Thinking Through an Intermittent Hesitation
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: King George, VA
Thinking Through an Intermittent Hesitation
I have been getting an intermittent hestiation on the 06RG lately. I went in and changed the fuel filter and replaced the fuel with fresh 93 octane. Cleaned the K&N air filter. Checked all the electrical connections I could find. The intermittent hesitation is still there.
It is most noticable while cruising at a steady pace, like it misses a couple of strokes then keeps on running strong. I get it less frequently while under acceleration. It isn't noticable when at idle.
I took it to the indy last week and he rode the bike a couple of times; some 30 miles each day but didn't detect the hesitation. I got the bike back and the hesitation is still there.
I know I'm not imagining this one.
Thinking it through though, when it hesitates, there is no backfire. The bike is not throwing a code nor is the check engine light coming on. I think that would tell me that it isn't electrical or else it would backfire from unburnt fuel going into the pipes. Both spark plugs are ash grey with no signs of oil or fuel. The motor, 107 build has about 1500 miles on it with a fresh oil and filter change. No unusual engine noise that I can detect. The bike is charging at just over 14volts and drops down to around 13volts when at idle.
If it was a fuel problem, I'm not sure what to check for on the injectors. They are the 25 degree injectors. I can pull them out and check the wire connectors and physically check the nozzle for obstruction.
Any thoughts, experience with this problem or suggestions?
It is most noticable while cruising at a steady pace, like it misses a couple of strokes then keeps on running strong. I get it less frequently while under acceleration. It isn't noticable when at idle.
I took it to the indy last week and he rode the bike a couple of times; some 30 miles each day but didn't detect the hesitation. I got the bike back and the hesitation is still there.
I know I'm not imagining this one.
Thinking it through though, when it hesitates, there is no backfire. The bike is not throwing a code nor is the check engine light coming on. I think that would tell me that it isn't electrical or else it would backfire from unburnt fuel going into the pipes. Both spark plugs are ash grey with no signs of oil or fuel. The motor, 107 build has about 1500 miles on it with a fresh oil and filter change. No unusual engine noise that I can detect. The bike is charging at just over 14volts and drops down to around 13volts when at idle.
If it was a fuel problem, I'm not sure what to check for on the injectors. They are the 25 degree injectors. I can pull them out and check the wire connectors and physically check the nozzle for obstruction.
Any thoughts, experience with this problem or suggestions?
Last edited by EasternSP; Jul 17, 2012 at 11:07 AM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: King George, VA
Checked all the throttle body connectors then added injector cleaner to the fuel and the bike ran fine. I rode it to work the next day. 35 miles each way. It ran fine so I went ahead with my plans for a ride up to Michigan via Kentucky. Hit the road Thursday morning. The 107" motor just humming along with 121 ponies. Part way across W. Virginia I felt the bike miss. Hmmm, keep riding nothing again for a few minutes. Then again. I'm wondering how bad it might get. Now the missing goes from a barely noticeable miss to full cutout for almost a second each time. Now a rain front is coming up so I hit a exit to suit up. Wait out the front then hit the road again in the drizzle. The missing gets progressively worse until now its backfiring on occasion. I keep pushing on to my destination in Maysville as the bike has almost quit running all together on one jug as I limp the bike into the motel parking lot drawing all kinds of attention. Seemed like the timing was off too on the remaining jug. Got a U-haul truck and took the bike back home yesterday then took it back to the indy today. His first thought was the crank sensor and swapped mine out then took it for a test drive. Came back a few minutes later cause the bike was quitting on him too.
I left it with him today. Do a thorough job of figuring out what's wrong.
I left it with him today. Do a thorough job of figuring out what's wrong.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
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From: N.E. Wisconsin
1. Throttle position sensor, need to re-zero or replace.
2. Oil pressure switch, might see tiny leak at the switch or a oil pressure drop .
3. Short in one of the injector wires.
Just my 3 guesses.
2. Oil pressure switch, might see tiny leak at the switch or a oil pressure drop .
3. Short in one of the injector wires.
Just my 3 guesses.
Last edited by drukanfu; Jul 21, 2012 at 11:27 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: King George, VA
An update to this problem.
bike has been at the Indy now for over a month. He still hasn't fixed the problem. I've called him several times and get a story of what they are going to try. I call a week later and they still haven't tried what they said they were going to do last week.
He says he swapped out the ecm with a new one but the problem is still there. He said a H-D tech noticed a bared wire that had been touching the frame and thinks it was the rear injector control wire. This was early last week. He still hasn't got it fixed.
Am I missing something here? Am I being too patient with the guy? If I told him "times up, I want the bike back now", what would I be expected to pay for?
He had the bike in to do the motor build about six months ago and I'm sure he had to do something with the injectors during the build process. If it was a problem with a bared injector control wire, would this be on his dime and should I give him the bill for having to bring the bike home in a U-haul?
A whole month now. No scooter and the summer is dwindling away.
bike has been at the Indy now for over a month. He still hasn't fixed the problem. I've called him several times and get a story of what they are going to try. I call a week later and they still haven't tried what they said they were going to do last week.
He says he swapped out the ecm with a new one but the problem is still there. He said a H-D tech noticed a bared wire that had been touching the frame and thinks it was the rear injector control wire. This was early last week. He still hasn't got it fixed.
Am I missing something here? Am I being too patient with the guy? If I told him "times up, I want the bike back now", what would I be expected to pay for?
He had the bike in to do the motor build about six months ago and I'm sure he had to do something with the injectors during the build process. If it was a problem with a bared injector control wire, would this be on his dime and should I give him the bill for having to bring the bike home in a U-haul?
A whole month now. No scooter and the summer is dwindling away.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 41
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From: Reno, NV
Have you ever gotten this figured out? My buddy has an O2 Road King doing the same thing. it's been at the Harley-Davidson shop for month and a half. he keeps getting the runaround from them was even told a bare wire was showing from an injector still no fix. I was just wondering if you have your problem fixed and what it was
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Joined: Dec 2007
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look up the service bulletin for the 06 injectors, think a handfull of bikes went out with the wrong injectors.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,926
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From: ohio
I had an 06 that did, , could very well be it, , i had bad backfiring issues also, especially after engine mods