I am having ignition problems once the bike seems to be warmed up. I drive down the road a few blocks and then it quits like it ws shut off, however the head light stays on. i sit for awhile and then it restarts. I think i have it narrowed down to the key switch or the cd box and pickup, any thoughts or experiences.

 

# 1 guess would be the pickup. Before a cold start, try heating it with a hairdryer (cover off) for a few minutes and see if it'll start. If so, the coil may be on the way out, and third guess, sometimes the kill switch will get corroded a tiny bit and causes all kinds of intermitent/freaky ignition problems.

 

Your bike uses circuit breakers, they age and will trip at less amps than they are rated at.The symptoms are thatthe breaker for you ignition is bad. It is reseting properly but not holding under power. I believe the manual has troubleshooting for this. Good Luck!

 

I had the exact same issue on my '85 FLTC. The short story...i'd bet money on what t150vej said. Good chance is if the sensor plate is old its heating up and shorting out. Remove the cover plate, start the bike and heat the sensor with the hair dryer. If the bike starts missing out, dies oror wants to die...you found your issue. Also, I agree...test the circuit breakers, they are cheap and well worth replacing if they are old. There are several other test you can due (using the service manual) but try the hair dryer first.

later

 

You don't have a vacuum operated gas petcock do you?

 

Mine was doing something similar and it turned out to be the coil. Put a new one on and fine ever since.

 

thank you for the direction.