Sputtering '07 FXDL
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Burlington, MA
Sputtering '07 FXDL
On a few occasions earlier this Summer, when I stopped at a red light, the revs on my '07 FXDL would drop was down to 100-200rpm and within a few seconds the idle would return to normal. The last time it happened was about a month ago. I mentioned it to a local mechanic who said he has heard of that problem if the tank was running very low. I filled the tank and didn't have the problem again....until tonight.
I headed out on a back road at low speed (20-30mph) and at the traffic light at the end of the road, I noticed the bike was idling very low. I blipped the throttle a few time and all seemed fine. At the next light, about 1/4 mile away, the idle dropped again but the bike died when I blipped the throttle. I tried starting it a few times with no luck. The light happened to be the crest of a hill and, by coincidence, the shop that I talked to earlier was about 1/4 mile from where I was. My plan was to coast there and leave the bike. On the way down the hill, I tried starting the bike and the engine turned over. I continued on and took the bike home, revving it at each red light.
I somewhat eliminated the idea that there was not enough gas in the tank tonight, as I had only ridden about 90 miles since my last fill up. When I did fill up, I got almost as much as possible in the tank.
Could tonight's problem be due to vapor lock because I squeezed some extra gas into the tank, or could there be some other issue causing this erratic idling since in the first case, the tank was quite empty but in tonight's case, the tank was almost half full?
I headed out on a back road at low speed (20-30mph) and at the traffic light at the end of the road, I noticed the bike was idling very low. I blipped the throttle a few time and all seemed fine. At the next light, about 1/4 mile away, the idle dropped again but the bike died when I blipped the throttle. I tried starting it a few times with no luck. The light happened to be the crest of a hill and, by coincidence, the shop that I talked to earlier was about 1/4 mile from where I was. My plan was to coast there and leave the bike. On the way down the hill, I tried starting the bike and the engine turned over. I continued on and took the bike home, revving it at each red light.
I somewhat eliminated the idea that there was not enough gas in the tank tonight, as I had only ridden about 90 miles since my last fill up. When I did fill up, I got almost as much as possible in the tank.
Could tonight's problem be due to vapor lock because I squeezed some extra gas into the tank, or could there be some other issue causing this erratic idling since in the first case, the tank was quite empty but in tonight's case, the tank was almost half full?
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 81
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From: Burlington, MA
No codes....I will check the battery connections as I never gave a loose connection any thought. When I was stuck at the traffic light tonight, though, I tried starting the bike while it was in gear and even though I had pulled in the clutch there was nothing, so perhaps you might be on to something. A loose connection certainly would certainly explain why I could get the engine to turn over but once I started coasting, it may have been enough to make contact. Thanks.
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