This past weekend while riding along at 60MPH my 99 Heritage started to act like it was running out of gas. Before I could switch the petcock it stopped. I pulled off the road, switched the petcock and it started right up - less than a mile from a gas station - problem solved... maybe not. I was only able to get 3 gallon of gas in the tank. Before this all happened, I had rode approximately 50 mile so far that morning with no problems. Anyone have any ideas where to start to consider a problem - or is it just a short between the handle bars and the seat???

 

Check for loose connections at the battery.

 

Interesting you say that... I just purchased the bike 2 weeks ago and I removed the battery to detail and add a Battery Tender plug. I'll check those connections. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I don't know if 99's had them but my 2002 Sporty had a problem like that once. It turned out to be a bad bank angle sensor (tip over switch). Could also be, kill switch, ignition switch or a broken battery or ground wire.

 

had had the same problem with my 98 wide glide.turned out to be the tank vent hose under the dash panel it was rotten and smushed together not letting the tank vent.

 

Mine did the exact same thing, turned out to be ignition switch. the contactor bar underneath was loose. Used some dialectic grease to get her home and then replaced with upgraded switch.

 

Remove the petcock and clean the filter.

 

mrmeanbean74... you may have hit on something I found last night. When I pulled the battery out as previously mentioned, I found a piece of small vacuum hose going through the compartment exiting the rear that was in bad shape. I traced the hose and found it had rotted off the small check value attached to the down tube in front of the rear wheel. Tracking it forward, it went to the fuel tank - ahh the vent!!! I replaced that hose and re-attached it to the check valve. Last night, I pulled that check valve and it was blocked-up tighter than a gorilla on a cheese-only diet. I left the hose off the valve and will see how it works. That was the one-and-only change I made since buying the bike. I have a feeling when the tank level went down, with that vent block, it created a vacuum not allowing the fuel to exit the supply - at least I hope that's it. If that doesn't do it, I'm going with Dan89FLSTC, and from there the electrical route.

 

PKS,

The tank is where I started too. Same issues... but that wasn't it.

If the bike dies again check for spark. Don't turn it off when it dies. Pull a plug boot and see if you get spark, I tested it with my pinky finger inside the boot and hit the starter. There was no spark. I shut the bike off, replaced the boot and it ran for a while again. Again if you shut it off it may start right back up, sort of like resetting a breaker.

My issue turned out to be ignition related and it was the ignition module giving me the issue.

So if it dies again ... don't turn it off and immediately check for spark.

 

Johnny C... I didn't have a chance to shut it off - it just died like it was out of gas. It just started to hesitate and engine off! Wasn't fun - left lane of 3-lane highway doing 60MPH!!!