Triumphrat

Londonbabe · 11-09-2012, 03:44 AM

I have a 2004 Thruxton. (with carbs, therefore)

I was riding it yesterday and it just died on me.

Plenty of fuel, and no spluttering or coughing the way it would if I dan out of fuel/had a blockage, so I think we can eliminate that.

It just went from BRRRMRMRMRMRM to ........................

Lights stayed on, and the starter cranked the engine over fine, until the battery no longer had enough to keep turning it, but the engine would not fire up again.

I don't know where to start looking, except in the classifieds for something reliable. What do I do?

cgn152 · 11-09-2012, 04:01 AM

My two cents. Check the ignition coil. Under the front of the gas tank. My 05 Bonnie had a very similar issue. I went through everything before finally listening to people here on the forum. I ordered one around $80. Wham bam! But that's just my experience! Best if luck

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denbow · 11-09-2012, 06:10 AM

Unless you've accidentally hit the kill switch (it happens) I suspect it's either the ignition coil or the pick up coil.
Apart from a few minor niggles, these bikes are normally very reliable and easily fixed if something goes wrong.

Bron-Yr-Aur · 11-09-2012, 07:28 AM

Other, more experienced, guys will chime in, hopefully. But assuming you've checked all the safety stuff, i.e. kill switch, side stand switch (doesn't sound like those, since the bike turns over) and the fuses, the 3 components that usually cause that symptom are the coil, the pickup coil, and the CDI (igniter). There are a lot of threads on how to check the first 2. The igniter, however, has no way to be tested.

The coil is easy to test, but might not be easy to diagnose if it's the problem. The pickup coil, also easy, but the stator/alt cover on the right side of the bike might need to come off to remove it and check it properly. Does the bike start this morning? If it does, I'd probably check this right away.

Seems like lately on here, members with a similar problem (including myself) ended up needing to replace the igniter, the most expensive part.

There are TONS of threads on how to test the first 2. Maybe Forchetto or DEcosse will chime in. They (and some others here) seem to be wizards with multimeters and soldering guns

Londonbabe · 11-09-2012, 07:57 AM

It wasn't the kill switch or side stand switch either because the starter motor did turn.

I'll go over it with the multimeter tomorrow.
Bloody modern bikes.

cheers.

GySchmit · 11-09-2012, 07:58 AM

IF you know someone with a Carbed Thrux or Bonnie the Igniter & Coil are easily checked using the following steps...

1 - Purchase numerous Peeps Beverage of Choice.
2 - Ring up Peep, invite him over for Beverage

and have him ride his bike over.
3 - Swap out Igniters (mark yours so you don't get them mixed up (See #1)).
4 - Try and start both bikes.... if his doesn't start (and yours does) you know the problem.
5 - If it does start swap back then follow steps 3 & 4 for Coil.
6 - If his doesn't start (and yours does) you know the problem.
7 - If it does start swap back and try starting your bike with original Ignitor & Coil.
8 - If your bike still doesn't start continue drinking (remaining or replacement) beverages

and report finding to this thread for more ideas on what next to check.

timpee77 · 11-09-2012, 08:44 AM

Guy's advice is spot on.

Check you don't have a spark by pulling both the plugs, grounding one of them and turning it over. If you don't have spark then do as stated above. If you don't have a mate with a similar bike you'll need to start testing and replacing bits but its really likely it'll be pickup coil, located under the clutch side cover or the coil which is tucked up under the front of your tank. In the case that its your CDI then you're better off getting an aftermarket one from ProCom than paying the crazy prices that triumph want for new genuine one.

I had a similar prob with my ’05 T100 and it ended up being the pickup coil.

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timpee77 · 11-09-2012, 08:46 AM

*Gy's not Guy's, sorry mate.

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Choprocker · 11-09-2012, 08:46 AM

do you keep bike outside, just wondered if some wa*ker has turned fuel off.
how long did your battery last trying to turn it over? just wondering if that is up the wall.

ruger · 11-09-2012, 10:02 AM

Hi Londonbabe,
I had a similar problem. Here's how I got it handled. Solution is on post #8.
+1 on Gy's advice. But if that fails there's still hope.

On mine it was the pickup coil and not the ignition coil. Don't let anyone sell you a new ignitor or Ignition Control Module (expensive) before trying this less-expensive fix.
Good luck.