Engine Sputter is back

[wotan2525]

The easy way to check the fuel system for a blockage is to pinch the return line and see if it runs better. If that's the case you have a blockage somewhere or the pump is getting weak

I don't think his engine has a return line, does it?

[haugy]

Self-induced suicide from embarrassment?

[trayson]

The easy way to check the fuel system for a blockage is to pinch the return line and see if it runs better. If that's the case you have a blockage somewhere or the pump is getting weak

I don't think his engine has a return line, does it?

Correct, I don't have a return line. I have only 3 hoses on my fuel tank.

1. Big hose for fuel Filler
2. Line for fuel breather/vent
3. Line from tank to engine

When you said it happened last after a long ride (5 - 10 min) at relatively high speed, I was thinking it sounds like a fuel line collapsing internally. Pretty hard to diagnose, other than running it that same way on an external fuel tank to see if the problem goes away. But replacing the main fuel line isn't that bad of a job, maybe it's worth doing, unless you have done it very recently. Just a thought. Ethanol blended fuel is really tough on old fuel lines. But your symptoms make sense, in that it only happens when you're drawing a large volume of fuel for a long continuous time. But that scenario also can stir up crap in your fuel filter, or any residual water too.

I suppose I could replace the line. But I've run it harder and longer many times since. And this time I did sit for 10+ minutes and it was still right there. What's kind of compelling that it's the water in the fuel thing is that in June when I drained my tank and refilled with new fuel, it ran poorly for the FIRST few minutes then was completely fine from there on out. So that tells me that draining the fuel was the solution last time and that the residual fuel in the line needed to get cleared out before the engine was happy again...