General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

fxr ignition, maybe???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 11:07 AM
  #1  
jhensley3300's Avatar
jhensley3300
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Wartburg, TN
Default fxr ignition, maybe???

I go around 40 miles on my 89 fxr and it starts backfiring and dies. Wait 10-20 seconds and it fires right back and will go another 10 miles or so and does the same thing. But if I let it set for 30 minutes or so it will go the 40 miles again. Bad ignition or what??? My trouble shooting abilities aren't very good.
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 11:32 AM
  #2  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Default

If it was me I'd be thinking gas filter, but brake it down its one of three things,
Fuel, Electric or Timing. Since the bike is running when it dies that kinda sorta
rules out timing. Next time you go out take a spark plug with you, and as soon as it dies shove the spark plug in a spark plug wire and see if you get spark, if you got spark then its got to be fuel. Does your bike have a filter on top of your fuel valve.
if it does is it as dirty enough to restrict the flow of fuel is there a lot of trash in your gas tank that is getting sucked up on your filter or fuel valve? These are just thoughts to ponder.
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 11:50 AM
  #3  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,394
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Bikes old enough I'll agree with 6 gun about the petcock screen probably plugging up on you . Components on the electrical side usually either work or don't , rarely you'll get an intermittent thing like you describe .

Pull the fuel line at the carb and blow back through into the gas tank on both on and in the reserve positions on the petcock and see if that helps , if it does make plans to drain the tank completely and either clean the screen or replace the petcock itself .

It doesn't may be time to hit a local shop to look at your ignition module or coil .
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 11:57 AM
  #4  
monkeyboy22's Avatar
monkeyboy22
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,971
Likes: 840
From: In front of the computer for now.
Default

Start with the easy stuff first. As 6 gun mentioned, look at the external fuel filter if it has one. If your petcock has a filter in the tank, there might be enough crap in the tank to block the filter after a bit. Has the stock ign. module been replaced with an aftermarket one? If so, is it in the nosecone behind the "points" cover? If so, 40 minutes sounds about right to get it heated up enough to fail.
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 12:28 PM
  #5  
Greezey Rider's Avatar
Greezey Rider
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
Default

Check the ignition module...Borrow one from someone and try it.
The reason I say this is because it appears to me that the ignition module is working fine until it gets hot and then something is freakin' out in there.
I have encountered this problem quite a few times on older bikes with electronic ignition.
They will do exactly what your bike is doing....It can be a real pain in the *** to track an intermittent ignition problem like that.
Also look at the wire that runs from the sensor in the cam cover to the ignition module as they are prone to failure with age, as are the sensors themselves.

The key is the heat...The longer you let it cool, the longer it takes to get hot enough to fail again.
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 01:06 PM
  #6  
Throttle_Jockey's Avatar
Throttle_Jockey
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
Likes: 4
From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Default

Coil could be going out. When they get hot it'll start an intermittenting problem.

Also check the plug wires. On a FXR the wires have been famous for the brass cracking at the 90* bend coming out of the coil. I chased my tail on a similar issue , and found a broke plug wire.

I have also had the wires work them selves loose ie coming out of the coil. I now put a marine sealant around the rubber boots at the coil to prevent this and moisture.
 
Old Jun 22, 2014 | 03:40 PM
  #7  
jhensley3300's Avatar
jhensley3300
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Wartburg, TN
Default

Tank does look a little flaky on the inside. I have an inline filter on it. Should that filter be full, half full or what? Most of the time when it dies it looks less than half full but It doesn't look full when its running either
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Keithhu
Touring Models
6
Sep 15, 2015 02:59 PM
bobcatmitchell
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
8
Sep 29, 2014 07:44 AM
98glider
Ironhead
11
Jun 23, 2014 08:22 PM
Don Lampert
Sportster Models
8
Jun 17, 2014 11:28 AM
french harley lover
Shovelhead
13
Sep 25, 2013 08:45 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE