Only 55 miles on a full tank of gas, WTF???

[Atortella]

Totally drained and filled gas tank yesterday morning. Put 4.5 gallons in the completely empty tank. Rode for 55.2 miles exactly and the bike ran out of gas. Flipped the petcock to reserve and rode to the gas station and filled the tank with 3.5 gallons of gas!

Not running rich - Pulled the plugs when I home home they looked great.
Not pooping or backfiring - Bike, otherwise running great
Fuel flow is great to the Carb, new lines, no fuel filter

2004 Bulldog, super g carb.

any help at all would be appreciated

 

[erldawg]

Any engine mods?

Has to be a leak somewhere...

 

[Atortella]

thanks forgot to list, not enough mods to effect it the mileage in this manner. only mods are dyna 2ki ignition and superflow air filter (looks like a big clone) jets are 31 intermediate and 74 main.

I triple checked, no leaks to the carb. Anyone think it could be a float bowl problem and the gas to escaping out the overflow during riding?

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

Anyone think it could be a float bowl problem and the gas to escaping out the overflow during riding?

Could be a possibility, you don't smell any gas when at a stop? Take a look under the bike to see if its coming out of the overflow line during a ride.

 

[Srodden]

15 miles to the gallon my 72 v8 3/4 ton pickup did better than that ! The overflow tube would be a good place to start for sure.

 

[bigdogtech01]

You might want to check you Oil...if your not loosing it out the overflow tube, your loosing it into the motor while it sits...Fuel might be flowing into the Intake manifold and down into the cylinders...But, this will only happen if the overflow hose is plugged up for some reason....You might want to take your carb apart and clean it and install a new needle and seat.
Good luck

 

[DR BULLDOG]

I at 75 to 80 miles I am hunting a gas pump you might have a 600 lift cam in that bike before I instaled the 585 cam in my bike I could get 120 miles per tank with the 520 cam. It is either HP or gas mileage glad it is runing well.

 

[TimNY]

X2 Glad its running well !
Passing everything but a gas station

 

[standuprick]

My first thoughts are float bowl. I would think you would see drips coming out of it unless it stuck a bit then fixed itself.

 

[stryfox]

Gnomes?
Seriously you can't be burning that much fuel.
I'd drop the bowl to check the needle and look for leaks.

 

[Atortella]

Yeah I'm going to drop the bowl this week. I was out today. Same gas mileage same result. Got about 17 miles to the gallon. Nothing comming out of the overflow tube from the carb. I had some other problems today too which seemed all fuel (maybe air/mix) issue too. Backfiring on acelleration and delcelertion. Strange idle - sometimes it would race and sometimes it would be under 500 rpms. Also not a hesitation but a sudden strong pull which ended in he engine racing in neutral or with the clutch in.

If anyone has any ideas I sure would like to here them. I am thinking all carb related. Maybe need to pull that bugger and rebuild? Plugs still okay- even a bit lean.

Il keep posting as I hear other ideas to try.

 

[Atortella]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Dr. How can I check the cam to see what's in there. Contacted previous owner said it was bone stock other than the ignition/pipes(I switched those out)/and the air cleaner

 

[Cshores]

Do a Carb check and re-do the air/fuel mixture on your super G. There is a great video out here somewhere that does a step by step.

It couldn't hurt to go through the motions. If gas isn't leaking anywhere than it is a mechanical/setting issue.

 

[Atortella]

Thanks man I'll try that too.

 

[Mickeetwo]

The gas has to be going somewhere.....check your oil

 

[Brew]

What about the exhaust is, the exhaust pipe wet?

 

[bryant1609]

What about the Speedo? Maybe you're going farther but your Speedo isn't work???

 

[BigDogBro1]

Yeah I'm going to drop the bowl this week. I was out today. Same gas mileage same result. Got about 17 miles to the gallon. Nothing comming out of the overflow tube from the carb. I had some other problems today too which seemed all fuel (maybe air/mix) issue too. Backfiring on acelleration and delcelertion. Strange idle - sometimes it would race and sometimes it would be under 500 rpms. Also not a hesitation but a sudden strong pull which ended in he engine racing in neutral or with the clutch in.

If anyone has any ideas I sure would like to here them. I am thinking all carb related. Maybe need to pull that bugger and rebuild? Plugs still okay- even a bit lean.

Il keep posting as I hear other ideas to try.

"Strange idle - sometimes it would race and sometimes it would be under 500 rpms. Also not a hesitation but a sudden strong pull which ended in he engine racing in neutral or with the clutch in."

Call a priest....an exorcism may be in order.

Obvious, but....If your not burning the fuel then your leaking the fuel somewhere.

Decel popping and engine racing tells me there is an intake air leak or a non-return to idle position throttle cable or carb.

What kind of exhaust pipes are on the bike and air intake?

Just got 45mpg this Sunday ride of 150mi. EFI not carb.

 

[DR BULLDOG]

Hi Take the serial number off motot and call S & S and they can tell you the Cam that was installed at factory Some were 520 up to 600 lift like I said the 585 in my bike killed my Gas Mileage. Good Luck DR:up:

 

[Five Five]

check your main jet .... it may have un-screwed (backed out) and is just drinking the fuel.... check your intermediate as well.