I have a 1989 Sportster Deluxe 883 that has been shutting off on me. It has happened 4 times in the past 2 months and so far nobody can figure out why. The Coil, plugs, & wires were changed and the petcock recently cleaned.
All 4 times have occurred within 10 minutes of my starting point and at speeds less than 25 mph. The bike just stalls and won’t restart. All of the lights are on and it tries to start but won’t kick over. Then after a while it starts up like nothing ever happened…

 

Check to see if you are getting spark after this happens. It could be your voltage regulator overheating and shutting down till it cools off. There are ways to test out the regulator in the service manual.

 

Ignition module would be next on my list.

If I recall correctly, when they start to go, the heat makes it worse...so they heat up, stop working, you shut off the bike, they cool down...bam working again until you heat the bike back up.

You can get a can of electronics freeze spray, and hit the ignition module with it when the bike is hot and won't run, if it immediately starts back up, you found your problem.

 

It only happens once in awhile... not every time the bike runs... I have ridden a few hours straight without incident. The 4 times it happened, It occurred within the first 10 min and few miles or so. Then afterwards ran great. Where is the Ignition Module located?

 

Hey - not all that familiar with the 89's but what type of fuel pump do you have? Reason I ask is that I had a similar issue with my Sporty and ultimately found the little screen in my fuel pump was gummed up. I actually replaced it versus cleaning it and never had the problem again. Not sure if that is relevant to your situation or not, but thought I'd throw it out there.

Good luck!

 

Trace back from the coils. The coils would be in between the spark plugs and the ignition module.

I know this is silly but...have you double checked the connections at your battery and the ground strap to the frame?

 

A voltage regulator "shutting down" would result in the battery not recharging. The bike would continue to run until the battery was drained to the point that there was no power left to fire the ignition. At that point, the starter wouldn't crank the motor over.

 

OP's bike is an '89. I don't believe there is a fuel pump (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). Most carbed bikes I am familiar with rely on gravity or vacuum for fuel delivery, where FI/EFI bikes may require an actual fuel pump.

 

You are correct Thumper. The 89 sportster does not have a Fuel pump. I also agree with the ingintion being the problem, but also check you fuel cap if it is partly plugged it will do that to. Sometimes it will run with out isue than others it will shut down. When your bike does this next time try cracking the fuel cap and see if it starts. i had this same thing happen to my 88 but I have the fat bob tank on it.

 

Click HERE for a link to a diagram of your electronic control module.


The older Sportys have issues with the main circuit breakers working intermittently prior to complete failure.

Click HERE for a link that will help.

Well, for some reason HD Forum is truncating the links and they are not working.

Here they are, you will need to put a

http:// in front of the following to get it to come up

partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/ronnies/showmodel.asp?Type=13&make=hdmc&a=93&b=11&c=0&d=-ELECTRICAL---ELECTRONIC-CONTROL-MODULE-W/-COIL-ASSEMBLY

and the same with this one-

partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/ronnies/showmodel.asp?Type=13&make=hdmc&a=93&b=44&c=0&d=-ELECTRICAL---SWITCHES-AND-CIRCUIT-BREAKERS