Also a 07 Heritage here..... only time I've had an Issue was on the 1st one it was -- Loose battery nuts on the battery at 15K.....

2nd time was the Pin hole in the Gas line at 33K ...--- now with almost 53K I am still running Great..

hope you get it figured out...

 

I've got 57K on mine and has never given me any real trouble. This start thing just started a couple of months ago and so far I haven't completely pinned it down. It would be one thing if it was running crappy, but it runs fine. It's just been misbehaving on hot starts.

 

If yours works fine in cool weather then there is either something with air or fuel or electrical connections that has just barely started or there is nothing wrong other than the after market pipes and the stage 1 air cleaner have made the bike lean enough that it doesn't like hot weather.

If your fuel pressure is 50 or higher, that's good. Have you had the fuel filter replaced? (A fouled fuel filter should show up in the fuel pressure... as should a leak in a hose or a crack in the pressure regulator).

I don't remember... does your bike have O2 sensors? I think it does. I think this was the first year of the softails to have them. That means that the stock ECM is responsible for the fuel mixture >within< EPA standards. I also recall that the '07's will autoadjust for the stage1 kit. It may be as simple as the particular pipes that you have combined with hot summer temps are pushing the bike beyond the limits of the autoadjust of the stock Harley ECM.

If you really want to get in control of this you need to buy a new or used aftermarket ECM (not a piggy back) and have someone tune the bike that isn't a dealer and who isn't concerned about the EPA. You can also avoid the tuning costs and just use a stock map that will be the starting point and autoadjust will take care of everthing else. This gives you a 'safe' tune that will suffice for most riders.

It's really that simple... cooler weather and no problem? You have a borderline lean mixture issue or a borderline electrical connection, both of which are affected by heat. My electrical issue turned into a life threatening issue with a POS HD ignition switch as the root of the problem. When I was in FL and stopped for lunch with the bike sitting in the hot sun my bike wouldn't run right . I put a bag of ice on top of the tank, watched it melt, and everything was good. Sometimes filling up the tank with cool gas was enough.

Eventually the ignition switch (and it's replacement at $130 a pop from Harley) failed and so I found the problem except when it happened again... I thought it was something else. The 2nd switch failed and I bought a replaced from J&P and the problem has been gone ever since.

Don't go chasing ghosts down a rabbit hole... wait until the problem is consistent enough to predict.

C#

 

Yes, the bike has O2 sensors. I was kind of leaning toward the engine temp sensor, but the symptom for that is a crappy running engine. Mine runs smooth and strong, so the ETS is unlikely, though easily replaced. Today, I'm going to pull out the carb cleaner and clean the IAC valve, but I highly doubt that's the issue either.

I always start the bike after the lights go out on the speedo. I can't confirm this, but it seems to behave a bit better if rather than starting right after the lights go out, waiting about 10 seconds after the lights go out. That may be in indication of something, but not sure what.

 

cwsharp answered the question for me. Fuel management system ie; like Dyno jet or one from Fuel Moto that incorporates their downloadable auto tune options based on how you ride. Or even a Fuel Pack from V&H will help stabilize your air and fuel ratio regardless of engine temps.
Something I would have installed right at the start to overcome EPA designated lean mixtures

 

Thanks guys! I may start looking into that very soon. I did clean the IAC valve today and did get a little crud out of it. Interestingly, that brought my hot idle speed up 50-75 rpm. It's now just a hair over 1000 rpm at hot idle, where it was just a hair below before. Really easy to do with a little carb cleaner. Still have to find a water mister or fogging oil to check the manifold.

What are your thoughts of the engine temp sensor causing my hot start problems? Everything I read says if it's bad it should run bad, but it actually runs really good. I'm thinking it's not the cause, but doesn't hurt to get input..

 

would probably throw a code if its not or acting bad, but I can understand why you suspect it as the issue.

 

I'm not sure I do suspect it. But, I've read it affects fuel management when the engine is running. Everything I read says if it's bad the bike should run bad (mine runs good) and often manifests itself in stalling at low rpm, but nothing has said anything about starting. It was repeated a lot that the ETS often will not throw a code when it's bad.

 

I expect that if it is acting up, the ecm may not be able to compensate the air to fuel ratio and cause it to not lean out the mix causing the spark plugs to foul up. Just an off the seat of my pants analasis and common sense of what I might suspect. So you may be on to something there.
Cheap part none the less and easy to do

 

Thanks! Like I said, wish this forum had a thanks button..