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Engine hesitation?

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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 11:18 AM
  #1  
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Default Engine hesitation?

Hello Team and pardon my ignorance.

2008 Softail Rocker with 22,000. I got it used with 20,000. Use it as my daily rider and commute bike around the City and Bar hopper.

Most of the time I ride 5MPH - 10MPH above the speed limit.

Last night was coming from a meeting with friends around 2:00AM and not a soul on the freeway. I decided to push the limits and see what the bike is capable. When I ride on the city I normally accelerate very hard and the bike feels very well planted and pulls hard. Last night everything was fine until I hit 90MPH and the bike starts to hesitate like if is running out of gas. It was very small hesitation but enough to make me get out of the freeway. The bike felt like 90MPH was the top speed and not able to go faster. Is this normal? I just switch the gas from premium to plus in my last two refills and have not see any difference. Bike has a Vance & Hines exhaust and the HDSE Heavy Breather.

No fuel management module. Was thinking that maybe is the sparkplugs and cables. Any ideas? Thank you very much.


 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 12:25 PM
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If I were you I'd check the plugs like you said and put premium back in it. Then try again. You really should run premium as the lower grades will not perform as well and it will run hotter, which is not a good thing.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 12:36 PM
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I would check the fuel pressure. Sounds like a bad fuel line, defective regulator, and/or blocked filter. I had a similar issue on my '05 and it turned out to be a cracked fuel line.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 03:09 PM
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You may have hit the rev limiter.
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 03:20 PM
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It's going to be a process of elimination...I generally like to start with the easiest/least expensive first-

Gas
Plugs & Plug Wires
Intake or Exhaust leaks
Clogged up air filter element
Dirty fuel filter or leaking fuel pick up line

Chance are good it is one or more of the above.

You will also get more out of it (both in town and when opening it up) with a tune that better matches your exhaust and air cleaner.
 
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Old Oct 29, 2014 | 07:53 PM
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Like the bike. Hope you get it worked out and let us know what it was.
 
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Old Oct 29, 2014 | 08:01 PM
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Very recently here, there was a thread of a complaint that the bike wouldn't go over 90 mph..the OP got it figured out and fixed it'd for sure..
 
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by amkaos
Very recently here, there was a thread of a complaint that the bike wouldn't go over 90 mph..the OP got it figured out and fixed it'd for sure..
Thank you! I found it:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...need-help.html
 
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 02:29 PM
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Glad you found it..hope you report back your results
 
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Old Nov 24, 2014 | 02:38 PM
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I have not check the plugs yet or replace the wires. I just went back to premium gasoline and the difference is very noticeable. No hesitation at all! I was able to hit 100MPH in the speedo. See below for real top speed per GPS. There were more cars around me so I didn't want to risk it with "The Man".


 
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