I have a custom 2000 Ultra Classic (Carb'd). About a month ago, I tried to start the bike. Pulled out the choke, the bike started ok but the minute I tried to turn the throttle (even slightly), the bike would begin to sputter air and begin to stall until I released the throttle.

I noticed this thick sticky, gummy, syrup like substance coming out of my air filter and other parts of the engine. It seemed like it was coming from everywhere!!! it was almost impossible to remove with anything that i could think to use to clean it with. I took it to my local shop and they were telling me it looked like someone put sugar in my tank.

I was near my bike the whole time so it seemed unlikely that someone had time to do it. After further web reasearch I've read that "bad or cheap gas" that lack certain derergents can have this effect on the engine.

Right now the engine is being stripped down and cleaned, but my question is:
Has anyone else heard or experienced this before?
What causes this?
What can I do to prevent this once I get my repaired bike back?
Should I look or buy certain brands that would prevent this?

 

...as an insurance adjuster I had a claim a couple of years ago where a pissed-off wife poured Molasses down her husbands gas tank. It didn't destroy the engine though, as the filters are hard to get by. But it did need everything in the fuel system to be changed, new tank, new fuel pump, new gas lines, new filters, new injectors, etc ....sounds like someone might have poured a syrup in your tank, not raw sugar. Good luck.

 

Your going to need to keep us updated on who might have that kind of malice for you to go this far.....we need to know now so, let's have it.

 

no way to tell what is or what did happen from your description.


"gummy syrup from everywhere" would have to know exactly where.

at this point it looks like you are paying some bills

what the problem was or it's source are just unknown.

most additives to gas are every light and evaporate out quickly--- the resultant liquid smells like turpentine- but that takes quite a while, months.






mike

 

@Jmac...Yeah I already have a vandalism claim out there and repairs are in progress. I can't imagine when and who could have done it that's why I wasn't so sure it was syrup or raw sugar.

@Tucci....Maybe i'm in denial about what happened but I don't know who it could have been to be honest. If I did they would be in jail for violating my most prized posession.

@MK...Hmmm the bike bad been running rich for a while but it's like JMac's description the substance was everywhere, Tank, Engine, Filter, Carb, you name it.

 

Not suggesting this as a cause because I really dont know, but what would happen if somehow diesel had been put in by mistake.