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/sh...gnition-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/sh...gnition-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 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...