no luck I unscrewed the cap to let the air lock escape. Waited a couple minutes with the cap off, put it back on, started it up and took off with no further problems.:loony: