Road King won't start sometimes

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Jul 20, 2005 | 02:32 AM

mcgehee1946

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Road King won't start sometimes

I have had my Road King about 2 months. It started and ran like a dream until one day riding home I took a curve at about 50 mph and the bike just died. As I coasted it restarted and I thought I could make it home. Wrong. I turned down a lane close to my house and it died again and wouldn't restart but it would crank. I called my wife and we got the trailer and started to load the bike. I tried once more and it fired right up and I rode it home. I rode to work, about 2 miles for several days with no problems. One morning I got on and it wouldn't start. I called the shop and he said bring it in. We loaded it and took it to the shop. When we unloaded it it started right up. He checked it out and changed the cam position sensor. I rode it home and it did fine. The next day it wouldn't start again. I took it back to the shop and it started , no problem. I have now had it to the shop 4 times. The last time I took it in it wouldn't start at the shop but by the time he tried to work on it it started. It is still at the shop and he starts and rides it and it won't mess up. A friend suggested the ignition module. Some one tell me what is wrong. I got a recall for the main circut breaker but the starter and the lights work fine when it won't start. We have tested the coil and it tests good.

Jul 20, 2005 | 05:11 AM

John TN

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RE: Road King won't start sometimes

First I assume it's a new bike. If the engine dies and turns over then it's one of two things, no fire, or no fuel, I would suggest pulling a plug and doing a spark test when this occurs to see if it's fire or fuel. Also what code are you getting if any?

Check the battery terminals and make sure they are not slightly loose, I have seen this cause the fuel pump to not work but everything else would. You need to determine if it's a fuel delivery or firing problem and go from there. You can tell the mechanic that if you want to.

John TN

Jul 20, 2005 | 09:44 AM

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RE: Road King won't start sometimes

John covered just about all the bases, about the only thing I can add is if it is a new bike ask for a factory rep and get them involved, other wise follow Johns advise and good luck, an intermittent problem can drive you nuts![:@]

One other thing comes to mind is a problem with the fuel line inside the tank. On FI models , this has been a problem with the line wearing a hole in the line from rubbing against the tank. See enclosed pic.

[IMG]local://upfiles/2318/4C608F7970B64DD9BD5921BB971C5296.jpg[/IMG]

Jul 20, 2005 | 12:47 PM

mcgehee1946

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RE: Road King won't start sometimes

Sorry I forgot the year model. It's a 1998 Road King Classic.

mcgehee1946

Jul 20, 2005 | 06:06 PM

John TN

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RE: Road King won't start sometimes

TC,

That's interesting on the hose hole deal, is the line moving/flexing when the pump pressures up and causing the rub?

John TN

Jul 20, 2005 | 08:51 PM

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RE: Road King won't start sometimes

John

I think it bad engineering, a bit too long and bad position causes it to rub on the inside of the tank. The symptoms occur at about 1/2 tank of gas and seems to be running out of gas when it happens. If you add a quart of gas to the tank , the bike runs fine till it goes down again. Easiest way to diagnose it when it happens is to just add some gas, you'll know quickly if this is the problem it runs well then. Good ol' mother harley!