Loosing spark while riding down the rode

[scottblack83]

Losing spark while riding down the road

I just got mine bike out from sitting about 6 month. I will be riding down the road and all the sudden I have to spark. everything on my speedo still stays lit as it should no check engine light or oil. While the engine is still being turned over from me moving down the road if I hit off and run the engine starts running fine again? if i hit the gas while coasting down the road then hit off and run the engine will backfire and start running as well so I don't think its fuel related. also when I come to a stop it seems like the engine will start running on only one cylinder, will take no gas and finally stall. I hit off and run then start it fires right back up and runs fine again. this happend about 30 times in about 30 miles. Now I was starting and stopping alot. The battery was on a maintainer the whole time but the battery might be the orginal. all the terminals on the battery end seem to be tight. the bike was in a heated garage. going to check for loose wire ends and for moisture but is there anything else for me to check? It also never cuts out when i'm on the gas only when i'm off or coming to a stop. i cannot get it to do cut out when sitting still.

 

[V]

Some of the gas caps have a EPA vent screwed into the bottom of the cap. It is on the right hand side of the tanks and has a hex shape somewhere between 5/8" and 3/4" and it is simply threaded in to the cap. if you have that take it out and throw it away. It will cause a slow fuel starvation and then when youre slowen down it will start to allow air back into the tank. (kinda creates a vapor lock in the tank)

Also might want ot get the old fuel out and drain the bowl. 1 beer job here.

 

[scottblack83]

Some of the gas caps have a EPA vent screwed into the bottom of the cap. It is on the right hand side of the tanks and has a hex shape somewhere between 5/8" and 3/4" and it is simply threaded in to the cap. if you have that take it out and throw it away. It will cause a slow fuel starvation and then when youre slowen down it will start to allow air back into the tank. (kinda creates a vapor lock in the tank)

Also might want ot get the old fuel out and drain the bowl. 1 beer job here.

as soon as i notice it not sparking if i hit off and run quick it runs just fine.

 

[Maxim_es]

I'd say you're on to something there. Might want to take your right control apart and clean the pcb board, and check for any loose connections.. at least eliminate that area.

 

[scottblack83]

I'd say you're on to something there. Might want to take your right control apart and clean the pcb board, and check for any loose connections.. at least eliminate that area.

If it was in right control. wouldn't i be able to just hit run again and it should start sparking? i have to hit stop than run. seems like i have to reset something first before it will spark again and that happens when i hit off first then run cause if i just hit run it does nothing.

 

[grizfish]

Long time ago....had a HOG with an internally cracked coil. Ran OK when cold, but as soon as the coil heated up and expanded, it would act similar to what you describe. Also, check for loose ignition and coil wiring. :up:

 

[Roaddawg]

I had the same exact thing happen a year ago. Driving down the road and it would quit or backfire and quit. Often, just hitting the start button while still moving would get it to start again. it happened randomly. Sometimes a couple of times during a ride, other times I would go two or three days before it did it again.

Same as you, lights, speedo, etc. all worked. It turned out it was a broken wire on the tachometer board. One small wire, which when it vibrated just right, would separte momentarily and cause the loss of ignition. Because the wire pretty much kept in contact with the board, it ran but with the symptoms you are experiencing. the Tech at Fury Motors in St. Paul found it in a matter of minutes. Replaced the board and it has been trouble free since.

 

[Bowhunter]

I also had the same type of symptoms on my '99 Bulldog, turned out to be a wire at the coil that was broken and only being held on by the insulation. Repaired the wire and no more problems, sometimes it is a process of elimination of the "Possibilities" that leads to the cure. Good luck!

 

[scottblack83]

looks like I might have a long saturday of checking wires. :-(

 

[scottblack83]

UPDATE. when i was snooping around tonight i noticed that my crank position sensor brown wire was rubbed to bear wire and most likely shorting out on the mounting bolt for the EHC would this make my bike shut spark down while going down the road? also my air ride pump screws were all sheared off and was laying on my trans and starter and its positive wire was also rubbed bear.

 

[V]

very well could be, crank postion sensor tells the bike when to fire the plugs. An arc may have killed your connection and thats why you have to hit the run start again. Very well could have saved yourself some bucks for finding it your self. Repair and give it a ride. If that does the trick you owe yourself $65 per hour for labor, what ever thats comes to you get to blow the money on bikes, booze and babes

 

[scottblack83]

Well boys I think my dog is cured. I went for a nice little ride today and it ran perfect (he was happy to be out of his coop. I heat shrinked the bare wires i found, made sure my right hand control was plugged in, pulled both harness off the ehc and repacked with dielectric grease. checked my battery after it was out of my bike for 2 days and it was reading 12.9 vdc so I think its still good. I really appreciate the help. I now have a complete wire diagram for my bike from you guys and saved me alot of money this time and in the past. Beers are on me..

 

[BigDogBro1]

I had exactly the same thing going on with mine. All it was were the wire CRIMPS for the smaller wires going to the battery +/- terminals. Not loose at the battery terminal bolts, but at the crimping on the wires had loosened. This caused the EHC to intermittently drop out like turning off the key while riding. I could coast and restart as well many times until it finally quit all together.

You may have the same or other connection is loose.

No problems since!

 

[stinger1]

Strange problem occuring on mine at the moment...Have a Misfire on rear cylinder, changed usual things plugs leads but havent a spare coil so dont know if thats slightly faulty. Looked for chaffed wiring and all seems to be good....any ideas would be appreciated.. thanx.