Triumphrat

WoodsieIII · 06-28-2008

Last Sunday I rode into town, about an 80 klm trip. Once a came to the first set of lights, and went to take off again the bike started to miss a little, like a plug or lead dropping out. It didnt do that again, but today I went for a ride, after I warmed the bike up and rode about 8 or 9 klms, the bike just cut out and went again just like flicking the kill switch on and off momentarily, I noticed that when it happened that the tacho dropped away to nothing. I rode about another 100klms this arvo, and it didnt happen again.
Any Ideas anyone?

Not a coil going bad I hope, I have to ride 1100 klms home in a couple of weeks, and have little or no hope of getting one before then.
I'll give it a bit of a run tomorrow and see what happens.
BTW it's a 2003 thunderbird, with 120,000klms on the clock.It has no history of electrical problems, I have had it since new.

Tbirdnz · 06-28-2008

It's electrical, could be the coil, if you have a look down the page there's a guy with a stuttering TBS with similar symptoms which look like he's lost a cell of his battery.

If your battery is OK then check all around the electrics and connections but sounds like the start of coil trouble when they have warmed up. If you're lucky it could have been condensation which has now dried out and it won't appear again !

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Ride on !

WoodsieIII · 06-28-2008

Could possibly be condensation now you mention it, has been outside under a bike cover for a few weeks, quite warm days and chilly mornings here in central queensland this time of year.I will investigate some tomorrow.

WoodsieIII · 07-03-2008

I had a look at it on Saturday arvo, checked the battery terminals etc. Wiggled a few wires. You know the kind of aimless fault finding I do, everyone has done it. No tools to speak of here. Anyway I pulled the plug leads off the plugs, and #3 had a few drops of moisture on it. Now my theory is, as the bike was heating up this turns into steam, or makes a very humid environment which can cause a worn lead to short out. I have ordered a new set.
I went for a 400 klm round trip "just to check it" after I checked and dried the other two, and it sang like a bird.
I havent pulled the Tank off yet, I will check the coils for cracks and resistance next week when I am back at home, I just hope it doesnt fail me on the 1100 klm trip back to civilisation.

Tbirdnz · 07-03-2008

Keep your fingers crossed, that seems to have been the problem.

Keep us posted if it reoccurs.

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Ride on !

welshrob · 07-03-2008

Good luck on the trip home, can you PM me your mobile? I`ve lost your number. Thanks.