A little help?
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Ennis, Tx.
A little help?
So, I hop on the scooter the other day and she fires right up. I pull out into the street and get about a mile or so from my house, turn onto another road, goin' through the gears, accelerate a little more from 2nd to 3rd...and all of the sudden the bike starts sputterin' and losin' power, eventually dying right there on the road. Now. I'm handy with cages, but not with bikes. Friends that I know tell me "check the battery"...battery's fine. And everything else they've told me to check...I know nothing about and don't want to **** anything up...so I ask...what could it be? And how the hell can I fix it?
My best description is: as I accelerate, it's almost like there's not enough fuel getting to the engine...the bike struggles to even stay cranked...and when it dies, it struggles even harder to crank again. If I let it set for a few minutes, it'll crank again, but the sputtering problem occurs again when I get into higher RPMs. HELP!!!
My best description is: as I accelerate, it's almost like there's not enough fuel getting to the engine...the bike struggles to even stay cranked...and when it dies, it struggles even harder to crank again. If I let it set for a few minutes, it'll crank again, but the sputtering problem occurs again when I get into higher RPMs. HELP!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
Sounds like you have pin holes in the in-tank fuel lines. How full is your tank as this is happening? Somewhat of a common problem.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...e-in-hose.html
This isn't the only thread on this.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...e-in-hose.html
This isn't the only thread on this.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Ennis, Tx.
JRuss: It's injected.
QC: I'm not sure about the entire assembly, but last summer I had a "small internal tank lines" (I'm assuming ones that go to the injectors) replaced because I guess they were just worn out or eaten through. For the record, I only use premium. I still have a bit left on the warranty and when the guys at the shop looked at it, they said they rode it and couldn't get it to act up. Told me it was probably the battery. So, due to illness and then a new born, I haven't ridden in a while. On a hunch I went to fire her up today and, without hesitation, she turned right over...making me think it wasn't the battery...
QC: I'm not sure about the entire assembly, but last summer I had a "small internal tank lines" (I'm assuming ones that go to the injectors) replaced because I guess they were just worn out or eaten through. For the record, I only use premium. I still have a bit left on the warranty and when the guys at the shop looked at it, they said they rode it and couldn't get it to act up. Told me it was probably the battery. So, due to illness and then a new born, I haven't ridden in a while. On a hunch I went to fire her up today and, without hesitation, she turned right over...making me think it wasn't the battery...
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
Yep, battery sounds good if you wait a while and she cranks right up. They don't rejuvenate themselves without a tender.
Sounds like a fuel issue; was the filter replaced with the lines? Also, check the plugs if you haven't already, maybe they're fouled.
Sounds like a fuel issue; was the filter replaced with the lines? Also, check the plugs if you haven't already, maybe they're fouled.
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Ennis, Tx.
The guys at the shop said they let it charge over a weekend that they had it, but since I let it sit for a bit (thinking it was the battery) I figured I'd need to put my tender on it, but no. I don't know if they replaced the filters. I really want to learn how to do all these things myself because I hate paying people to work on my rides, but I honestly don't know where to start.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 50
From: Louisville, KY
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Ennis, Tx.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
I agree on a dirty filter or pin holes in the pressure line.
1. Open the fuel filler cap and turn the key on, do you hear a bubbling sound? Does it go on longer than a typical prime? If either or both are yes, it is pin holes in the fuel pressure line. OR a bad fuel pressure regulator. The latter is not as common.
2. If it sounds normal and the issue does not only happen with low fuel, then it most likely would be the filter.
If it is the pin hole bit, when you fill up the tank, you should have no problems until you get down to about half of a tank of fuel. When you fill it up, you will be slightly down on pressure (power) but not enough to notice. When the fuel level gets down below the pin holes, you will start losing pressure and performance. The lower the fuel goes the less stable it will be. You may notice that you can ride at lower RPMs for quite some distance when it acts up but you cannot lean on it much without a stumble.
Either way, in my opinion, this is a fairly simple job. I bought the hose on Ebay to replace mine. I don't like the flex hose the MoCo uses but I just did a search and can't find anyone selling it now.
I would get a filter, tank seal gasket and screws and a new hose and just do it your self. Anyone with some minor tool know how can handle this. Do a youtube search and there are lots of how to videos to watch so you know what to expect.
like this one
I would not pay the dealer to do this when it should only take an hour or two and a few parts.
1. Open the fuel filler cap and turn the key on, do you hear a bubbling sound? Does it go on longer than a typical prime? If either or both are yes, it is pin holes in the fuel pressure line. OR a bad fuel pressure regulator. The latter is not as common.
2. If it sounds normal and the issue does not only happen with low fuel, then it most likely would be the filter.
If it is the pin hole bit, when you fill up the tank, you should have no problems until you get down to about half of a tank of fuel. When you fill it up, you will be slightly down on pressure (power) but not enough to notice. When the fuel level gets down below the pin holes, you will start losing pressure and performance. The lower the fuel goes the less stable it will be. You may notice that you can ride at lower RPMs for quite some distance when it acts up but you cannot lean on it much without a stumble.
Either way, in my opinion, this is a fairly simple job. I bought the hose on Ebay to replace mine. I don't like the flex hose the MoCo uses but I just did a search and can't find anyone selling it now.
I would get a filter, tank seal gasket and screws and a new hose and just do it your self. Anyone with some minor tool know how can handle this. Do a youtube search and there are lots of how to videos to watch so you know what to expect.
like this one