FXR150 - engine dying at random!

[Str8 Jacket]

Hi all, a while ago I posted this thread as my engine kept cutting out and I thought I needed a new ignition barrel:http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/127120-WANTED-FXR150-ignition-barrel

Since then the bike has died a couple of times but I have managed to start it straight away. Today it died on me (in the pissing bloody rain) and I couldn't start it again immediately. In accordance with Murphy's Law - after organising someone to come get me I managed to crash start the bike and get home.

My question is; what are the possible causes of the bike dying randomly but eventually starting again? The bike does live outside so there is a chance that it could be corosion or something like water egtting where it shouldn't
My thoughts are:

possible faulty ignition barrel
dodgy electrics
water in the carb or other engine parts
where's the beer???


Anyone else shed some light on what it could be, or what I should check? Poor Malcolm is trying to get his own bucket sorted for the weekend!

[RDjase]

Hi all, a while ago I posted this thread as my engine kept cutting out and I thought I needed a new ignition barrel:http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/127120-WANTED-FXR150-ignition-barrel

Since then the bike has died a couple of times but I have managed to start it straight away. Today it died on me (in the pissing bloody rain) and I couldn't start it again immediately. In accordance with Murphy's Law - after organising someone to come get me I managed to crash start the bike and get home.

My question is; what are the possible causes of the bike dying randomly but eventually starting again? The bike does live outside so there is a chance that it could be corosion or something like water egtting where it shouldn't
My thoughts are:

possible faulty ignition barrel
dodgy electrics
water in the carb or other engine parts
where's the beer???


Anyone else shed some light on what it could be, or what I should check? Poor Malcolm is trying to get his own bucket sorted for the weekend!

Have you tried it with the fuel cap open? Could be a blocked cap vent and it doesnt let the fuel out once there is a vacuum in the tank

[Str8 Jacket]

Have you tried it with the fuel cap open? Could be a blocked cap vent and it doesnt let the fuel out once there is a vacuum in the tank

No, I haven't.... but will. Would it make a difference how much fuel is in the tank?

[RDjase]

No, I haven't.... but will. Would it make a difference how much fuel is in the tank?

I think it would be worse the fuller the tank is because there is less air to expand. Cant quite remember School psyics was a loooong time ago

[Str8 Jacket]

I think it would be worse the fuller the tank is because there is less air to expand. Cant quite remember School psyics was a loooong time ago

Was thinking the same - I only just fulled it up this morn so has a tank full of juice....

Be interested to see if it does it at Roys Hill....

[RDjase]

No, I haven't.... but will. Would it make a difference how much fuel is in the tank?

On a different matter. What front sprocket are you running on the FXR for Roys Hill. Tylers had a 16 and it was geared way to tall. have got a 13 and 14 now. Dont know what is stock

[Str8 Jacket]

On a different matter. What front sprocket are you running on the FXR for Roys Hill. Tylers had a 16 and it was geared way to tall. have got a 13 and 14 now. Dont know what is stock

Ummmm, seeing as mine is a commuter/bucket racer I haven't really ever bothered to care. At the moment I run a standard and I have no idea what it is! Sorry for being a girl, lol!! :)

[F5 Dave]

Hiya

it would be helpful to know (for yourself) if it was sparking just after it conks out. how easy is it to pull the plugcap off & fit a plug? (kept in your pocket for such an occasion). If it's sparking merrily then you are looking for fuel starvation. If no spark then wiggle things until you get spark. I have had ign switches with this fault, but could be wiring or fusebox, or battery connections, or kill switch. Does the kill switch just ground the ign to stop it (as in will it run without it plugged in?).

Having no knowledge of the fuse arrangement for the FXR, has it just a main fuse? (thus it would show all electrics dead if this was a bad connection), or is there a separate ign fuse?

[Str8 Jacket]

Hiya

it would be helpful to know (for yourself) if it was sparking just after it conks out. how easy is it to pull the plugcap off & fit a plug? (kept in your pocket for such an occasion). If it's sparking merrily then you are looking for fuel starvation. If no spark then wiggle things until you get spark. I have had ign switches with this fault, but could be wiring or fusebox, or battery connections, or kill switch. Does the kill switch just ground the ign to stop it (as in will it run without it plugged in?).

