So, I was warned about this...

[DTTW]

Been away from the forum for a while. Thought this story would be something to share with. A long post, felt poetic.

We were having the "traditional" tour de Finland with my friends a few weeks back. We do this every summer, this was the seventh year in a row. Just finding roads we have not ridden before, cities not visited before and enjoying some beer and food in the evening time. Just having good times with old friends and some quality time with the 14.

This was 3 nights, 4 days trip. Everything went smooth until the 3rd day. We had just filled the tanks and started our way towards my friends cottage. The last 100km's to go. When we would get there, we were promised a sauna, cold beer, some BBQ and a lake to swim the days sweat of. What a treat. It was 15 km's after filling her up when she suddenly stalled when I pulled the clutch in. I was not too worried as she had done this before. I was still coasting and started her up. Rev's raised to idle and I released the clutch. This was followed by hesitation, loss of power and likes. I said to my friends via Sena's that we need to pull over. There's something wrong with my bike. They disbelieved first, but pulled over. Stop, riding gear off and some thinking. I turned the ignition and immediately heard that the fuel pump is not sounding as it should. Luckily my friend has also 14 so we compared the sound the pump makes when it pressurises the fuel system. They were different. Sounded like my pump would not pressurise, instead it would blow the fuel back to the tank.

Then it hit me. The damn pressure regulator. It must have come off. I said to my friends that I have read about this issue some years back in this very forum.

So we started to disassemble the bike. First the tank, then the fuel pump. This was not fun exercise as we just had refueled.  As we tried to remove the pump from the tank it would not come trough. The regulator was still partly in place so needed to force it off. We heard a clang as the regulator fell in the bottom of the tank. Now the pump came through. Now we needed something to fish out the regulator. We used pliers, some wooden sticks and two guys to do this. We needed to remove the fuel sensor as well to get good access to the regulator. There was some serious surgical moments in this operation. I managed to put everything back together and the bike started. Now, the sauna and beer sounded really good! only 90km's to go.

It was 10km's before the cottage when the familiar hesitation started. I yelled that my bike is going to die soon. I managed to get some 5km's out of her before she died on me. I still coasted few hundred meters and luckily there was a nice resting place by the lake and the sun was shining. A perfect spot, lucky me! The last 15 meters I needed to push the bike. So in two minutes we made a rescue plan. We were 4 guys. One would head to supermarket to buy some cold beer. As much as possible. The cottage owner would head to his cottage to find some rope so we could pull my bike to safety for the night. Me and my friend would stay in the place, and just wait. My friend managed to find some rope so we towed my bike to the cottage. This was fun, but at the same time quite scary as the rope got some slack and caused some interesting situations! 

Anyway, we all happily got the the cottage and started to enjoy the evening. The bike could wait until morning. In the morning the same operation again, remove tank and fuel pump. Now we had some steel wire to secure the regulator in place. I still had to travel some 150km's to home so I wanted everyting to stay in place. Start the bike, get home and smile.

I love how you can make easy fixes on the 14, also on the road. Luckily this was my first issue, but hopefully the last at the same time. I'm now trying to find better solution for securing the regulator in place. Do you have any suggestions for securing the regulator or similar experiences when on the road? 

Not sure how the photos will come out like...

[Hooli]

Ahh I see the problem, you've got the slower colours. That's as fast as they are meant to go 

I just put a cable tie around mine after reading about it, never had the issue myself but better safe than sorry.

[DTTW]

Haha Hooli!  Really bugs me though that I was towed by B/W 14...  Even Honda would have been better... 

[froudy]

Great photo's and story!
Glad you managed to get it fixed up and were able to continue your journey. As you said, these bikes are fairly easy to work on and get things fixed when they break..Not always though.

I did 50,000 miles on mine and it only broke down twice. Both times were self inflicted too. One was just after I'd replaced the brake and clutch levers with aftermarket items..The clutch lever when on span setting 1 wouldnt activate the clutch switch. The other one was after I'd totally rebuilt the bike. One of the ignition coil wires wore through and shorted on the underside of the tank in heavy rain. My fault again as I hadn't routed the wires correctly.
Great bikes and since selling mine earlier this year to ill health, I'm really missing it.

[DTTW]

Thanks froudy!

I'm now thinking that I might have caused the root cause for this issue as I had the regulator removed last year, probably it did not fit perfectly back..

These machines are built to last and easy for service even for beginners. I guess if one would have 100% stock bike it would go to the moon and back, no hassle. It is the curiosity and the noble thought of improving the bike that sometimes leads to unwanted situations, I'm talking about myself... 

Happy to see you still being part of this great community, even the bike's gone. 

[froudy]

Happy to see you still being part of this great community, even the bike's gone. 

I plan on sticking around here. Great bunch of guys with loads of knowledege about the GSX1400 range. I still help out and give advice when I can. Plus my shed has become a store room for all @Notty 's illicit parts that he has to hide from Mrs Notty

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I just put a cable tie around mine after reading about it, never had the issue myself but better safe than sorry.

Thought about that with mine, not sure a cable tie (zip tie) is stable in fuel though?  A stainless jubilee clip would be best, the common fix is a bit of stainless tie wire around the pump and filter.

Others here have posted these efi pumps are suitable:

https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-35468050-quantum-255lph-performance-fuel-pump-w-regulator-tank-seal-for-suzuki-gsx-1400-efi-2001-2008-replaces-15100-42f01.html

[grog]

DTTW, well sorted on the road. Stainless loop of wire all thats needed. Been towed 3 times, very scary i reckon. Correct way? No idea. My Dad way back reckoned only way to get towed on bike was to hold rope, not tie to bike. I dont really know.

[KiwiCol]

Yep, once removed you have to secure back in place with wire or cable tie.

[mlivkovich]

Copper wire holds it for last 3 years with no problem

[northern]

had same issue 2 years ago. I think, I solved it using zip ties, at that moment...
there is 360 photo of "work shop" that day
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AiSaDMVksVw5mqta8

[Hooli]

I just put a cable tie around mine after reading about it, never had the issue myself but better safe than sorry.

Thought about that with mine, not sure a cable tie (zip tie) is stable in fuel though?  A stainless jubilee clip would be best, the common fix is a bit of stainless tie wire around the pump and filter.

Others here have posted these efi pumps are suitable:

https://www.highflowfuel.com/i-35468050-quantum-255lph-performance-fuel-pump-w-regulator-tank-seal-for-suzuki-gsx-1400-efi-2001-2008-replaces-15100-42f01.html

It's lasted a year so far & looks fine. The filter etc are similar feeling plastic after all.

[Taniwha]

DTTW, well sorted on the road. Stainless loop of wire all thats needed. Been towed 3 times, very scary i reckon. Correct way? No idea. My Dad way back reckoned only way to get towed on bike was to hold rope, not tie to bike. I dont really know.

With regards to towing bikes, I've found the best way is to loop the rope once around the footpeg and clamp it there with your boot.
That way if there's a problem, just lift your foot and the rope falls away.

[steve porter]

Got towed by a car with a driver that had failed physics in my youth, pulled my front wheel sideways about 6 feet at a corner even after I told him to wait for me to roll around, one of  the scariest rides of my life, I ended up pushing it home after that

[Kiwifruit]

My dad said when he was in the army they looped the rope through the handlebar clamps and held the loose end with your throttle hand against the twist grip.