VOES/Coil question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,006
Likes: 7,541
From: Poolville
Voes woes
If you know it's definitely intermittent than I would just replace the entire ignition and get rid of the voes set up. You also mentioned that you have been in the carb before and changed jets. Is this when your idle problem started or,, why did you re-jet?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
Jet changes were made thousands of miles ago... they are not the issue. Carb was re-jetted for a cam change etc... but that is not part of the topic. I'm still not doubting a possible plugged up idle jet and the VOES just happened to be broken too.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
ok it took me a few days to respond to this on because I had to test my theory before I chimed in.
the voes is a simple switch its either OFF or ON I think we can all agree on that.
if your reading more than 0 ohms your switches contacts are failing or you have a shyty ohm meter.
ok on to what I tested the stock Harley ignition has a pullup resistor of 5 ohms in line with the IC so I I hooked a 50 ohm restrictor in line and it still triped the circuit then I installed a 100 ohm still worked.
so if your switch is reading ohms under 100 it will still work. but it is most definitely a bad switch.
I would replace the voes if its reading more than 0 ohms. replace the plug wires just because they are so old even if they are good now wont be long before they do fail.
next would be cleaning the carburetor a pluged pilot jet will cause your problem. like a few people have stated.
also a bad coil can cause this I had a brand new coil fail on me a few months ago it tested good it sparked good on my air gap gauge and the ohms were right. it ran fine going down the road and most of the time it idled just fine. but when it would start messing up it wouldn't idle and would cough out the carb give it some gas and it would come out of it. as soon as I let off the gas it went right back to running like crap.
the voes is a simple switch its either OFF or ON I think we can all agree on that.
if your reading more than 0 ohms your switches contacts are failing or you have a shyty ohm meter.
ok on to what I tested the stock Harley ignition has a pullup resistor of 5 ohms in line with the IC so I I hooked a 50 ohm restrictor in line and it still triped the circuit then I installed a 100 ohm still worked.
so if your switch is reading ohms under 100 it will still work. but it is most definitely a bad switch.
I would replace the voes if its reading more than 0 ohms. replace the plug wires just because they are so old even if they are good now wont be long before they do fail.
next would be cleaning the carburetor a pluged pilot jet will cause your problem. like a few people have stated.
also a bad coil can cause this I had a brand new coil fail on me a few months ago it tested good it sparked good on my air gap gauge and the ohms were right. it ran fine going down the road and most of the time it idled just fine. but when it would start messing up it wouldn't idle and would cough out the carb give it some gas and it would come out of it. as soon as I let off the gas it went right back to running like crap.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
ok it took me a few days to respond to this on because I had to test my theory before I chimed in.
the voes is a simple switch its either OFF or ON I think we can all agree on that.
if your reading more than 0 ohms your switches contacts are failing or you have a shyty ohm meter.
ok on to what I tested the stock Harley ignition has a pullup resistor of 5 ohms in line with the IC so I I hooked a 50 ohm restrictor in line and it still triped the circuit then I installed a 100 ohm still worked.
so if your switch is reading ohms under 100 it will still work. but it is most definitely a bad switch.
I would replace the voes if its reading more than 0 ohms. replace the plug wires just because they are so old even if they are good now wont be long before they do fail.
next would be cleaning the carburetor a pluged pilot jet will cause your problem. like a few people have stated.
also a bad coil can cause this I had a brand new coil fail on me a few months ago it tested good it sparked good on my air gap gauge and the ohms were right. it ran fine going down the road and most of the time it idled just fine. but when it would start messing up it wouldn't idle and would cough out the carb give it some gas and it would come out of it. as soon as I let off the gas it went right back to running like crap.
the voes is a simple switch its either OFF or ON I think we can all agree on that.
if your reading more than 0 ohms your switches contacts are failing or you have a shyty ohm meter.
ok on to what I tested the stock Harley ignition has a pullup resistor of 5 ohms in line with the IC so I I hooked a 50 ohm restrictor in line and it still triped the circuit then I installed a 100 ohm still worked.
so if your switch is reading ohms under 100 it will still work. but it is most definitely a bad switch.
I would replace the voes if its reading more than 0 ohms. replace the plug wires just because they are so old even if they are good now wont be long before they do fail.
next would be cleaning the carburetor a pluged pilot jet will cause your problem. like a few people have stated.
also a bad coil can cause this I had a brand new coil fail on me a few months ago it tested good it sparked good on my air gap gauge and the ohms were right. it ran fine going down the road and most of the time it idled just fine. but when it would start messing up it wouldn't idle and would cough out the carb give it some gas and it would come out of it. as soon as I let off the gas it went right back to running like crap.
Interesting thing you said about the coil, and I wouldn't doubt that mine is roasted either... almost 20 years old too. I'm going to replace the VOES, plug wires, and check to make sure my idle jet isn't clogged, drain the tank, clean petcock screen and see what that gets me. If that doesn't do it I will see if I can get a known good coil from someone to test out first before I buy one.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 36
From: Houston, TX
Well, still in the garage on the jack. HD says my VOES is obsolete and I'm not sure I want to bother with the aftermarket ones... I don't trust the quality of them.
I guess it's time to find a Dyna S set up at a decent price.
I guess it's time to find a Dyna S set up at a decent price.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 34
You guys didn't believe me! There's a colored dot on yours and jp sells replacements that match up. I think we have blue dot which is 4.5, did you check eBay? I got mine for cheap and it was brand new on tech hd box still. If it wasn't so damn right in there id mail it to you so you could ride. It's 15 degrees here. My season is over.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
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From: Houston, TX
You're real good at reading whole threads before posting Dr. Hess.
