E10 - Classic bike help

[TheHighlander]

Hi Gents

My 2nd bike is an older bike as you can see below.

The mighty GSX400 Import

Anyway I didn't realise I filled it with E10 back in October and have left it sitting in it, i've not started the bike for a good few weeks and it ran like a bag of bolts.

Anyway now it just winds over attempting to fire but doesn't, it's getting a spark and fuel but I am thinking this E10 ste has gummed the carbs up, could I be right?

I've started to strip the bike down on my ramp anyway, just wanted to ask in case anyone else had any ideas.

[V1nce Fox]

TheHighlander said:

Hi Gents

My 2nd bike is an older bike as you can see below.

The mighty GSX400 Import

Anyway I didn't realise I filled it with E10 back in October and have left it sitting in it, i've not started the bike for a good few weeks and it ran like a bag of bolts.

Anyway now it just winds over attempting to fire but doesn't, it's getting a spark and fuel but I am thinking this E10 ste has gummed the carbs up, could I be right?

I've started to strip the bike down on my ramp anyway, just wanted to ask in case anyone else had any ideas.

It's possible I suppose.

Also, do you have more pics. A friend used to have one of these, I have very fond memories of them.

[croyde]

Not sure of the science but isn't there more water content in E10, meaning petrol left in the tank will allow the water to evaporate and cause problems.

Drain and fill with a premium fuel maybe?

I run an older car that advises not to use this new fuel as it can corrode pipes and ruin hoses, great.

So now forced to use the more expensive premium fuel.

[Gareth9702]

Two problems with E10. First, the ethanol falls out of solution over time and absorbs water. Draining the system is the only solution. Second, the ethanol can damage rubber hoses and gaskets. You may need to strip and rebuild the fuel system from tank to engine.

I would start by draining the carbs (if the drain plugs are accessible) and attaching the fuel pipe to a can of fresh fuel. If it still doesn't fire then you will need to start dismantling and inspecting.

[TheHighlander]

Here you go mate

I believe it to be the yoshimura edition, I bought the bike form my director for pennies (he is a bike collector and very wealthy so essentially gave me it)

Yoshimura handlebars
Yoshimura headers
Yoshimura cam covers
Yoshimura brake lines

It's a fun bike, has plenty of character.

I'll drain off the carbs and put some super unleaded in it.

[Krikkit]

Ethanol absorbs water, but pretty slowly and not enough to realistically stop it firing by now.

Get the carbs drained down, fill it back up with E5 and see how it goes

[bsidethecside]

This advertorial had a few good points, not least of which where you can try to hunt down 0% ethanol fuels.

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-advertorial/wh...

[TheHighlander]

It would appear the bike has fouled 2 spark plugs as well which is odd.

Got the bike running but it was like a bag of bolts, with 2 fouled plugs

[KTMsm]

If it's running then I've had success with DIY carb cleaner - have a Google

IIRC Cellulose thinners, Acetone etc

[V1nce Fox]

TheHighlander said:

Here you go mate

I believe it to be the yoshimura edition, I bought the bike form my director for pennies (he is a bike collector and very wealthy so essentially gave me it)

Yoshimura handlebars
Yoshimura headers
Yoshimura cam covers
Yoshimura brake lines

It's a fun bike, has plenty of character.

I'll drain off the carbs and put some super unleaded in it.

[podman]

The carbs on these 400s can be fickle things, sounds like to me that the carbs have flooded due to the fueltap/floatvalves letting fuel pass.

Im seeing lots of posts where E10 is automaticlly blamed for every manner of issues but I dont think its the culprit in your case.

That said, I wouldnt leave any fuel sitting for 3+ months in the system but its not as gloomy as many speculate it to be.

Cracking looking bike anyway !

[Janluke]

I use a fuel stabiliser in all my bikes(Super in the classics) this time of year as I can go weeks without using them. It appears to work and don't have an issue starting

[TheHighlander]

podman said:

The carbs on these 400s can be fickle things, sounds like to me that the carbs have flooded due to the fueltap/floatvalves letting fuel pass.

