FJR initially sputters after starting on hot days

[pegscraper]

My '07A will sputter down the road after leaving work, especially on hot days. It seems like bad gas in the tank but after about a half mile down the road it slowly smooths out and no issue. This has been going on for the last year. I have about 33k miles on it and will be taking it in for valve adjustment soon. Maybe that could be the problem or plugs?

 

[JamesK]

Just a guess, but it could be simply the gas in the tank is too hot when you first start. Try parking the bike in the shad one day to see if makes a difference. I assume the fast idle is working ok when you first start the bike from cold.

 

[RsvlFeej]

Cali-version FJRs are in the vast majority with this symptom. Probably something to do with the carbon canisters

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...09&hl=rough

 

[pegscraper]

I will go with the theory that the FJR can't take the heat when sitting out in the sun and then starting and riding it before it cools down a little. That sucks, but I guess it is the nature of the beast.

Thanks for reasuring me because it never does that when riding out after being parked in the garage.

 

[RadioHowie]

I will go with the theory that the FJR can't take the heat when sitting out in the sun and then starting and riding it before it cools down a little. That sucks, but I guess it is the nature of the beast.
Thanks for reasuring me because it never does that when riding out after being parked in the garage.

I have a hard time accepting that the temp of the gas in the tank is causing the problem.

You say the rough running clears up after a half-mile? No way in hell 4-6 gallons of hot gas are cooling off enough after a 30 second drive down the street.

The problem must lie elsewhere. I'm inclined to go with RsvlFeej's diagnosis of a Cali-bike's vapor recovery system being a big part of the problem.

 

[SSHANK42]

I will go with the theory that the FJR can't take the heat when sitting out in the sun and then starting and riding it before it cools down a little. That sucks, but I guess it is the nature of the beast.
Thanks for reasuring me because it never does that when riding out after being parked in the garage.

I have a hard time accepting that the temp of the gas in the tank is causing the problem.

You say the rough running clears up after a half-mile? No way in hell 4-6 gallons of hot gas are cooling off enough after a 30 second drive down the street.

The problem must lie elsewhere. I'm inclined to go with RsvlFeej's diagnosis of a Cali-bike's vapor recovery system being a big part of the problem.

Not a Cali only problem. Mine is not a Cali model. Mine has been in tthe shop since July 3rd. Picking it up tom. They have no clue as to what the problem is. Bike has 4,500 miles on it. Everything they could and did check or trace was ok. Their only thought was it may be vapor locking. Its not a fuel tank problem. From what I have read it seems to be a consensus that it is the fuel kinda vaporizing between the fuel pump and throttle bodies. A little throttle on startup and blurping the throttle to get the rpms above about 2,500 it smooths out.Mine has this problem lets say 2% of the time.

 

[RadioHowie]

DAMN THEM GENTOOZ!!!

DAMN THEM ALL TO HELL!!

 

[wheatonFJR]

DAMN THEM GENTOOZ!!!
DAMN THEM ALL TO HELL!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[atleon]

I have the '07A in California too and I am experiencing this problem. Has been happening for a long time now, over a year. I have 84k miles on mine and I am parking in the shade at work to avoid the problem every day. It is so bad now I can't even park in the sun at the store for 10-15 minutes without having it act up when I leave. Does anyone know what is causing this???

 

[SkooterG]

Sorry, I can't help. I didn't even see this thread the first time.

All I can say is that I have ridden my Gen I FJRs just about EVERY DAY throughout the summer here in Arizona in temps reaching 118 degrees and leave it parked out in the sun frequently. I have never experienced this issue.

My money is still on the additional plumbing (vapor recovery?) for the Kali requirements. Try disconnecting or removing it and see what happens.

 

[atleon]

Thanks SkooterG. I found another post on the issue and it does sound like it has to do with the Cali plumbing.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I know I talked about it before, but my brother had the same issue with his GS-A. Like the California model FJRs, he had a charcoal canister. If he would fill the bike and then let it sit on the side stand for a while, the bike would run like crap.

It happened a few times on local rides, but on the way to and from South Carolina earlier this year it happened a lot. Usually, we would get fuel, then take bathroom breaks or eat, so the full bike sat on the side stand.

He started Googling his problem and found that lots of GS-As had the same problem. It was caused by too much fuel venting into the canister due to heat and the side stand. If the canister got saturated, the bike would run like **** until the canister burned off.

He found instructions for a 'canisterectomy' and did the mod. After removing the charcoal canister, he hasn't had any problems.

There was a guy with a Cali FJR having the same issue a while back. I told him the same thing and he removed his canister a little bit later. If I remember right, that solved his problem too and was pretty easy.

FYI...

 

[JamesK]

I know I talked about it before, but my brother had the same issue with his GS-A. Like the California model FJRs, he had a charcoal canister. If he would fill the bike and then let it sit on the side stand for a while, the bike would run like crap.

It happened a few times on local rides, but on the way to and from South Carolina earlier this year it happened a lot. Usually, we would get fuel, then take bathroom breaks or eat, so the full bike sat on the side stand.

He started Googling his problem and found that lots of GS-As had the same problem. It was caused by too much fuel venting into the canister due to heat and the side stand. If the canister got saturated, the bike would run like **** until the canister burned off.

He found instructions for a 'canisterectomy' and did the mod. After removing the charcoal canister, he hasn't had any problems.

There was a guy with a Cali FJR having the same issue a while back. I told him the same thing and he removed his canister a little bit later. If I remember right, that solved his problem too and was pretty easy.

FYI...

Sounds like the thing to do. Besides, unless I'm mistaken this crap is never checked by the DMV right, so why carry this extra useless plumbing? I would remove this crap and the PAIR system the first chance I got.

 

[TomInPA]

Feeling good about Gen I. The family jewels are staying warm this winter with the assurance the bike started every time during the extreme heat warning in the past summer. Okay, so I took refuge in a beer fridge during a fuel stop in Missouri.

 

[RaYzerman19]

If your bike is stock (no PC III or PC V) it may be just running lean, until it warms up to full operating temps. Worst GenII's are '06 and '07 for emissions reasons. Software was modified in '08 or '09 so the low speed wasn't quite so lean. The real cure is a PC to richen up the fuel map. Assuming of course, no char can issues. To discount water in the fuel, put in a couple of ounces of Seafoam (or an ounce of isopropanol) to take care of the water. Ethanol fuels tend to phase-separate in about two weeks or more. Avoid filling up if you see a tanker truck at the station.

 

[DennisJ]

2009 CA model. I noticed this last summer one a couple of the rare warm days here in Seattle. Problem went away after about 1/2 mile, bike in the full sun from early morning until 3PM. I just assumed it had something to do with the CA emission's stuff and live with it. One small issue isn't going to stop me from enjoying the FJR.

 

[ahchiu]

2009 CA model. I noticed this last summer one a couple of the rare warm days here in Seattle. Problem went away after about 1/2 mile, bike in the full sun from early morning until 3PM. I just assumed it had something to do with the CA emission's stuff and live with it. One small issue isn't going to stop me from enjoying the FJR.

Keep an eye out in the PNW section for tech day in the Spring, we can take the canister out, I have a CA model and I took it out.

 

[atleon]

Thanks for all the info guys!! I will probably take the canister off next chance I get. This is my second FJR, put 78k on my '04. I really like this bike!!!

 

[johnny80s]

PM sent to you Ed.