RTV 500 Won't Run After Adding Gasoline

[SpudHauler]

Good one.

Or just pull the vent line off for a quick test.

 

[redharley]

If you are running out of fuel [lean condition which is BAD for your engine] your spark plug should be a dry white color.If your running out of air, plug usally dark brown to black. This thing is fuel injected, right?

 

[timswi]

It's fuel injected..no carbs or screens..2 cylinder, so check both plugs. I doubt that it's a lean condition...Sure sounds like an emissions version of vapor lock.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Has any one checked the fuel pump pressure when cold and when hot and running? From the ATV world, weak fuel pressure is a problem that occurs often. Some EFI systems need 40-50 PSI or more to operate, debries can also jam the regulator open and lead to lean running problems.

David Kb7uns

 

[stuckinnj]

One more test you may want to think about. The vapor canister is not designed to maintain liquid. If the canister has filled with fuel, it will not vent properly or at all. That may explain why at half tank, the engine begins to run better. There should be a line from the canister to the filler neck or direct to the tank (this is how the vapor is trapped and released back into the fuel system). If the canister is full of liquid, you may need to replace. I would try to vent to atmosphere to see if it will 'dry' out. You can tell by the weight. Much lighter w/no liquid.

I believe I read you topped up the tank w/fuel before hauling it home. It is very possible all that sloshing around while hauling allowed liquid fuel to enter into the vent system. I've seen this too many times from folks topping up their fuel tanks in the morning and letting their car sit in the sun during the day. Fuel expands and in today's closed systems can only go one place - the vent system i.e. fuel canister. And yes, this will cause poor engine performance and the old check engine light to illuminate.

One more thing to think about. The fuel pump typically requires at mimum 13.0 volts to maintain operating pressure. More demand, more fuel requirement, more amperage required to maintain pump pressure. You didn't mention if you have any battery consumers on i.e. lights, radio, etc. I would suggest testing the alternator output - voltage and amperage. If the battery is marginal or alternator will not support the amperage requirement, the fuel pump will suffer. Again, may be why the engine runs well under light load / low RPMs not under heavy load / higher RPMs.

Just something else to consider.

 

[flynad]

I'll check the canister when i return home in about a week. thanks for the info===flynad

 

[flynad]

I finally returned home a few day's ago and began looking for the problem on my RTV-500. I checked everything that has been reccomended with no luck. Yesterday i took it down the road to a local auto repair shop. He thinks it's electrical. He checked the fuel pressure which was 40# up hill and downhill. The spark plugs had signs of misfiring so those were replaced and it does run smoother. He drove it around and it would never die or cutout for him. I picked it up last night and drove it home. It ran fine. I added gas since it was on a half tank. I then drove it approx. one-eigth mile and it quit. Got it re-started and made it back to the carport and it died again. Guess i'll take it back to the local mech. and let him keep it for awhile. It's about to find a new home. This is typical of buying something like this used. thanks for your help. flynad.

 

[SpudHauler]

Would it be possible to leave the fuel pressure checker hooked up and go for a spin until it quits. Perhaps the pump is quitting after it gets hot. Motors can start breaking down when hot as things expand and continuity is lost.

 

[flynad]

yes, the mechanic left the pressure gauge on it when he test drove it.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

I had an outboard motor one time which would cut out occasionally under load. It took half a season before a mechanic figured out that it was a wire too close to the fly wheel, grounding against it only when the governor advanced the spark.