I need mental help , this bike is killing me.
(1980 shovelhead, electronic ignition..had points before, s&s carb, straight pipes)
When i first start the bike i can drive it maybe 1 mile or so and it just cuts out as though you turned the switch off, the lights are still on, no sputter or anything just dies then i pull over and restart it, drive down the street a couple minutes and it cuts out again, it does this for the first 10 minutes...then never does it again until i stop for a couple hours...then the problem returns. I have replaced the coil, spark plugs and wires. I have ran a wire from the battery directly to coil, replaced the large switch on the gas tank, replaced the vented gas cap, still the bike just cuts out 3 or 4 times in the first 10 minutes.....then ....works great with no problems the rest of the day unless i turn off the bike for a couple hours, then it does the same thing..semms like a cold issue .any ideas ...lifters...valves ...help please.
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This problem seemed to come out of know where. I originally kept the old coil and everything was fine for a year, then the problem started after an accident (i think) , so i replaced the coil with one designed for electronic ignition....the problem still is there. Only seems to act up when cold.....once warmed up it works fine.
Mine has a similar problem. Mine will shut off while ideling...like at a stop light(like someone hit the kill switch). It will only do it once in a while. It will always restart just fine. I always assumed it was my high lift cam..it gives it a little rough idel so I just thought it might be a misfire.
i would check the main circuit breaker. they have a tendency to corrode on the inside which causes them to get weak. you can get them at an auto parts store cheeper than from a dealer.
MMM.... an intake leak....when warms up seals itself ...perhaps...sounds like a spot to check...sound right to anyone else. Since i know very little about bikes i appreciate any help.
As for the breaker ...i put a fuses on all the breakers , thinking that if a breaker blew it would pop a fuse and i would see which one went....none ever blew.
Any other ideas i should look at......
The bike runs great from start to finish...except for the cut-outs for the first 10 minutes.
MMM.... an intake leak....when warms up seals itself ...perhaps...sounds like a spot to check...sound right to anyone else. Since i know very little about bikes i appreciate any help.
As for the breaker ...i put a fuses on all the breakers , thinking that if a breaker blew it would pop a fuse and i would see which one went....none ever blew.
Any other ideas i should look at......
The bike runs great from start to finish...except for the cut-outs for the first 10 minutes.
I'm not a harley mechanic by any means, I just work on my own here lately BUT from what you are describing it sounds like a loose or dirty electrical connection. The fuses around your breakers, while sounds like a good idea isn't really. Only one or the other would blow but a bad/ dirty breaker might cause your issue. Wait, you said you wired fuses in series < inline> with the breakers or parallel < across> the breakers? The fact it really only does it cold makes me think check ALL electrical connections, make sure all plug-in connections are clean and crap free. Good friend of mine had the exact opposite, ran great cold and when it got hot it died. Turned out to be a connector under the tanks that expanded when hot.. He pulled all his connector apart, cleaned them, then sprayed them with WD-40... Hasn't failed yet...
MMM.... an intake leak....when warms up seals itself ...perhaps...sounds like a spot to check...sound right to anyone else. Since i know very little about bikes i appreciate any help.
As for the breaker ...i put a fuses on all the breakers , thinking that if a breaker blew it would pop a fuse and i would see which one went....none ever blew.
Any other ideas i should look at......
The bike runs great from start to finish...except for the cut-outs for the first 10 minutes.
I'm not a harley mechanic by any means, I just work on my own here lately BUT from what you are describing it sounds like a loose or dirty electrical connection. The fuses around your breakers, while sounds like a good idea isn't really. Only one or the other would blow but a bad/ dirty breaker might cause your issue. Wait, you said you wired fuses in series < inline> with the breakers or parallel < across> the breakers? The fact it really only does it cold makes me think check ALL electrical connections, make sure all plug-in connections are clean and crap free. Good friend of mine had the exact opposite, ran great cold and when it got hot it died. Turned out to be a connector under the tanks that expanded when hot.. He pulled all his connector apart, cleaned them, then sprayed them with WD-40... Hasn't failed yet...
Good Luck!
Yes, check your electrical connections. This happened on my brother '82 and the problem was frayed wires and oil crud buildup on the connections to the coil. His fuse block had also accumulated a lot of oil and dirt, so those got cleaned and problem disappeared.
bike cuts out while driving...problem solved
