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Idling, Sputtering, Stalling...

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Old Jul 14, 2018 | 03:01 PM
  #1  
greyeyes's Avatar
greyeyes
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Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Oregon
Default Idling, Sputtering, Stalling...

2012 Tri Glide with 30,000 miles. (Custom gear drive cam, fueling lifters, custom Fuel Map)...

This is an FYI posting... Been having trouble with engine idle not steady and bike dying (shortly after replacing the Voltage Regulator).

No Error codes.

All the symptoms other folks have posted. Several things will cause this so, I did this:

Pulled coil and tested it (tested in spec)
Pulled CPK and tested it (tested in spec)
Battery is fairly new - fully charged.
Replaced spark plugs.
Checked wiring and plug wires - all are good.
Tested fuel pressure (tested in spec)

Managed to ride it to Harley dealer.

Service Mgr took it for a ride and when he returned, he suspected a bad ETS (Engine Temp Sensor). Said it’s probably dropping to 3 deg but, could be anything.

Let it cool down and rode home (dying on the way) . Cooled overnight then I put my Power Vision on the bike, set it for monitoring Engine Temp and data logged it while riding.
Rode 10 miles and stopped the bike. Cooled for 10 minutes and headed home.

The attached screenshot tells the story… Temp dropped to 3 deg’s, just as Service Mgr predicted.

New part on order…

 
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Old Jul 14, 2018 | 06:13 PM
  #2  
Labrador's Avatar
Labrador
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From: Illinois
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Very impressive. Nothing beats having proof like this to ensure that you are not wasting money on parts that you don't need. Was the voltage regulator just coincidence or was something disturbed/shorted out that caused this?

I wonder if my V&H FP3 has a similar feature?
 

Last edited by Labrador; Jul 14, 2018 at 06:16 PM.
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Old Jul 15, 2018 | 09:44 AM
  #3  
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greyeyes
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Stage IV
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From: Oregon
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It was coincidence…

Going down the road, the bike started dying and engine trouble light lit up. Error code said lost contact with ECM, Battery/voltage moved all over the map and stopped running.

Battery checked good and I considered throwing parts at the problem. Mulled it over with fellow behind service desk - he recommended a new regulator ($240). Although HD won’t take back electrical stuff - they will for me, which made it an easy decision. It fixed the problem.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2018 | 11:41 AM
  #4  
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RK4ME
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The same thing happened with a low mileage '96 BMW R1100 that I bought a few years ago. The engine oil temperature sensor, which was defective, was causing the EFI to revert to Cold Start mode after I had ridden about five miles. After figuring it out with help from a couple of BMW forums and my voltage tester, I replaced the EOT sensor, and was back on the road.
Congrats on getting your trike's problem solved.
 
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Old Jul 15, 2018 | 11:44 AM
  #5  
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Kingglide549
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It just convinces me more and more I want nothing to do with a computerized bike..
 
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Old Jul 15, 2018 | 12:19 PM
  #6  
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harleydavis
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From: Broomfield, CO
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Originally Posted by Kingglide549
It just convinces me more and more I want nothing to do with a computerized bike..
I agree!!


 
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Old Jul 15, 2018 | 06:15 PM
  #7  
DanHappy's Avatar
DanHappy
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... sounds like me after a long work day and a night out with the wife!!!

Lol
 
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