Harley Davidson Forums

Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Breakout stalling when downshifting

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 25, 2015 | 11:37 AM
Share
  #1  
matte's Avatar
matte
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 966
From: Texas
Default Breakout stalling when downshifting
Happened to me about 5 times throughout today. 3 were downshifting from highway speeds to take an exit, twice were coming up to lights at a much slower pace. Essentially what is happening is I am downshifting and the bike just stalls out. It feels like I am just not quick enough on the gas, but I've never had this issue with over 10 years of riding. When I pull over, the only way it will turn back over is if the power is shut off, turned on, and it is in neutral. Tried it out of neutral to test that and nothing. Hear the fuel pump go when I hit the run button, but nothing on the start. Only worry is I am riding to sturgis next sat from michigan. Any thoughts on what it could be?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 25, 2015 | 01:50 PM
Share
  #2  
cdonis's Avatar
cdonis
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 297
From: Escalon ca
Default
Do you have a tuner on the bike?
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 25, 2015 | 04:00 PM
Share
  #3  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Default
Have you checked for error codes? If so, what are they?

If the bike is still under warranty, let the dealer deal with it.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2015 | 02:01 AM
Share
  #4  
matte's Avatar
matte
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 966
From: Texas
Default
Swung through the dealer taking care of a pending purchase. I ran the issue by service who checked and found no error codes. Something I noticed is it happened again later when I skipped into first gear as I was slowing to a neighborhood yield sign. Also, the bike absolutely will not turn over in gear (only in neutral). Bike is under warranty, but don't have time for hd to troubleshoot before Sturgis.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2015 | 02:40 AM
Share
  #5  
harty's Avatar
harty
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: australia
Default
Matte, By any chance have you changed your levers recently. I believe there is a clutch safety switch on our bikes. I have changed out my levers and now I can only start my bike when in neutral, whereas before I swear I could start it in gear with the clutch pulled in. The clutch safety switch is connected to a gear selection switch to stop the bike being started when in gear and the clutch out. An issue in this circuit could be causing your problem.
If you have changed out levers, maybe try putting the original clutch lever back on and test before Sturgis.
Just an idea, I could also be completely wrong.. Good luck.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2015 | 07:19 AM
Share
  #6  
jgos929's Avatar
jgos929
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 220
From: Dallas
Default
You're not leaving for another week and you don't have time to take it to the dealer for them to fix it??? Your priorities are outta whack.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 26, 2015 | 08:04 AM
Share
  #7  
matte's Avatar
matte
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 966
From: Texas
Default
Originally Posted by harty
Matte, By any chance have you changed your levers recently. I believe there is a clutch safety switch on our bikes. I have changed out my levers and now I can only start my bike when in neutral, whereas before I swear I could start it in gear with the clutch pulled in. The clutch safety switch is connected to a gear selection switch to stop the bike being started when in gear and the clutch out. An issue in this circuit could be causing your problem.
If you have changed out levers, maybe try putting the original clutch lever back on and test before Sturgis.
Just an idea, I could also be completely wrong.. Good luck.
No lever change. Just a bar swap. I'll look under the switch housing today. Dealer said sometimes the lines could be pinched causing the issue. At least it's not just me
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jul 26, 2015 | 06:13 PM
Share
  #8  
amkaos's Avatar
amkaos
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 32
From: usa
Default
Your bike stalls @1700 rpm..
It's the ecm.
If I understand what I found and if it applies to your bike,
The ecm is programmed to cutoff in the situation you described
Then wake up ..
 
Last edited by amkaos; Jul 26, 2015 at 07:27 PM.
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 27, 2015 | 12:31 AM
Share
  #9  
zombiefrog's Avatar
zombiefrog
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Oman
Default
My Fatbob was doing a similar thing, ended up being the battery, replaced it and the problem was fixed.
 
Reply
0
Old Jul 27, 2015 | 02:10 AM
Share
  #10  
baloot-boy's Avatar
baloot-boy
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 648
Likes: 35
From: San Diego
Default
You are having these issues yet failed to mention a bar swap in your original post. Have you done anything else to the bike? That info would be good when asking for help.
 
Reply
0
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
19 Road Glide Acceleration Power Loss
franko3219
Milwaukee Eight (M8)
22
May 22, 2019 07:57 PM
2016 HD Freewheeler
HarleyGirl16
Tri Glide, RG3 & Freewheeler Models
8
Apr 23, 2017 05:28 AM
Faulty Neutral/gear position indicator on 16 Limited
JoeAverage
General Topics/Tech Tips
5
Jun 13, 2016 06:30 AM
bike back fires, then dies coming to a stop
03 Softail
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
7
Aug 29, 2012 10:47 AM
*&^%$#@ intermittent problem!
TXSasquatch
Softail Models
10
Jul 28, 2012 06:42 PM
Back to Subforum
Softail Models
View Next Unread
Looking for advice on changing my tin




Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:32 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-18 10:29:31


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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