rev limiter or something else?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 3
From: western oregon
rev limiter or something else?
hi all......just trying to get a feeling for what a rev limiter should feel and sound like. The reason i ask, is because when i open er up (usually in 2nd gear) it pulls very hard with no hesitation at all until at some point (no tach) , it just falls on it's face like someone turned off the key. Oh, and sometimes it makes a cough or popping sound then takes a couple seconds to recover always having me pull off unto the shoulder. The last time it happened the motor died but restarted ok.
Iv'e seen videos of "rice-burners" that run up on the limiter and they hold the rpm to that level and you just hear a wa-wa-wa-wa- as it maintains that max rpm. Does this seem normal for an 05' 1200 or should it transition into a more suttle, predictable cut out than that?
Iv'e seen videos of "rice-burners" that run up on the limiter and they hold the rpm to that level and you just hear a wa-wa-wa-wa- as it maintains that max rpm. Does this seem normal for an 05' 1200 or should it transition into a more suttle, predictable cut out than that?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,539
Likes: 12,183
From: Indianapolis
From my limited experience, it will feel/sound like you hit the kill switch. I don't know how Harley does it but, either the fuel is cut off, or the ignition is.
I've only bumped into the rev limiter twice, and it feels like the bike was shut off until the revs fall below what the limiter is set at. Mine has never made any abnormal sound when I hit it, it just 'dies'.
I've only bumped into the rev limiter twice, and it feels like the bike was shut off until the revs fall below what the limiter is set at. Mine has never made any abnormal sound when I hit it, it just 'dies'.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 140
Likes: 16
From: Hays
Sounds more like a carb problem to me. Rev limiter is in place to keep the engine from gettin turn to fast. It basically feels like u let off the throttle when u hit it, or suddenly abbot the brakes.. The bike just falls on its face and quits accelerating.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 420
From: Santa Fe NM
It feels like the fuel is cut off intermittently really fast and the rpms will bounce around, sounding like the bike is sputtering as you described and like this...
And this at about 14 seconds into the video...
It should not cause your engine to die though. Sounds like you may have other issues. Mine kicks in at 6300 rpm and sounds exactly like the bikes in the videos. Bike just stops pulling.
And this at about 14 seconds into the video...
It should not cause your engine to die though. Sounds like you may have other issues. Mine kicks in at 6300 rpm and sounds exactly like the bikes in the videos. Bike just stops pulling.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 188
Likes: 29
From: Idaho
Unless I'm mistaken, you machine has a factory rev-limiter that's set to 5400rpm. However, this limiter should not 'kill' your engine outright (as other forum members mention). Sounds like you have a fuel and/or ignition problem (again, as previously mentioned). Checking the plugs and fuel filter and fuel lines would be a good place to start. Also make sure you're running fresh fuel that isn't contaminated with water and/or rust/dirt, etc.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,539
Likes: 12,183
From: Indianapolis
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
The rev limiter should kick in at ~6200 RPM. From the chart below match your gear to the 6200 RPM line and you'll know about what speed the limiter should kick in for that gear.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Maryland near DC
if the bike is dieing it is not normal....the bike shuts off the injectors at a certain RPM (redline) ..once the RPM drops below that set point (by a few hundred RPMS) the injectors turns back on...in the old days (carbs) they would turn off the spark ...does the bike have any codes??
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 3
From: western oregon
if the bike is dieing it is not normal....the bike shuts off the injectors at a certain RPM (redline) ..once the RPM drops below that set point (by a few hundred RPMS) the injectors turns back on...in the old days (carbs) they would turn off the spark ...does the bike have any codes??
Dont know about codes i've always been afraid to get into that for fear of dropping required settings and so forth.
In 2005 they still had carbs........ and it does feel like the spark cuts out. When that happens it doesn't come back for a couple of seconds. It just seems like such a long time before it recovers (?)
I might be confusing the "cut out" style of limiting rpm's with the "bumping up against the governor" style of limiter, if that makes any sense. It might just be normal and i'm just expecting it to be something more subtle., dun-o