02 290 Engine Cuts Out

[bentspoke]

After 7 years out of trials I decided to get back into the swing (2 stone of extra weight & high blood pressure help with the choice too:)

I used to ride monts, but this time fancied a change and not much money to burn I got me an 02 290 Sherco.

After 3 weeks i'm starting to get use to riding again and its top fun!!

However tonight I have come across a problem, after a fast moorland ride the bike died, 5th gear 40mph ish for about a mile

no warning just felt like i had run out of fuel.

Tried kicking it over a few times, no go, then put some choke on after pushing for ages and it went 2nd kick. Ran for 20mins then same problem again.

Can anyone help please? carb is clean, new seal kit fitted throughout the carb, new plug, air filter clean. the bike sometimes seems like it's running rich for a min or two then clears. Mix screw 4 turns out 500ft ASL for most riding.

My Mate has just bought a 250, his bike seems to have more power than my 290, in fact I can't get my head around how much power his 250 delivers- 321 gas gas and some !

Have I been ripped with a 125 and he has a 290 in drag ?

We mix rock oil 20ml to 1L and for most of the time the bikes run great.

I'm wondering if the stator is playing up but have no idea what the Symptoms of stator failure are.

Can anyone please advise on this ?

I was used to the naf carbs on early monts and all the poor running during cold winter days but having to push my Sherco for miles when it stops dead is really P122ing me off.

Thanks in advance

Ian

Edited March 19, 2010 by Bentspoke

[outlaw dave]

The 2002 had a problem with the vent tube inside the gas tank - take the petcock out and cut about a quarter inch

off the tube - should fix it - 4 turns out on the FUEL screw is too much - you may need to fit a larger pilot jet

we suggest a 36. - check the Sherco site under service for more info: or call MRS in the UK - RYP in USA

[copemech]

Good call Dave, might just ck the tank vent hose flows and not restricted as well.

The '02 2.9's were pretty aggressive out of the box. Many have had the stator plate re-set(timing retarded) and yours could be one. Worth a ckeck, as if set back too far they will not run properly.

[max1956bikes]

i would whip the barrel off and check piston and rings for damage

[caddabs]

I had a power loss problem with my 290 which i think was a combination of a few things. I got it ridiculously muddy and overheated it. so worth checking you have enough coolant & keep the mud off the radiator. i also fitted a larger pilot jet and now run it on 80:1. my mix screw is 3.5 turns out but i guess it depends where you live etc.discovered the carb was full of crud too. touch wood all good now. dont know anything about stators, but those are my experiences. good luck.

[bentspoke]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your advice, I will have a look and make the fuel valve mod.

Seems strange that the bike instantly dies no warning one minuet the bike is flying along and the next is just as if

you hit the kill switch (connections and earth are all ok)

[caddabs]

i'd be tempted to check the plug and the jets. if its happening on wider throttle openings, like a long blast accross the fields , it sounds like the plug might be oiling up. i think (worth checking) that the main jet is the one for wider throttle openings. the 2000 has a 126 main and 33 pilot jet not sure about the 2002.

[bentspoke]

Caddabs,

Thanks will have a look at the plug, it's new changed it two weeks ago, so I'll check its condition,

The problem also happened whilst in 3rd gear getting ready for a small hill climb, it's a bit scary when you commit and the bike doesn't

It's always at the back of my mind now that it will fail just when you need the power or halfway up a rock face :-(

[tonybroad]

if you have or know someone with a compression tester try checking your compression, my 02 290 still takes a fair boot to kick it over and if it ever kicks back i know about it, thing is i don't know what compression pressure you should be getting - 90-100 psi at a guess

Tony

[bentspoke]

Spent all day yesterday working on the bike,

Checked,

Fuel flow into the carb, overflow is not restricted and no vacuum condition in the tank,

Modifed the petcock.

Cleaned all the jets out in the carb,

Washed out & dried the air box.

Checked all the wiring including kill switch.

CDI connections,

Fan operates as it should

Resealed everything nice and air tight put the new air filter in.

Checked she started and put her away.

This morning early doors went for a road trip around the countryside.

3 miles on in top gear, the bike engine died again after a long stretch wide open in 5th gear.

This time as soon as I came to a stop I put the choke on and the bike started 1st kick! NOTE it will not start without the choke (even though is warm) when like this and if I try to start without choke I get no kick back whatsoever even after many attempts.

Ran ok for a few miles then the same again.

I'm sure its not compression, if it was stator related I'd expect a hell of a time getting the bike going again if at all,

CDI ?

Plug is new, air filter new, bike requires a big kick to start ( no problem starting usually 2nd Kick from Cold) and if I don't get it going on the kick it kicks back big time.

I'm leaning towards a carb/fueling issue, I fitted a complete set of Dellorto seals 2 weeks ago so it's not a worn seal.

Note there is no warning that this is going to happen, no cough, splutter or signs of running out of fuel- running rich or lean just full power then completley dead.

What I haven't tried is pulling the choke on whilst coasting to a stop- not that brave with one hand on the throttle and the other fumbling about for the choke lever.

I'm so sick of it i'm going to buy another bike,

One thing I did find was the pilot is a 30, I expected to see a 33 or even 36 in there, all the other jets are as they should be

Would a 30 cause this wide open?

Floats are ok, I didn't check the float height (I'm embarrsed to say I'm not sure where to measure from)

Thanks guys,

I really appreciate your inputs on this one.

Rgds

Ian

[ham2]

Here's my long distance diagnosis:-(If it starts fine when cold,and it doesn't bog down before it quits) I would guess;

Temperature induced electrical fault... ....Sherco stators act very strangely before they finally pack in all together.

[mcman56]

FWIW

It would be some work but you could pull in the clutch, shut off the gas and pull the plug immediately when it dies. A dry plug would suggest carb and a wet plug electric.

On my 02, you have to be careful to route the fuel line away from the muffler. If the line got very close to the muffler would the gas boil?

Your choke experiment may be safer if you could clamp on some type of temporary extension....even a metal extension held on by tape may work once.

Would 3 miles be the distance you could go on just a fuel bowl full of gas?

Edited March 21, 2010 by mcman56

[copemech]

Well the 30 pilot explains why the bike is weak off the bottom.

There is a mod to increase the size of the float valve for heavy road running and such. Sound as though you are running the bowl out of fuel. The floats should be LEVEL, by the way.

You did clean the banjo screen?

Where is Baldilocks when you need him?

[jonnybmac]

I just had my ignition stator replaced and it seemed the same problem. Once warm it ran **** or wouldnt idle properly. Check your spark, remove your plug and hold it to the engine and give the kick start a few kicks and see if you get a decent spark. Mine got to the point where it didnt spark at all.

[bentspoke]

Well the 30 pilot explains why the bike is weak off the bottom.

There is a mod to increase the size of the float valve for heavy road running and such. Sound as though you are running the bowl out of fuel. The floats should be LEVEL, by the way.

You did clean the banjo screen?

Where is Baldilocks when you need him?

Thanks, I'll certainly change the pilot jet.

Yes cleaned the carb inlet filter, and petcock filter and ran on reserve this morning.

Sorry to be a pain, can you tell me how to set the floats up please?

I have never needed to check before.

Also noticed that the inlet valve (not sure if that is the right name) it's the valve with the small pin and red pointed end sticks in up place for a few seconds even when the brass float arms are lowered and not pressing on the valve.

My mate has an 02 250, I'm going to try his carb to see is this solves the issue.

I promise once it's solved I'll report back, hopefully this will help others in the future.