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K1200LT sputtered and died

2K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  Voyager 
#1 ·
Saturday 8/24/19
I went to play in the (not so) local casino poker tournament. It was a nice sunny day between days of forecast rain. So I took the opportunity to ride the motorcycle.
I made to about 150 of the 165 miles needed. The bike died. Sputtered a bit and then just quit. It turns over and might sputter a time or two but will not run. Great!! 150 miles from home and AAA towing is only good for 100. Then you have to pay 5-6 bucks a mile after that. Nope, not gonna happen.
I also found out that to use AAA to tow a motorcycle you need RV coverage. Okay, I added that while I had them on the phone. What they didn't tell me is that it isn't in affect until 72 hours later. I found that out from the tow truck driver. Again, GREAT!!
Okay, a BMW motorcycle dealer is only 10 miles away from the breakdown. $100 to get me there. That is a heck of a lot cheaper than what it would have cost to get me towed home.
Get to the dealer and it is a Harley/BMW place and their BMW tech is off until Monday. One more time, GREAT!!!
Okay, I leave it there for the tech to diagnose on his return on Monday. Now to get myself home. I've seen the Enterprise commercials where they say they will come pick you up so I call them. Yeah, they'll come pick you up IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE OPEN. But none of them are open after 1 pm on Saturday in the Louisville, KY area except the one at the airport. That one does not pick you up.
$15 taxi ride to the airport. $164 to rent a compact car to get me home. I had to rent it until Monday as none of the Enterprise places near my home will be open until Monday. AND none of them do after hours drop off. So I can't just drop it off today.
I'm home. No bike. $279 less in my wallet/bank account. Of course I also missed the poker tournament and I'd been doing good in them lately.
Can you say "Not a happy camper"?
Hopefully the tech just finds a clogged filter so it doesn't get stupid expensive. But I'm beginning to hear that Hee-Haw song about "If it weren't for bad luck................"
 
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#2 ·
Very unlikely to be a clogged fuel filter. Very likely to be a leaking fuel hose inside the fuel tank, most likely the u-hose. It is generally easy to tell simply by removing the gas cap, turning on the key and watching for the fuel to swirl around. It should to swirl so if it does, that’s your problem.

Yep, LTs are darned expensive bikes. The most expensive I have ever owned by a long shot.
 
#3 ·
I took the gas cap off and turned the key on. The pump ran for a few seconds and then stopped and didn't restart. It built pressure and stopped just like it should. When I filled the tank it was pretty empty. So empty I didn't even have one bar showing of the strip. I could have stirred up something that had settled in the bottom of the tank below the pump suction strainer.
That's why I was thinking fuel filter.
Of course being as new to this as I am I'm probable wrong. But that's okay. It's all a learning experience.
I'll find out sometime next week once the tech finds the problem.
 
#4 ·
If memory serves, and I am sure John or Sailor will jump in here to confirm or deny, the fuel pump runs initially based on time not on reaching pressure. So, I think it will run a couple seconds and turn turn off whether it built any pressure or not.
 
#6 ·
Going to 2nd the possibility of a split internal line in the tank. That has most often been the cause of a sudden sputter and die issue. There was one recently that we thought the lines were the cause but it turned out to be the hall sensors due to a bad or damaged wire but that is less likely over all. Please let us know what the dealer finds.
 
#9 ·
That is a VERY GOOD POINT that has not been mentioned yet for this specific case.

A good way to troubleshoot this is to open the gaz cap and listen for air entering (sucking air wooshh) immediately after the engine dies. Of course, most would do this as a habit in case of "sudden engine death" - just to convince themselves they still have gaz in the tank ;-)

Assuming you had this issue, after opening/closing the fuel cap, you could restart and make another few miles. If you suspected this is the behavior, the vent hose from under tank running into charcoal-canister could be unplugged to get you home.
 
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#12 ·
Thanks for the follow up.

In the past, we have posted this many time to everyone buying a used K1200LT so that they can avoid being stuck:
Unless you have HARD PROOF that these parts have been done recently, these items should be checked immediately or as-soon-as-possible:

1) rear drive oil change / inspection and deposit on drain plug magnet. Also proper time to check play / movement at rear wheel pulling / twisting 12-6 o'clock and 9-3 o'clock

2) change fuel filter and the 2 small hoses near pump / filter inside fuel tank.

3) change all old black rubber BRAKE HOSES (unless you already have steel braided brake hoses)

4) double check quality and age of the battery OR have a shop do a load test on it. So many problems reported here have been caused by an old or weak battery. These motorcycles need a good powerfull battery (not a sub standard or weak one).
 
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