Hi all. Steve, Cambridge, England. Tiger 885 steamer. Carbed. A year or so ago my bike stopped running after a bit of a lay up and when I eventually managed to wrestle the carbs off I found that brown crystally crud in the float bowls and so on. I presumed it was due to being sat for a while, so Icleaned the carbs and it seemed to fix the issue. The next problem was a failed coil. I discoved this after riding a further 200 miles to get it home on 2 cylinders. Cutting to the current issue, I managed to squeeze a weeks holiday in september and was 2 days in to my trip around the UK when on leaving my wild camp in North Wales - the bike went about 2 hundred yards and pluttered to a halt. I coaxed it as far as the road then pushed it to a petrol station. It was on reserve but I thought maybe it wasnt picking up. We filled it up but still no go. I took a walk, bus, train, train, underground, train, bus and walk to get home, pick up the trailer and do the 500 mile round trip to collect it. So much for a holiday. It stood outside my shed for a month in the rain before I finally set to it yesterday. As I knew I had power and fuel, I suspected spark and figured maybe the other coils gave up. Nope, theyre ok. Pulled the carbs and found a small amount of water and again the crud. White and a bit waxy this time. So the questions. 1. Is the filler cap seal a reliable part, or are there any known ingress issues. Its rained pretty heavy over the last couple of months? I know have a full to the brim tank of fuel I may have to dispose of, though I poured a sample this morning and it looks ok. 2. Does the Tiger have issues with fouling in the tank / can I change / check a tank filter? pictures later maybe cheers
Your filler cap has a small hole to allow rain to run off into an overflow tube. If this tube is block you will end up with water in your full. Also concider an inline filter between your tank and carbs.You may have bits in your tank. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-Moto...651735&hash=item3d9b3bb815:g:N9wAAOSwwGdfoRlP This is just an idea you will need to check your fuel line size
There is a drain from the fuel fill aperture that easily gets blocked. Mine was blocked and after one night outside in rain the float bowls where full of water the next day. After cleaning it out with wire/ water pressure it’s clear now. Have you looked into fitting Paul Messengers stick coil kit? Heard great things about that although I haven’t got them myself yet.
cheers. I have an inline filter on order already, as it seems the perfect opportunity to chop one in. I'll check the hole. Its a bit of a pain to have to drain the entire tank. Is there a tank flush people recommend, when petrol would normally be my flushing agent
It replaces the coils, much better spark etc. Fellas name is Paul Messenger, think he’s on here under T552 or something like that. I also use a fuel treatment because of the ethanol in the fuel.
Hello Steve and welcome to the forum Whilst fitting the inline fuel filter I’d also replace any fuel lines also,should only cost a few £’s. Ethanol in today’s fuel can destroy fuel lines internally and can cause a blockage especially if they’re old.
Hi Steve. Not sure I would add another fuel filter you are just adding another hurdle for it to get over. On my Daytona (1995) there is a large gauze filter on the inside of the fuel tank on the tap. I know your fuel tap is different but maybe it has that filter too? If so maybe drain the tank and remove the tap to see if the filter needs a clean. At least doing this you will get to know the status of the tank and whether there is any crud in it. There are also (on some models) a couple of tiny little plastic fuel filters where the fuel line joins the carbs, the little T-piece. If it was me I think I would be taking the carbs off and giving then a good clean, it will cost you nothing. Join the T300 facebook group, you will get a lot of feedback and suggestions there, it is quite active.
Before you do anything else I would have that tank off and give it a thorough clean. It has had all too much time to go through cycles where condensation leads to corrosion and formation of the red sludge and rust particles that run through fuel lines to float bowls and eventually block jets.
fuel pours out of the tank freely when I turn the tap on, so it isnt blocked there. The crud looks like a reaction / build up rather than a sediment. I will drain the tank when I round up enough containers, as its full full.
If you're taking the tank off to work on it then it will be worth the time and expense of sealing it. The Steamer is pretty much the worst affected of the T3 range because of the way that ethanol eats into the plastic from which the tank is made. I gather that is the white/grey coloured residue found in the carbs. This stuff might work .... https://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/ethanol-proof-fuel-tank-sealer/
Welcome to the forum, Steve! Looks like you've got lots of support and info from a number of members. As Wessa said, good luck with sorting your problems.
Hi All. Just an update. Your tips have been very useful. I have (I think) fixed the problem. Yesterday I went back to draining a fuel sample but this time turned the tap to reserve instead of on. Link to a video of what I found. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10159062555292363 Dont worry if the link doesnt work. Pure water, about 3 pints of it, perhaps more. Almost entirely the reserve capacity was water. This is why I broke down. As I was running very low on the normal tank on my little holiday, i switched it to reserve on the morning of Day 3. Got about 200 yards before grinding to a halt but couldnt figure out why as I obviously had "fuel". I also poked a wire up the drain pipe from below. Sure enough it was blocked. I know these things are called "Steamers", and I have the water. so if I could just figure out where to put the coal... Cheers again. Reassembly starts today.
Steve Swann Welcome to the family. Seems you are sorted now. Yes do open the filler cap and clean that overflow hole and pipe there to let it drain any water. and you should be good. Joe.