Having no knowledge of the fuse arrangement for the FXR, has it just a main fuse? (thus it would show all electrics dead if this was a bad connection), or is there a separate ign fuse?

Good idea re plug, will have to carry a tool around with me too from memory as they are buried somewhere unlike the RG....
I know that there is one fuse to the back left of the bike but in this case all electrics were working. Malcolm (bless his wee soul) had a play with my throttle and has changed it to a bulky (really horrible) grip which meant he had to make up a new kill switch block and the like so this could be a VERY good place to start. Though I am trying to get him to put the old grip and switch block back on anyway :rolleyes: The one that's on there now is hideous!

[Henk]

Hiya

Does the kill switch just ground the ign to stop it (as in will it run without it plugged in?).

Having no knowledge of the fuse arrangement for the FXR, has it just a main fuse? (thus it would show all electrics dead if this was a bad connection), or is there a separate ign fuse?

After a quick stroll through the wiring diagram.
Kill switch supplies power to the CDI so no or disconnected kill switch no run.
Ignition suplies power to everything so open connection no dash either.
Only one fuse that does everything except the starter motor so again dead fuse / open connection = no electrics at all.

Helen, do you want me to drag along the fuel cap, ignition switch and seat lock that I've taken off mine and carefully filed in random boxes in the garage using absolutely no system at all in the unlikely event that I can find them all?

[boostin]

Funny you should say this my FXR has been doing the same thing lately. It has done it about 3 times in the last month or so.

For me it seems to develop a huge miss/cutting out after being on wide open throttle for a little while, eg going along the motorway or up a big hill near my place. Only difference it the bike will run fine again by the time I have come to a stop.

First time it happened I thought it was ignition but the last two times it seems more like a fuel starvation issue. My first thought was to check the carb to make sure the float valve is not sticking closed and the fuel tank vent would be a good idea to. I have not had a chance to check either yet but please let us know what you find.

[Scuba_Steve]

my similar problem was a hole in the diaphragm, but mine stuttered b4 dying most times.

[speedpro]

I discovered a similar problem with my RG50/TS100 round the flower garden in Pamly one hot day. Third lap down the back straight it'd die. I wasn't the only one. We thought the tanks got hot in the sun and then when we moved off the cool air flowing over the tank cooled it and the motors used fuel with a partial vacuum in the tank resulting in no flow to the carb. We all carved the little breather in the fuel cap making it bigger and never had a problem again.

[Arronduke]

Well i am impressed... fuel cap vent hole... never would have thought of that in a 1000 years.

[Str8 Jacket]

Helen, do you want me to drag along the fuel cap, ignition switch and seat lock that I've taken off mine and carefully filed in random boxes in the garage using absolutely no system at all in the unlikely event that I can find them all?

Hey mister, no way in hell!! That'd be mean the day before you plan on leaving Auckland. I know how scared ya'll get whe you leave the bombays so best you rest your lil head and get ready.... ;)

Let's just see how it behaves at the buckets and see what we find once it's stripped down. I'll come back to you... :)

[Henk]

I know where to find the gas cap in any case so will throw that in. Besides I finish work at 2:30 on a Friday and some idea where it all is so should be no issue.
Must admit I get a bit nervous heading out of NZ and into banjo land :motu:

[gatch]

Looking at the fuel cap breather is plausible for sure.

I know a fella that races a H2. The middle cylinder nuked a piston when the motor was being starved of methanol, because he had fitted a different fuel cap to the tank during painting. This fuel cap has a small hole in, not the one he drilled specifically for when he converted to methanol..

[Yow Ling]

Sometimes the wiring loom is a bit short and pulls on the cdi connector, just try moving the cdi a bit closer to take any tension off the wiring

[Str8 Jacket]

Must admit I get a bit nervous heading out of NZ and into banjo land :motu:

Umm, don't you live in WEST Auckland? :facepalm:


Cheers for all the suggestions guy's. Got lots of places to start looking, will do it after the weekend of bucket racing as it'll be stripped naked anyway.

[RDjase]

Sometimes the wiring loom is a bit short and pulls on the cdi connector, just try moving the cdi a bit closer to take any tension off the wiring

That must have been why my Sons FXR had cable ties holding the plug on the CDI would have been for. I wondered why they were there when the plug was ok and didnt have broken clips on it

[Str8 Jacket]

14 tooth sprocket on my FXR btw Jase.....

