almost had to do the 'walk of shame'

[Iahawk]

it's been at least 3 weeks (maybe 4?) since I was out on a bike...Sunday afternoon reached about 60 F (15.5 C) so I had to take a quick ride. The Nighthawk took some time to get started but once running, idled nicely while I geared up. Tire pressures good, battery at 12.8v, fuel tank full and oil full. I made it about 2.5 miles around the neighborhood when it quit on me approaching a stoplight. It's never done this before. I pulled off to the side and tried to restart..nothing...motor spins but doesn't fire. Tried a few more times and realized I'd need to get off the road so pulled bike up onto sidewalk. Kept trying to start it with no luck. I looked bike over, nothing looked out of place I even opened the fuel cap in case of a clogged vent.

2 bikers passed by with not even a look..but a police officer stopped to check on me. I said I'm fine and I live about 1/4 mile down the road so I'd push the bike home. I was finally resigned to pushing the bike home (a number of expletives were uttered during this process) when I got it to fire up...I revved the you know what out of it to make sure it stayed running and made a fast run back home and into my garage.

Haven't had a chance to take another look at the bike...but was very glad it happened to me close to home. If it had been miles away it would have been a terrible feeling..not sure what I would have done on a Sunday afternoon to get the bike home.

[Neil955i]

Transient fuel line blockage?...

As for what you'd do miles from home?  You'd do what you did and it would have started!

[Iahawk]

Neil, I thought about a fuel blockage/bad petcock..my head was spinning, trying to think about air, fuel, spark and compression...and what was I missing?? At home I could have cracked the carb bowl drain screws to check for fuel or even pulled the fuel line ...but on the road with no tools I felt a brief moment of panic. Also thought about something nesting in my airbox, fuel clog, coils? PUshing it home wouldn't have been too bad..but the last 30 feet up my driveway into my garage would have been a bear. I don't even think I could push almost 500 lbs up my steep drive.

I guess this is all part of the joy of riding a vintage bike. Moments of joy interspersed with brief moments of panic!

[Neil955i]

Just a thought about that steep drive Hawk. 2nd or 3rd gear and walk it up using the starter motor?  Making sure the starter doesn’t overheat of course?

[Ruffus]

hawk good to hear nothing bad happened.
As Neil suspects, maybe the fuel line somehow or if you have a fuelfilter... 'cause it started again and kept running/idling. And yes, vintage bikes are unpredictable but joy (ok, sometimes😅)

[Stig / Major Tom]

Yeah Hawk....
there are certainly times I wonder what I'd do if the scoot coasted to a stop out in the boonies
 on a shoulderless road in the dark fog or rain!
Then again - what really gets my attention is to be riding out there in the dark on a frigid 20 degree morning!

'Tis bound to happen some day. Come to think of it - I need to put a Bic lighter in each scooter. I could always burn the owners manual and tissues and towels I keep under the seat. Moon Pies don't burn. Gets really bad - take the gas cap off and set fire to it in a majestic finish to my Scootering Days.






Let us know what you find...
Regards, Stig

[Ruffus]

Gets really bad - take the gas cap off and set fire to it in a majestic finish to my Scootering Days.

😂👍👍

[Neil955i]

Gets really bad - take the gas cap off and set fire to it in a majestic finish to my Scootering Days.

😂👍👍

Not that Stig's a Drama Queen or anything!  Nice mental image though