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Clean your Ignition Switch - Prevent Stalling While Riding

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Old Mar 11, 2017 | 10:16 PM
  #51  
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uklauren
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ugh what's that white stuff? T shirt weather all the way to Daytona and back.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2017 | 06:41 PM
  #52  
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jpowell490
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Went ahead and did this today to my softail. Was cleaning and waxing so I figured why not. Great post! Thanks!
 
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Old Mar 16, 2017 | 09:12 PM
  #53  
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stal94gt
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My ignition switch is relocated and it is exposed to the elements. At the start of every season I clean it and re-apply dielectric grease. My switch is always green when I open it up cause all the moisture that gets to it

 
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Old Mar 28, 2017 | 04:28 AM
  #54  
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roundi
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Thanks Joe ! The issue happened many times and each time I turned the **** off then on and the bike just restarted ... This weekend I was in middle of no where and after a short brake the bike wouldn't start, no power what so ever. After 30 min and after many tries, the bike turned on ! Went back home and found your detailed post... here is a picture of my switch


very dirty ...



after cleaning and dielectric grease
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 11:29 AM
  #55  
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MrWhitaker
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Default Switch still has power but lose spark.

Any ideas should everything still be light up and my starter be able to turn if the switch is bad, or needs cleaned? I lose spark while riding so it just dies but if I turn off the ignition and turn it back on while I'm coasting it fires right up and good to go. Any ideas? Only has happened at the beginning of the ride. Then it's usually fine the rest of the time.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 11:49 AM
  #56  
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racerkvn
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Originally Posted by MrWhitaker
Any ideas should everything still be light up and my starter be able to turn if the switch is bad, or needs cleaned? I lose spark while riding so it just dies but if I turn off the ignition and turn it back on while I'm coasting it fires right up and good to go. Any ideas? Only has happened at the beginning of the ride. Then it's usually fine the rest of the time.
I would still recommend taking the switch apart and moving the contact and spring from the IGN position and move it to the ACC position. It's free to do and only takes about 30 minutes.

When it does die and you're coasting, have you hit the starter to know for sure it engages, without fiddling with the switch first? Also, when it dies, do you lose your speedometer/odometer? The speedometer would go to zero MPH and the odometer would go blank. At night time, the speedometer backlight would also go out.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 11:59 AM
  #57  
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MrWhitaker
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Originally Posted by racerkvn
I would still recommend taking the switch apart and moving the contact and spring from the IGN position and move it to the ACC position. It's free to do and only takes about 30 minutes.

When it does die and you're coasting, have you hit the starter to know for sure it engages, without fiddling with the switch first? Also, when it dies, do you lose your speedometer/odometer? The speedometer would go to zero MPH and the odometer would go blank. At night time, the speedometer backlight would also go out.
yes nothing else goes out speedo is fine starter works all the lights work it did it to me again on my way to work this morning when it was still dark. When it first started I used to try to start it with the starter and I didn't get spark. Then I learned if I just killed the ignition and turned it right back on I was good to go but I know that's not a fix.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 12:06 PM
  #58  
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racerkvn
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Have you had the bars off recently by chance doing a bar swap with internal wiring? Checked the coil wires for any loose connections?
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 12:31 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by MrWhitaker
Any ideas should everything still be light up and my starter be able to turn if the switch is bad, or needs cleaned? I lose spark while riding so it just dies but if I turn off the ignition and turn it back on while I'm coasting it fires right up and good to go. Any ideas? Only has happened at the beginning of the ride. Then it's usually fine the rest of the time.
My buddy lent me his bike and it had a similar problem which after it finally died and wouldn't restart I diagnosed as a loose secondary wire on the coil. Tightenened it up and was good to go. Something for you to check. I'd also suggest you clean the ignition as it's free to do and it might be your problem.
 
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Old Apr 17, 2017 | 07:37 PM
  #60  
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MrWhitaker
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Found out it was my bank angle sensor. Problem is fixed doesn't die anymore.
 
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