I have a 04 heritage softail fuel injection. It has the stage 2 and vance and hine long shots. The bike has 12000 miles on it and has been running fine. Plugs were changed about 1000 miles ago. My problem is the other night I was riding it when I came up to a red light and as I slowed it started to die out as though it was out of gas. It was hard to restart but it did (it had about 1/2 tank of premium left). I precided to ride home about 40 miles. During the trip it would spit and sputter with exceleration but ride fine at a steady speed. When you let off the throttle it would rev high a few seconds then want to die. I thought it might have a little water in the gas or some thrash so I completely drained the tank and took it off the bike to assure I removed everything. I noted no water or thrash. I reapplied the tank and filled with fresh fuel. I took it out today then after about 30 miles I stopped at a store a few minutes. When I came out and recranked the bike it was hard to crank and then preceeded to run like it did before (high idle, sputtering and would die unless you rode the clutch and reved it during shifting. Anyone know what might be the problem or had a similar situation? I was thinking something computer or possibly throttle sensor related. I will bring it into harley unless someone knows the problem and it's something I can do without a computer. Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

brought bike to hd today. told if check engine light wasn't on then their diagnostic computer wouldn't do no good. I was told it possibly was a pin hole in the plastic fuel line inside the tank that runs from the fuel pump to the petcock causing my intermittent problem. Will change this sometime this week and do a test ride to see if this cures the problem. Will post results.

 

I found this in this forum. Hopefully this is what the hd guy was talking about with mine.


Sputtering and stalling(Fuel Injection)

There's been some issues with engines in the fuel injected models sputtering and dying at half a tank of gas for no appearent reason. One cause for this is a fuel line inside the tank that is rubbing on the inside of the tank and wearing a hole in the line. When the tank gets to about 1/2 full, the motor will sputter and stall. You can try adding gas to the tank and it will run properly again indicating this problem. You can also diagnose it with a fuel pressure test, also the fuel pump will have a different sound to it.
Below is a pic of the line and what it looks like when it gets worn through.



Attachment (1)

 

well, took my fuel pump assembly and hoses out. No obvious holes/issues noted but changed both hoses, fuel filter and pressure regulator. Rode bike a couple different times without any problems and then all of a sudden as I was pulling off at a redlight it suddenly died. Cranked right back up and as I pulled off while shifting from 1st to 2nd it died again. Cranked it back up and rode it about a mile then it died one more time between shifting again. I turned igition off then on and recranked. Rode it home about 15 miles with no further problem. Anyone have any suggestions?????

 

Check for a loose wire, connector, or ground.

 

can't find a loose wire or ground. battery connections were cleaned and reapplied. still has this ocassional problem but it is a big problem (safety). You never know when it will happen. It may not happen for a 100 miles or greater or as little as 30 miles. It usually happens when you stop at an intersection then take off. It will die when you start to accelerate spitting and sputtering. Sometimes you can keep it running by working the throttle but sometimes it will completely die. It will be hard to restart and appears to be loaded up ( will spit a little black smoke). I noticed when it happens (dies), if you try to crank it as normal it won't start. You have to open the throttle widen open and turn over a second or two until it spits, then when you hit the starter again it will crank right up and run fine. Any other suggestions out there? I've orderedthe IAC sensor and will change it as soon as it comes in (only $27 so I figured what the heck).