Shutoff while riding

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copernicusdan

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So bike shut down on me today while going about 65 on highway, just started slowing down and I realize bike isn't running, was able to get into slow Lane and pull over
I sat there a minute, looked around, checked fuses, everything seemed fine, took a minute to find neutral, figured I would try kicking it over, started right up, an rode the rest of the way home
I think this is the fourth time this has happened, happened last time I rode after an hour in, but then started back up after a few minutes
Happened twice last year, but seemed fine after I removed mufflers, I thought maybe I had blocked something when I smashed out baffles
Bike is an 82 special, Mike's xs carbs, runs good, maybe needs tuned, kinda like surges around 4000 rpm in higher gears, maybe that's the air filters, anyone try the foam ones on the Mike's carbs?
Maybes it's wiring just not sure where to start, just seems random
 
Sounds like fuel starvation to me if it's been happening at same scenarios. It may be sucking more in than what is supplied to the carbs. May want to check flow from tank to carbs could be partial blockage or float height set too low.
 
Maybe I'll check float height again, would it have anything to do with it only running in prime, it starts dying if move petcock, it's fine if it's idleing at a light, cuz I've had to switch it to res when float height was off an carbs started leaking when at lights, maybe petcock needs rebuilt?
 
Stock TCI and pickups? If you haven't carefully check the wiring bundles under the the LH engine cover. Many have found a ready to break wire in there.
also check plug wires, caps, and it's possible the coil is on the way out.
 
Yeah, stock charging, had charging issues before, but that stopped after I cleaned up some of the wiring, removal of sidestand relay tcu, resoldered turnsignal wires when they got loose in switch, changed brushes last time it wasn't charging, wouldn't be a bad idea to change plug wires, haven't done that yet
As far as fuel how often do you change fuel filter now that I think that has at least 3000 miles on it
 
If it will always immediately start back up, then it's most likely the TCI. If it has to sit any first, then not. If it's the TCI, what will probably fix it is reflowing every solder joint and adding a touch of solder if necessary. The joints are prone to microscopic cracks from years of vibration that make them intermittent. When mine went bad, it seemed like it always quit at the worst time, in the middle of a turn.
 
Doesn't have to sit long, other times it wouldn't start at first, this time I waited a few minutes before trying, last time was going straight, time before was in a turn
 
It it has to sit any, probably not the TCI then. If it's electrical, could be one of the things Gary mentioned, plus could be an ignition wire pulling out of the coil if it's aftermarket.
 
copernicusdan said:
Doesn't have to sit long, other times it wouldn't start at first, this time I waited a few minutes before trying, last time was going straight, time before was in a turn
Click to expand...
Check all your connections in your light ,the main wire harness can work it’s way loose over time, I put a tie wrap around mine! If to little slack left hand turns can stretch it over time causing it to work it’s way loose! I had same scenario,finally was able to get it todo it while I was troubleshooting it at idle,finally got bad enough that every time I would turn bars just a bit to the left it would shut off and not start again unless the bars were straight or turned to the right! Good luck! And yes the TCI problems that xjwmx mention can cause the problem too!
 
copernicusdan said:
So bike shut down on me today while going about 65 on highway, just started slowing down and I realize bike isn't running, was able to get into slow Lane and pull over
I sat there a minute, looked around, checked fuses, everything seemed fine, took a minute to find neutral, figured I would try kicking it over, started right up, an rode the rest of the way home
I think this is the fourth time this has happened, happened last time I rode after an hour in, but then started back up after a few minutes
Happened twice last year, but seemed fine after I removed mufflers, I thought maybe I had blocked something when I smashed out baffles
Bike is an 82 special, Mike's xs carbs, runs good, maybe needs tuned, kinda like surges around 4000 rpm in higher gears, maybe that's the air filters, anyone try the foam ones on the Mike's carbs?
Maybes it's wiring just not sure where to start, just seems random
Click to expand...
I had same trouble a couple years ago with my '82 - intermittent shutdowns, drove me nuts - turned out to be a battery going bad because of a malfunctioning float charger, not anything wrong with the bike's charging system or wiring. Check water levels in all your battery cells - if any are down, that's a sign. Top off any cells that are low with distilled water, charge it up, and take it to someplace like Battery Giant, Batteries Plus, etc., to get it load-tested.
 
Still haven't figured it out, did it today, didn't think about before, but if you try hitting starter button you get nothing, power is still on, signals still work, just seems like no power at the button, does that just sound like a bad wire, I had all the tape off and looked, I'll have to recheck
 
The only thing that keeps the button from working if everything is good is if the generator is putting out. When the generator quits, it means to the relay the motor isn't turning and then you can use the starter again.
 

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