[RDjase]

14 tooth sprocket on my FXR btw Jase.....

Cheers Hels

I have got a 14 and a 13, will put the 13 on as Tylers FXR commuting days are over :woohoo:

Dont know why someone had fitted a 16, would only use 2 gears on a kart track like that:shit:

[Str8 Jacket]

Cheers Hels

I have got a 14 and a 13, will put the 13 on as Tylers FXR commuting days are over :woohoo:

Dont know why someone had fitted a 16, would only use 2 gears on a kart track like that:shit:

I only use 2 gears, anything else scares me!

In all seriousness though maybe it was geared for TRRS?...

[andrew a]

Richards high power FXR cant pull a 16/49. I have 11 one one bike and a 12 on the other.

[avgas]

Check ya battery terminals. I had exactly the same thing.
Found a hairline crack on one of the terminals........during some times the terminal was disconnected from the battery........and engine randomly died.....


annoying thing to find.

[F5 Dave]

Richards high power FXR cant pull a 16/49. I have 11 one one bike and a 12 on the other.
yes but. . . if a bike revs heaps higher it won't need taller gearing to go faster.

but yeah kart tracks are special.

[Bren_chch]

yer like yow ling says...

fit a cable tie around the connector and cdi so it cant wiggle. sorted, quite common.

[Damien_Toman]

I was using the standard FXR150 road-going sprockets at Roys Hill last weekend - 14/49 teeth (2003 model). I did not use the top 2 gears (5th-6th) but the others were fine and suited me on the track. I had to change mid-corner 2-3 times every lap, to be on the power leaving the corners, but it all worked well.

[Arronduke]

Damien,

what size sproket do you use for Mt Wellington?

Where is the best place to buy one?

cheers

[Damien_Toman]

I have been using a 12-tooth for Mt Wellington (12/49) but will try the 14 front next time and just ride in lower gears to see how it goes. My brother had the 12-tooth fitted in Christchurch before I picked up the FXR150 - the bike shop had to use or make a washer to make the sprocket fit. Cycletreads should be able to provide a sprocket and spacer/washer that fits - bring original sprocket with you.

[Rick 52]

I have been running 12-49 but I hit the rev limit in two places on a good lap Tim runs 12-47 and is ok so we think 12-48 is the one.Gavin uses12-49 but runs without the rev limiter.I used the mt wellington gearing for Roys hill but that only worked for half the track the infield was wrong ,Tim's set up seemed better so 12-45 could be the go for Roys Hill..

[Henk]

Running 12-45 on mine. Seemed OK for Roys Hill although I probably should have gone down an extra gear at the top of the hill to get more drive out of the hairpin.
Seems to work OK at Mt Welly as well although having only run it there for one meeting I may change my mind with the change of direction.
Hasn't led to any extra gear changes running anti clockwise, shift points on the sweeper / straight are a little earlier but there is a bit more stomp out of corners over 13 - 45 which is nice.
I'm not running at the sharp end of field though so your mileage may vary.

[all4A50s]

Hi all, a while ago I posted this thread as my engine kept cutting out and I thought I needed a new ignition barrel:http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/127120-WANTED-FXR150-ignition-barrel

Since then the bike has died a couple of times but I have managed to start it straight away. Today it died on me (in the pissing bloody rain) and I couldn't start it again immediately. In accordance with Murphy's Law - after organising someone to come get me I managed to crash start the bike and get home.

My question is; what are the possible causes of the bike dying randomly but eventually starting again? The bike does live outside so there is a chance that it could be corosion or something like water egtting where it shouldn't
My thoughts are:

possible faulty ignition barrel
dodgy electrics
water in the carb or other engine parts
where's the beer???


Anyone else shed some light on what it could be, or what I should check? Poor Malcolm is trying to get his own bucket sorted for the weekend!

So did you discover the issue(s)?

[Damien_Toman]

I ran the road-standard original sprockets (14/49 - 2003) at Roy's Hill, Mt Welly and Hampton downs. It feels much better than the 12/49 I used before at Mt Welly. It should also do me for Taupo - so no sprocket changes :). I run std FXR rims so the tyre profile is a factor in the gearing.