Im seeing lots of posts where E10 is automaticlly blamed for every manner of issues but I dont think its the culprit in your case.

That said, I wouldnt leave any fuel sitting for 3+ months in the system but its not as gloomy as many speculate it to be.

Cracking looking bike anyway !

It's fouled 2 plugs and I think it's a combination of a couple of things

Leaving the fuel
Not starting the bike
It's old
Carbs have never been touched by myself or previous owner who had the bike years.

I've got them half off and sprayed some cleaner through it, put it back together and the bike fired but it had 2 fouled plugs

I'll get some plugs and fire it up and see what's happening, maybe take it a run up the road where I am

[Gareth9702]

podman said:

Im seeing lots of posts where E10 is automaticlly blamed for every manner of issues but I dont think its the culprit in your case.

That said, I wouldnt leave any fuel sitting for 3+ months in the system but its not as gloomy as many speculate it to be.

I'm especially gloomy because of the consequence of E10 for boats. The absorption of water can be a serious issue in the marine environment and outboard motor manufacturers simply say "don't use E10".

[podman]

Gareth9702 said:

podman said:

Im seeing lots of posts where E10 is automaticlly blamed for every manner of issues but I dont think its the culprit in your case.

That said, I wouldnt leave any fuel sitting for 3+ months in the system but its not as gloomy as many speculate it to be.

I'm especially gloomy because of the consequence of E10 for boats. The absorption of water can be a serious issue in the marine environment and outboard motor manufacturers simply say "don't use E10".

Understand that mate , from my experience in vehicles not boats, day to day, ive never had an issue with it even with it or it sitting for many weeks.

People seem to forget fuel caused problems stored for to long way before E10 came along which is why manufacturers put drain screws on carburetors along with advising to empty the petrol tank...

This 2009 Triumph had "decent" pre E10 fuel in it for 12 months but it still rotted the tank, seals and damaged the pump...That brown slop was super unleaded..




This KR1 carb had std (not E10) unleaded sat in it for some time and didnt do it any favours.




So, fuel left in the system has always been a problem, use it or drain it if you want to leave it sat for months...as was always the case as far as I can remember...and dont buy a boat..

[KTMsm]

podman said:

People seem to forget fuel caused problems stored for to long way before E10 came along which is why manufacturers put drain screws on carburetors along with advising to empty the petrol tank...

This 2009 Triumph had "decent" pre E10 fuel in it for 12 months but it still rotted the tank, seals and damaged the pump...That brown slop was super unleaded..

I agree it did but it used to take longer

I'd find it hard to believe that was only 12 months - my Dad is a Classic car dealer and we used to regularly buy cars that had stood for 5 years, top the tank with a few gallons and they'd generally run ok. I regularly leave my 90's cars for a year or two and they'll start and run on the old petrol

[Ivan stewart]

It’s always a good idea to drain the carbs if you’re not going to use your bike for a few weeks .

[Ivan stewart]

KTMsm said:

I agree it did but it used to take longer

I'd find it hard to believe that was only 12 months - my Dad is a Classic car dealer and we used to regularly buy cars that had stood for 5 years, top the tank with a few gallons and they'd generally run ok. I regularly leave my 90's cars for a year or two and they'll start and run on the old petrol

Yep but cars generally have more sealed systems especially the fuel injection ones , think the other thing is less fuel in a bike tank and the tank can be subjected to heat from the sun or being in a shed which causes the fuel to go off ,

[TheHighlander]

I ordered new plugs for it but in the meantime managed to get the bike running by heating the 2 fouled plugs to death with a blowtorch, popped them in the bike and hey presto shes running again.

I've now drained all the fuel out of the bike including the carbs.

[Ed.]

This was mentioned on Harry's garage, the product not demon tweaks in particular.

99ron storage fuel 10 liters for £30

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/r-racing-storage-p...