Just Quit Running

[Never2L84Ridin]

I'm in need of some advise as to where to start troubleshooting. I took my bike out for a ride and got halfway down the block and it just died. No sputtering,jerking,backfiring, nothin'. It died and wouldn't fire back up. It will try to start(the battery went dead, so I jumped it) but it didn't. I was reading that it could be possible that the coils might be bad. The way it died, seems like it would be electrical. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Kevin

[MAXIMAN]

It's either fire or fuel. A good place to start is pull the plug wire off one by one and make sure they are firing. You may have to insert a small bolt up in the cap so it will protrude and you can see the spark jump to the plug.

If you have fire to all cylinders then you must not be getting fuel to the the intake. If no fire then the coils are next.

There is a tech section of the website that shows how to test coils...or it may be in a thread...but I've read it somewhere here on the website.

[Winterhawk]

Might try checking out the fuse holders. they seem to weaken after awhile and not make contact or break off.

[Targetman]

Yes, the fuse holder got me last weekend.
Put all my gear on, hopped on the bike, turn the key..... nothing.
Not even any lights.
checked battery... it's good.
held flashlight to fuses, ( of course it happens at night), they look ok...
turn on key and tap fuses, on she comes.

Happened again during the ride, hit the brakes at a stoplight and it died just like you described, and then came back on by itself.
Gonna have to check and clean everything again.

[Winterhawk]

What year bike? If it's a Maxim the problem might be the side stand switch killing the motor.

[mitch]

Just a thought

Dont laugh , you know we have all done this . Did you turn the fuel on ive had some one turn it off and i didnt so when it quit i did not suspect or even think to go there ... ..............MITCH

[randy]

Kevin,

Here's food for thought. It's highly unlikely that both coils blew out at once. Even when the TCI or pickups go wacky, it's usually just one side (1-4 or 2-3).

So follow the guys' advice and look for something common to all cylinders, like a fuse or bad ground or ballast resistor.

And like Mitch said, the only other thing common to all cylinders is fuel supply. Clogged cap vent? Empty tank? Don't laugh, I've done that.

[skids]

If it didn't sputter first, it must be ignition related. Kill switch, tip-over switch, ignition fuse or its clip, or something like that.

[lsippell]

Don't laugh, but I once had a '79, 750 triple refuse to start for me about 2 miles from home. I wore the battery down trying to start it, then myself with the kick starter. I was contamplating walking home (after I regained some energy) when I happened to see the BIG RED thing on the right handelbar that was the kill switch. Now mind you, I NEVER use the kill switch, but that one time I did without knowing it.

Louis

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kevin,

Your comments states it went dead, and then you couldn't get it started...the battery went dead!!!! Ding, Ding!!!

Sounds like your charging system may have gone on the fritz, and once the battery ran down below the ~10 volts needed for the TCI to run, it shut off! And you had some cranking juice left, but not enough voltage to fire the TCI.

Recharge the battery, and see if it'll start. Then if it does, then check your charging system, make sure you're getting ~14 volts at 2.5k to 3K rpm. IF only 12, then you've got some other trouble shooting to do!
T.C.

[desert1]

MY PROBLEM

Last ime this happened to me and the bike died it was electrical, what it was as it turned out was a corroded multi pin connector next to the coil that connects with the handlebar kill switch (red and white wire), cleaned up the pins in the connector using a microfile and away I rode..........also look for a bad battery ground to the frame or possibly shorted ballast resistor, good luck.
Bruce

[Never2L84Ridin]

First off i'm gonna have to get a better manual to use for repairs. I have the Clymer. It shows where things are at but not really how to test to see if it's a bad part. I charged up the battery and still no fire. checked fuses all is good there. I pulled off the cover for the pick up coils and felt the wires and it seems to be broke off inside the covering.(rubber band feeling) I'm pretty sure this must be the problem. My new dilema is the spot where the wires seem to be broke off is almost impossible to get a splice on it (it's right against the coil itself) is this an easy part to find? or will i have to try ebay? Thanks to everyone who put out their opinion. Hopefully soon i'll be out ridin

Kevin

[jeffe]

bought a new set from bike bandit. Workrd out great. I tried the wire fix but it just kept breaking some place else.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kevin,

Bike Bandit still has the part, it's not cheap though!

3: PULSER COIL ASY 22830-001 $106.98

For that price, I'd try buying some $3.00 pieces of test meter wire leads from RS and give it a try!!
T.C.

[Never2L84Ridin]

I tried to get a wire to wrap around the wire(what little there was) from the coil. As I was in the process of wrapping the wire, thw wire from the coil pulled out all together. Leaving me with nothing to add on to. Looks like i'm buying a set. I think I've got some located (used, with alot of wire left on them) I think i'm going that route first.

Kevin