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Chasing a Gremlin

1K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  endoscopy 
#1 ·
Yesterday out for a ride on my 07 Bonneville to a car show. About 35 miles each way. 90 degrees. On the ride home about 5 miles from home, it started to hesitate, popped, sputtered, so I instinctively reached down and spun the petcock to reserve (even though I knew it had plenty of gas) then it finally stalled. I got it off the side of the road, then tried to restart, nothing. Opened the gas tank, to confirm, plenty of fuel. I shut the key off then back on, and then tried again, just spun, no fire. I pushed the bike down the street to a safer spot, then was going to call friends for help. Before I made the call, turned the key on hit the starter and fired right off. Rode it home without the first indication anything was out of sort, ran great. So now comes the fun part. I almost wish It did not re fire, that way I could have got it home and figure out offending component, now I have to wait for it to quit on me again.
I have two 07 Bonneville's the other soon after I bought it (used) would not fire, and It ended up being the magnetic crank trigger.
I'm suspect of that on this one, but question if it would be intermittent? Seems more like something that just quits one day?
Of course it could be the dreaded little black box.

Any input or ideas would be appreciated
Thanks!!
 
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#4 ·
So three things I did once it quit.

Shut key off, turned back on

Opened gas cap to check for fuel (can't remember if I tried to fire right after opening, before pushing the bike down the road)

Put down side stand.

None of these give very good smoking gun clues!.

Guess I will replace the crank trigger as I know these are suspect,
buy a spare ignitor black box and duct tape it to the inside of a side cover.

In addition to it being a pain, having a bike power down on you while out on the road can be dangerous. With all the other hazards, no power adds a whole new chapter.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Take the ignitor off the other bike and carry it with you. If it fails again in the heat swap them out then and there. If it solves the problem immediately you'll know what to do. Mine did this intermittent fail/wait/crank routine a few times. Metered the electrics which would be culpable and it was the ignitor. By the way this is the season for mud daubers to close up any openings for nests. Blow out the vent with compressed air. Also the valve in the vent needs an occasional cleaning. Pull the hose off the tank and use a bit of brake cleaner. Alternately blow and suck on the hose (no cheap sexual comments please) to make sure it's working freely.
 
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