HELP! Problems with my 86 Tri-Z (POS)

[Super Dave!]

I bought an 86 Tri-Z 250 "AS IS" and it ran fine for the first mile.

As I went out to get gas with a friend, it started to putter and miss and slowly lost power and died.

Towed it back to basecamp.

Since then, I took the carb apart and quickly cleaned it, went over the entire electrical, I get spark and everything. Went for another ride via drag-starting the trike and it puttered and missed and slowly died and stalled. We did the ol' gas in a pop-bottle and gravity feed the carb and it ran well for abit, but same thing.

So I replaced the fuel pump after talking to a few other ATV'ers and we're able to drag-start it and it'll run good and strong now for about a mile and then slowly lose power and died.

I have a spare carb I'm gonna completely rebuild as well as another coil to try.

What other things should I be looking at ?? I'm really frustrated here.

It doesn't just stall out .... it slowly dies out till it stalls ....

[Macs]

it is defiantly a fuel related problem. i would check a clogged fuel filter or line. if all of those are clear it is probly in the carb.

[SYKO]

you are deffintly losing haveing a loss of gas issue, my gf's blaster did that for awhile, there was trash above the needle seat in the carb, the carb of course was cleanned many times before, then I finnaly pulled the seat and it was trashed up, only slowly dripping fuel into the bowl, I would ride it then it would die out, wait a min or 2 and ride it again, also replace all of the gas lines as well

[wolfspider]

check your tank vents, it sounds like its sucking fuel but then gets starved when the vents are trying to replace the fuel with air in the tank.

[TRI-Zbrian]

yeah sounds like the gas tank has an issue...

[Kintore]

Check your fuel pump as well, rebuild kits are like 15 bucks. I replaced mine as soon as I got it, but it turned out to be reeds.

[DeePa]

Gas tank vent, fuel float set wrong, clogged lines, clogged petcocks, clogged filter if you have one, fuel pump has been rebuilt

What happens if you let it just idle? Will it still happen?

Try to find another gas cap or when it starts to sputter, remove the gas cap and see if runs right again.

Did you just rebuild the carb with new parts and forget to blow air through the whole thing? get to a compressor or a can of canned air would work and blow out every oriface thats there, concentrating on the fuel tube.

Replace all of the fuel lines...good to do on a 20 year old bike anyways.

Its just fuel, not jetting or spark, so it shouldnt be too hard to fix/

Mike

[Super Dave!]

I have done the following while trying to get this POS going ...

- Checked ALL fuel lines/hoses
- NEW Fuel Pump
- New NGK Plug (Gap'd at .020)

I don't know about idling, as it won't start by kicking it over ... usually have to drag it for abit before it starts to fire up on it's own ...

I'm gonna rebuild a spare carb COMPLETELY that I have for it and as well, go thru the tank, check the vents and make sure there's no crud in it.

Thanks for your quick help and replies !!

[Super Dave!]

check your tank vents, it sounds like its sucking fuel but then gets starved when the vents are trying to replace the fuel with air in the tank.

Where do I find this vent ...

I have one port on the top of the tank that is connected to a T which connects between the fuel pump and carb ....

[jason 32]

gas cap-- the vent tube-
pilot jet might be clogged up---- this is probly the most likely thing- if it gets fuel it should kickstart- im guessin that its the pilot jet -not the main --- the little jet---:Bounce :w00t:

[ceaserthethird]

Check your Reed's , Also the 2 Petcock's ... remove the gas tank and clean it out ...

Don't forget to add a half can of SEAFOAM !

[Tecate250]

It could be the stator. The key way might be severed.
My tecate would have spark and would not go. But Some how you could roll start it but it had no power.

[badasskfx]

you could always try a gravity feed tank..... just hold it in your lap or something and drive. do you have a tank off somthing else you could try. this would eliminate your fuel system and then look closer at the carb.

[Super Dave!]

We've done the gravity feed bottle-trick ... and same thing, except it ran a little smoother and didn't hesistate or miss. That when I decided to replace the fuel pump.
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I thought maybe stator, as it doesn't seem like I'm getting any power to my lights, but never got that far in the trouble shooting ... :)
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Petcocks have been temporary removed for the moment ... my next course of action is taking apart the carb, soaking/cleaning it out completely, as well as the gas tank.
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Guess I'll scour ebay this morning looking for a magento stator ... anyone got one cheap and willing to ship to Canada ??


Thanks for all your replies ... I'll get back to you all with any results ...

[BigGreenMachine]

Check your float level. Once you get the right float height and if you have the same problem then check to see that your choke is closing completely and your not getting extra fuel dumped in the cylinder.

Is your spark good and blue? Is the timing set correctly?