Bike dying

[stnick]

I was out riding this evening and after being out for about 20 minutes or so the bike just died. I pulled over and tried to start it back up. It turned over but wouldn't start. I spent a bit checking all of the physical connections and everything looked good. I pulled the spark plug cables and plugged them back in. I tried to start the bike and it started right up.

Then it died again. I thought the spark plug cables was too easy of a fix.... It dies and then needs to wait to start again.

The bike is under warranty so I can take it to the local Big Dog deaership. I was just curious what everyone's thoughts on this were. Might it be the crank sensor?

 

[V]

Check your gas cap! some of them have a screw in vent that does not work. If you got it take it out and throw away the vent. Try riddin and when the bike starts to die down slightly unscrew the cap. Many of us have had this problem. It does let the tank vent and u get no fuel

V

 

[Brew]

You could have got some bad gas in that tank or maybe some junk in the line. Just a thought...

 

[coiledup]

Well mine was doing the same thing and it ended up being the lining of the fuel tanks...The lining had broken down and was flakin off and clogging the petcock...I was stripping it down for paint in the winter so for temp fix I drined the gas removed all the lines and blew compressed air thru it...Then last winter I filled tanks with some sulfuric aicd and BB"s and shook till all the lining hand broke loose...Then re lined with proper lining and refinished the bike

 

[zombie]

I had a similar problem and it ended up being a small green plug just above the ignition module where the wires run up under the tank. If you do anything to shake them they will reconnect and the bke will run ntil they shake loose. Mine was a rusted pin in the plug that was shot. I used a staple to bridge the gap until I got home (500 mile later) , removed the plug and soldered her togethor. Then heat shrunk the connection and shes been good ever since. Just a thought

 

[RRRUFF]

This could be alot of things, but my experience was the ignition switch. Would start and run fine then just shut down. Cycle the switch and it would start up and run fine until the next time. I replaced the key switch, problem gone. But like I said could be alot of things. Loose electrical connections, battery ground, crank sensor, etc. Sometimes with electrical you have to be like a blind man in an orgy. You gotta just feel around until you find it.

 

[stnick]

This could be alot of things, but my experience was the ignition switch. Would start and run fine then just shut down. Cycle the switch and it would start up and run fine until the next time. I replaced the key switch, problem gone. But like I said could be alot of things. Loose electrical connections, battery ground, crank sensor, etc. Sometimes with electrical you have to be like a blind man in an orgy. You gotta just feel around until you find it.

Cycling the switch didn't seem to correct the problem. It definitely seems electrical in nature. I tried cycling the switch many times. After it sits for a while, it will eventually start back up. It is as though something has to cooldown. I'll do some more runs around the neighborhood this evening to see if I can get it to fail and I'll be more observant. I noticed the tach completely went out when it happened. Not sure if that is normal or not.

 

[BigDogBro1]

I experienced the same thing and with the help of Beezer and a BDM tech it was found to be loosening crimps on the wires that go to both battery post. The crimps on the smaller wires had worked loose and was causing a low current flow to the EHC making the bike just die while going down the road. Let it sit for some time and it would come to life and run but die again later.

Read this entire post:
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/help-wanted/14952-07-bulldog-wont-turn.html

Hope this helps.

 

[stnick]

I dropped it off at the dealer last Friday. It died just as I was pulling in to the parking lot. I spoke with them today and of course they haven't been able to replicate the problem. The tech wants to blame the EHC. Personally, I don't think that is the problem. It only dies after getting good and warmed up. It typically takes 20-30 minutes of riding before it starts dying.

Could it have anything to do with the battery? I'll admit I didn't have it on a tender over the winter. I jumped the bike and recharged the battery by riding.

He said if it is the EHC then it will likely take a couple of weeks to get one from Big Dog! He said if it is the ignition then I am shit out of luck because Thunderheart no longer makes the ignition.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Have you changed anything on your ride i.e. carburetor or is the 08 Mutt FId, pipes, different gas cap. I'm no expert but the issue happening when the bike is "good and warmed up" sure sounds like a vapor lock or leak issue.
Just Sayin

 

[stnick]

Have you changed anything on your ride i.e. carburetor or is the 08 Mutt FId, pipes, different gas cap. I'm no expert but the issue happening when the bike is "good and warmed up" sure sounds like a vapor lock or leak issue.
Just Sayin

Carb, gas cap are stock. Pipes are V&H big radius.

 

[DRBarnhart]

What lights are you getting on the EHC when it won't start?

Dennis

PS

He said if it is the ignition then I am shit out of luck because Thunderheart no longer makes the ignition.

How can you be "shit out of luck" considering your bike is still under warranty?

 

[stnick]

What lights are you getting on the EHC when it won't start?

Dennis

PS How can you be "shit out of luck" considering your bike is still under warranty?

I didn't read the EHC fault lights unfortunately and the technicians haven't been able to replicate the issue. They said the hooked it up to the computer and could see a fault but it doesn't provide details? Hell, I dunno.

I was thinking the same thing about being shit of luck but was just repeating what the tech said. I am not sure what they would do if they cannot get the original ignition.

 

[DRBarnhart]

You have to wonder...

If they're so sure it's the EHC I wonder why they don't just take one out of a floor model? Same with the ignition module if need be!! That would make a lot more sense than making a customer wait a couple of weeks... :angry:

Dennis

 

[stnick]

You have to wonder...

If they're so sure it's the EHC I wonder why they don't just take one out of a floor model? Same with the ignition module if need be!! That would make a lot more sense than making a customer wait a couple of weeks... :angry:

Dennis

No kidding..

They said they probably get 2-3 bikes in a week with bad EHCs. I wonder how many didn't have a bad EHC? Apparently the people who make the EHCs arent producing as many anymore and Big Dog cannot keep them in stock.

 

[B RADDD]

I had the same problem a couple a months ago , would run a while and chug out as if it was running out of gas, turned out to be my gas cap, vapor locking :2thumbs:

 

[Slickrick]

bike dies

when riding down the rode, my bike just dies and the rpm lights will flash. what does that mean???

 

[stnick]

I had the same problem a couple a months ago , would run a while and chug out as if it was running out of gas, turned out to be my gas cap, vapor locking :2thumbs:

I brought that up to the technician and he said it is not likely because the caps are vented. It does seem like that might be the problem. I hope it is something that simple.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

If the tech just ruled it out off the cuff then he is an idiot because there are lots of threads on here about blocked vent holes in the BD caps and how people have yanked the guts out to solve the problem.

 

[stnick]

If the tech just ruled it out off the cuff then he is an idiot because there are lots of threads on here about blocked vent holes in the BD caps and how people have yanked the guts out to solve the problem.

Yeah, I mentioned it to them. Either way, I'm not going to leave my bike in the shop while they wait for a new EHC. When I get it back, I'll check the gas cap issue myself.