Motor cuts out after about 30 miles

Ando · Jan 8th, 2008, 07:21 AM

Hi guys Im having trouble with my 1999 sporty it cuts out after about 30 or 40 miles riding, it feels like its electrical as I've been right through the fuel system and its all clean including the cock in the tank.
It coughs and dies you pull over turn the key off and then back on and away it goes again. the battery is ok, any Ideas would be appreciated, I suspect coil but dont really know much about the engine management system on the bike.

Hobbit · Jan 8th, 2008, 07:38 AM

when did it start doing this have you altered anything like air cleaner and pipes?
mine recently started doing something similar in very cold conditions and was cured by dry fuel which stopped the carb from icing.
other than that check the reg/rec is working ok

Ando · Jan 8th, 2008, 07:50 AM

Hobbit thanks mate I'll check the reg/rec caus our fuel dont ice much up here in Aussie it 40c in the shade. cheers tho

glider · Jan 8th, 2008, 08:00 AM

Other areas you can check would include the ignition switch connections and main circuit breaker which could cause you these problems also. Clean and check the battery terminals for corrosion and tightness.

Tatanka · Jan 8th, 2008, 05:36 PM

When It Dies, Stop, kick stand it, and look to see if you have any headlights,etc. This may help you locate the problem. A friend of mine had a bad cell in his battery and it would flop around sometimes in the battery shorting it out, and the bike would die.
Last winter, I took apart every electrical connector on the bike down to the light bulbs, clean them with contact cleaner, and regreased with Elctrical grease. I found 5 corroded terminals on a 6 year olf bike.

Twisted_Games · Jan 8th, 2008, 07:17 PM

This may be crazy, But I have seen the fuel cap not venting and cause a suction on the tank after several miles. just something to check.

Tatanka · Jan 9th, 2008, 06:01 PM

my 97 did the same thing. There was a problem with the pet cock on carb models. The diaphram would close and stop the fuel.

Ando · Jan 16th, 2008, 09:02 AM

Well after a lot of messying round with everything I found the key switch to be faulty so I installed a new one and I dont reckon its ever run better.

glider · Jan 16th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Glad you found the problem. The switch is the first place I look, it's a rather common thing as I posted above. The first place to start looking.

Jan 8th, 2008, 07:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ando New Family Ride: 1999 Custom Sportster 1200 Join Date: Jan 8th, 2008 Posts: 6 My Mood:	Motor cuts out after about 30 miles Hi guys Im having trouble with my 1999 sporty it cuts out after about 30 or 40 miles riding, it feels like its electrical as I've been right through the fuel system and its all clean including the cock in the tank. It coughs and dies you pull over turn the key off and then back on and away it goes again. the battery is ok, any Ideas would be appreciated, I suspect coil but dont really know much about the engine management system on the bike.

Jan 8th, 2008, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hobbit Moderators Ride: 2009 Custom Street Bob Join Date: May 18th, 2007 Location: The Shires UK Posts: 4,354 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles when did it start doing this have you altered anything like air cleaner and pipes? mine recently started doing something similar in very cold conditions and was cured by dry fuel which stopped the carb from icing. other than that check the reg/rec is working ok

Jan 8th, 2008, 07:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ando New Family Ride: 1999 Custom Sportster 1200 Join Date: Jan 8th, 2008 Posts: 6 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles Hobbit thanks mate I'll check the reg/rec caus our fuel dont ice much up here in Aussie it 40c in the shade. cheers tho

Jan 8th, 2008, 08:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,627 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles Other areas you can check would include the ignition switch connections and main circuit breaker which could cause you these problems also. Clean and check the battery terminals for corrosion and tightness. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Jan 8th, 2008, 05:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tatanka Start The Engine Ride: 2001 Heritage Softail Classic Join Date: Jan 4th, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 49 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles When It Dies, Stop, kick stand it, and look to see if you have any headlights,etc. This may help you locate the problem. A friend of mine had a bad cell in his battery and it would flop around sometimes in the battery shorting it out, and the bike would die. Last winter, I took apart every electrical connector on the bike down to the light bulbs, clean them with contact cleaner, and regreased with Elctrical grease. I found 5 corroded terminals on a 6 year olf bike.

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Jan 8th, 2008, 07:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Twisted_Games Start The Engine Ride: 2005_Dyna_Super_Glide Join Date: Nov 16th, 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 36 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles This may be crazy, But I have seen the fuel cap not venting and cause a suction on the tank after several miles. just something to check.

Jan 9th, 2008, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tatanka Start The Engine Ride: 2001 Heritage Softail Classic Join Date: Jan 4th, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 49 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles my 97 did the same thing. There was a problem with the pet cock on carb models. The diaphram would close and stop the fuel.

Jan 16th, 2008, 09:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ando New Family Ride: 1999 Custom Sportster 1200 Join Date: Jan 8th, 2008 Posts: 6 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles Well after a lot of messying round with everything I found the key switch to be faulty so I installed a new one and I dont reckon its ever run better.

Jan 16th, 2008, 09:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 11,627 My Mood:	Re: Motor cuts out after about 30 miles Glad you found the problem. The switch is the first place I look, it's a rather common thing as I posted above. The first place to start looking. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

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Motor cuts out after about 30 miles

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