I have a 2002 Fatboy. Recently, on my way home from work, the bike just died with no warning, almost like I just turned of the key. Battery cables are fine, lights still work, etc. Try to start, no luck. After about ten minutes, I try again and she fires up like a champ. Go for about 6 or 7 miles, then same thing again and won't start again until it cools down for a while.

Only other thing is I had just topped of the tank with gas, but this is the same station I've been filling up at for four years now.

I checked all the wiring I can without taking the bike apart. Put in neutral in the shop and fire up. Runs for about ten minutes then dies. If I try to restart, it turns but doesn't catch... sometimes a small belch of flame comes out the tail pipe.

Any ideas?

 

it might be the coil,,when they start going bad they get hot and can shut the bike down till coil cools down a little and it will start and go till hot again,,over and over shutting down intermitantly,,,might change it out and see if that fixes it...

 

Replaced the ignition coil. No love.

I can't afford to keep changing parts going I hit the right one eventually. Any suggestions?

 

Sounds like a circuit breaker is heating up and failing. Also, have you checked the ignition switch under the dash? Electrical problems are a pain to chase down. You getting full voltage at the battery from the alternator/regulator?

 

The headlights still work when it dies, so I assume it's not the main breaker. I'll check under the dash, but it seems like a heat issue and I'm not sure it gets warm enough there for engine heat to effect it.

 

Is there a way to check the voltage regulator or the crankshaft sensor? I can't afford to keep replacing piece by piece until I don't have the problem any more.

 

My 2002 Fatboy was doing similar things and it turned out to be the vent tube inside the gas tank was cracked. Is your bike EFI or carbed?

 

It's carbed. I'll check that. Rather do that than try to chase down electrical problem.

 

If it has coils you may be able to see them failing at night.

 

Mines EFI so I doubt your problem is same. The cracked vent tube wouldn't allow the fuel pump to build up pressure in the tank so my bike would cut out and pop thru the intake. Good luck finding the trouble. It's probably something simple.