Hesitation Issues
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Buckeye, AZ
Hesitation Issues
I've tried searching for a similar situation, but nothing seems to quite fit my problem. I am getting a strange hesitation (almost like the bike looses power for a milisecond) whenever I am accelerating over a rough patch of road. The mostly happens in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear and if I am just rolling on the throttle not if I hammer it. I have an on/off ramp that I ride on daily commuting to work that is just a really badly patched road full of pot holes and shoddy asphalt work, and without exception every time I ride over this stretch of raod as I shift from 1st up through 3rd gear my bike hesitates. Only on very rare occasions does the same thing happen on smooth roads. This leads me to believe that the jolts from the rough road are affecting something. Has anybody else experienced this? Any suggestions as to what I could look at/try replacing? My initial though is the throttle position sensor.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I had this problem, not so much linked to hitting bumps in the road, and it turned out to be a bad TPS (throttle-position sensor). It was very sporadic, sometimes popping up for short spurts, usually on the highway in 6th gear, and then disappearing sometimes for weeks or more at a time. It was the hardest thing I ever tried to diagnose on any vehicle, ever. No codes until about a year ago at this time when the problem suddenly got much worse, and the codes pointed to the TPS even though I has been suspecting it for some time. I also had problems with high idle, but never often or coincidental enough for me to link either to the TPS. After replacing it I've had no further problems for a year now.
It could also be a leak inside the tank that affects fuel pressure, or a number of other things like plugs, plug wires, coil or coil connection, etc. I replaced all of these while trying to track down the problem, except changing the coil.
It could also be a leak inside the tank that affects fuel pressure, or a number of other things like plugs, plug wires, coil or coil connection, etc. I replaced all of these while trying to track down the problem, except changing the coil.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Buckeye, AZ
I honestly do not know. I'm the original owner and I do not recall having the injectors changed at any time. How would I find out?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the injectors are marked, do a search for Dawg's posts ( by clicking on his username) and you'll see he posted pics a few days ago.
while low-tech, I had a similar problem which turned out the be the battery + cable shorting to the frame on bumps, the insulation had worn through in a hidden ( of course) area.
I found it by idling the bike in the driveway ( with squirrel fan on the motor) and shaking it, bouncing on the seat etc.
once I made it happen I knew that I had a problem to find= more pulling shaking etc.
Mike
while low-tech, I had a similar problem which turned out the be the battery + cable shorting to the frame on bumps, the insulation had worn through in a hidden ( of course) area.
I found it by idling the bike in the driveway ( with squirrel fan on the motor) and shaking it, bouncing on the seat etc.
once I made it happen I knew that I had a problem to find= more pulling shaking etc.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; May 12, 2012 at 02:33 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Buckeye, AZ
I though this at first too, but I've been riding over this same patch of road for the past 3 years and only recently did this hesitation issue start. The bike feels more like it's loosing power vs. just a decrease in throttle.
Trending Topics
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Is it a solid miss, as if one plug didn't fire on that revolution? That's what I was getting.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Buckeye, AZ
Finally sorted out the problem. I had an "economical" fuel management system on my bike by a company called TotalFuel (no longer in business). Their system plugged inline between the stock fuel injector connectors and the fuel injectors. I decided to replace the fuel filter on my bike and while the tank was off got to inspecting all of the connections in that area. That's when I saw that one of the wires was just about completely broken on the TotalFuel system connectors. I decided to replace the TotalFuel with a much better PCV and now the hesitation issue is gone. just thought I would post this here just so anybody doing a search on hesitations in their engine will find this info and perhaps help them diagnose thier problem
The pcv is a great unit. I've got a 106 with 107hp/115tq. With a fuel pak on a stock motor I got 35mpg. Now I've got way more power and get 50mpg on the highway.
I've read posts where guys whine that the pcv caused bad fuel mileage. Sorry. It's not the hardware,it's the guy inputting the values.
My tuner has my tune running slightly rich when im into the throttle hard but once I cruise it leans out,which is fine because I'm in motion and heat is a non issue.
It's a great piece of hardware and in the right mans hands
A great tuning device
I've read posts where guys whine that the pcv caused bad fuel mileage. Sorry. It's not the hardware,it's the guy inputting the values.
My tuner has my tune running slightly rich when im into the throttle hard but once I cruise it leans out,which is fine because I'm in motion and heat is a non issue.
It's a great piece of hardware and in the right mans hands
A great tuning device
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jrtrpp
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
9
Oct 26, 2017 01:27 PM
