First "REAL" problem with missing

[rangerguy302]

So the battleship started popping, back firing, coughing, no power, and SUCKING GAS.....It did this when it was wet outside since I have had the bike but it's doing it on sunny days now. No I haven't tore into it yet, happened yesterday on the way to and from work.

[rangerguy302]

Just now

I discovered that if it's in nuetural it's fine reving, when in gear bogs popps spits coughs, all that funstuff

[motoman]

Initially, I would suggest pulling the left-side ignition cover, using both hands pull right smartly every inch of those pick-up coil wires. If one stretches from pulling, internally those little wires are broken. Cut wire/ sheathing where broken, strip back each end a tiny bit. Slip a tiny piece of shrink tubing over one of the wires. Using a naked butt connector, shorten it just so both wire ends will insert in connector and crimp it on wires(no solder). Slip shrink tubing over repair and shrink it....done. Doing the initial broken wire test will at least eliminate this as an issue. Cruddy internal contacts of RUN/KILL switch is another problematic area as this switch completes running circuit.

[DAVINCI]

There is a splice point inside the wire harness, IIRC about 6"-8" back from the ignition cover. Water can get in there and cause exactly this trouble. Once in there it can take a long time to dry out, so, yeah, sunny days it can show up too because the water is still in there.

[BA80]

Possibly in the harness but the only issue I've had in rain/carwash is the pickup coil plug behind the fuse panel. For some reason it's vulnerable whenever there are wet conditions. I keep mine full of dielectric grease and haven't had a problem in years.

[bikerphil]

When this type of wet weather misfire happens, a temporary fix to get you home is to remove the neutral switch wire and ground it under a nearby case cover bolt. The engine should run on all 4 this way with the neutral light remaining on.

[BA80]

When this type of wet weather misfire happens, a temporary fix to get you home is to remove the neutral switch wire and ground it under a nearby case cover bolt. The engine should run on all 4 this way with the neutral light remaining on.

I tried that with mine and it didn't work.

[bikerphil]

I tried that with mine and it didn't work.

It saved me a couple of times on the side of the road before I eliminated the neutral wire and switch entirely.

[sethhope]

If you have ruled out the pickup coil wires, you might want to check your coils and plug wires.
My bike started doing very similar last year after my rebuild. Seems my plug wires were cracked and were letting water in. They would fire, but weakly. Anytime there was load on the engine, it would run rich and backfire like crazy, returning to normal in neutral. I'd imagine the sunny day issues are being caused by corrosion in the plug wires/coils.

[rangerguy302]

Yup...broken pickup coil wire. Checked both coils and has they both are at 1.8-1.9 ohm. The RUN/KILL switch got eliminated 3yrs ago, it was totally rotted. It's better but got this stumble/miss thing going still at 5000-6000rpm. (aka the fun part) I get that figgured out and I'm good. Thanks for the input guys

[BA80]

I'll be in Billings the end of July. Riding up there after the Colorado rally to do some visiting. Gonna hit Great Falls too.

[rangerguy302]

That would be awesome to meet up man!!! I'd like to see how one of these run when they are proper and not "budgeted" together. Mine isn't pretty but I like it like that, not scared to acculy ride it....and God takes anything I have that's perfect...lol

[BA80]

I'll buy you a beer, or 50. Bonz is thinking of riding up with me too.

[rangerguy302]

Thanks but don't drink, a professional opinion on what's up with a few things with the bike would be great though. There's a few quick rides I like to take close to Billings I'll show you.

[BA80]

Thanks but don't drink, a professional opinion on what's up with a few things with the bike would be great though. There's a few quick rides I like to take close to Billings I'll show you.

Cool. I'll get you a Shirley Temple. LOL

I lived in Billings from 77 'till 97. I was back there about a year ago and everything has changed. It was Christmas and the snow was about a foot deep. I certainly don't miss that.