Help with a problem
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Help with a problem
I have a 2000 Road King. It has EFI and is a 95" Big Bore Stage II engine, with a little over 4,000 original miles on the bike.
Tonight after class it would not start. I called the local HD Dealer and they told me to take off the side cover and check the connections. I took each connection off, check it for "crud" and they were all dry and as clean as could be.
I let it sit for another 5 minutes and it started. Then it died again. I tried to start it again and it started. I rode it approx. 45 miles home and when I pulled in the garage it idled just as smooth as it ever has.
I am not sure if I have a electrical or fuel problem. I could not smell any gas no matter how much I turned the throttle to see if that would help start the bike.
Any idea where I should start my trouble shooting?
Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.
NS
Tonight after class it would not start. I called the local HD Dealer and they told me to take off the side cover and check the connections. I took each connection off, check it for "crud" and they were all dry and as clean as could be.
I let it sit for another 5 minutes and it started. Then it died again. I tried to start it again and it started. I rode it approx. 45 miles home and when I pulled in the garage it idled just as smooth as it ever has.
I am not sure if I have a electrical or fuel problem. I could not smell any gas no matter how much I turned the throttle to see if that would help start the bike.
Any idea where I should start my trouble shooting?
Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.
NS
Last edited by NightStalker06; Apr 25, 2013 at 10:34 PM. Reason: added more information on my problem
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I would look at the tip over sensor- I believe on your model it is inboard of the electronics under the RIGHT side cover ( kinda above the swingarm pivot).
On early twin cams the bracket holding this sensor could break due to vibrations, leaving the sensor swinging on it's wires- it is kinda like a "tilt" switch on a pinball machine.
to check this, with motor running, lean the bike from side to side ( get help)...shake the darn thing...if it cuts out, then you know.
in this case it will not even crank - when you say it did not start- did the motor turn over or just...dead ?
another check is the ignition switch, the switches were not the strongest and the lighting power runs thru the same contacts and can arc and pit
mike
On early twin cams the bracket holding this sensor could break due to vibrations, leaving the sensor swinging on it's wires- it is kinda like a "tilt" switch on a pinball machine.
to check this, with motor running, lean the bike from side to side ( get help)...shake the darn thing...if it cuts out, then you know.
in this case it will not even crank - when you say it did not start- did the motor turn over or just...dead ?
another check is the ignition switch, the switches were not the strongest and the lighting power runs thru the same contacts and can arc and pit
mike
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
It might be the kill switch. It hasn't happened to me for awhile but just yesterday I was cruising on the HWY at about 70 mph and it just cut off, no power. Hit the switch off then on again. Fired up immediately and I continued on my journey.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 19
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From: Kansas
Thanks for the help fella's, its greatly appreciated.
Mike: The bike would crank, but not start. Then I would crank it again and it would start..... then die.
I "googled" tip-over sensor / switch and these were the results: https://www.google.com/search?q=harl...w=1366&bih=667
Could you narrow my search by selecting the one which most closely resembles what you'd expect to find on my bike?
I will run out t the garage, drop my bag and cover in order to get a pic and post it.
Thanks again.
NS
Mike: The bike would crank, but not start. Then I would crank it again and it would start..... then die.
I "googled" tip-over sensor / switch and these were the results: https://www.google.com/search?q=harl...w=1366&bih=667
Could you narrow my search by selecting the one which most closely resembles what you'd expect to find on my bike?
I will run out t the garage, drop my bag and cover in order to get a pic and post it.
Thanks again.
NS
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
I found the Angle Bank Sensor. It is accessible by removing the LH panel, and reaching behind the battery tray. The sensor is still mounted tightly to the frame, and I removed the connection to look for corrosion- it was clean and dry.
Tomorrow I'll remove the console and see it there's anything unusual going on under there.
Thanks again for the assistance.
NS
Tomorrow I'll remove the console and see it there's anything unusual going on under there.
Thanks again for the assistance.
NS
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Bob: I think you are right.
Ok... I've tried to run down most of the recommendations from the HD Forum Team and I think I have narrowed it down to a fuel problem.
I removed the air clearner, and if I prime the carb (actually EFI) it will start and seems to run fine. I warmed it up, them took it up to abot 2500rpm, back down, back up, and then let it idle.
After idling for approximately 5 minutes is starts to lower the idle RPM and then stops.
It will not start again unless I prime it. I am running good gas through the system, but it did sit for a considerable amount of time before I bouht it last fall.
Any ideas based on this update? I hate to carry a squirt bottle of gas with me on my ride tomorrow!
I've traced the fuel lines as best as possible, but I do not see a fuel filter. I see a cross-over fuel line between the tanks and a fule line running into the EFI, but I cannot seem to locate the fuel filter. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks again for all the help fellas. I truly appreciate it.
NS
Ok... I've tried to run down most of the recommendations from the HD Forum Team and I think I have narrowed it down to a fuel problem.
I removed the air clearner, and if I prime the carb (actually EFI) it will start and seems to run fine. I warmed it up, them took it up to abot 2500rpm, back down, back up, and then let it idle.
After idling for approximately 5 minutes is starts to lower the idle RPM and then stops.
It will not start again unless I prime it. I am running good gas through the system, but it did sit for a considerable amount of time before I bouht it last fall.
Any ideas based on this update? I hate to carry a squirt bottle of gas with me on my ride tomorrow!
I've traced the fuel lines as best as possible, but I do not see a fuel filter. I see a cross-over fuel line between the tanks and a fule line running into the EFI, but I cannot seem to locate the fuel filter. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks again for all the help fellas. I truly appreciate it.
NS
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 37
From: Monroe, Louisiana
The filter is in the tank. I suspect I would change the pump and filter. That is exactly the way a bad pump acts.
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The cheapo plastic hoses inside the tank can vibrate and rub through (they resemble flexible drinking straws more than hoses). If that happens on the pickup hose, it can suck air and lose prime, and can also do it intermittently...