Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech She Just Dies

Had not happened since Father's Day, some 4ooo miles ago. Then I thought it was a fuel problem, but since eliminated that as a possibility (filter clean, no trash or bad gas, installed the Pingle). It was so hot then, and then I tore up my knee and had to park her for 90 days. I knew the problem had not been resolved, and expected it would reappear after the weather warmed up.

Now I've put 4ooo miles on her since late September - 1ooo of that since New Year's Day, and she's been perfect until Sunday. After a 1oo mile ride to my parent's, I fueled up and got hard on the throttle and less than a mile later - she just dies.

Restarted without ever having to stop, and she did it again about 1o miles up the road - just holding a steady 8o mph. Happened later while slowing into town (over 1oo miles later) at around 25 mph, then 25-30 miles later on the way home at 70 or so. Restarts every time, but loads up on fuel after she shuts off, so it may backfire some before restarting. She runs great though, until she just dies.

I'm thinking now this may be an ignition problem - certainly something electrical, but I'm clueless.

Any help would be appreciated. Still in warranty, but may be a hard problem to expect the dealer to be able to duplicate because she goes so far between occurrences.

Pinched gas vent line?

Keep hounding the dealer till they fix it. Make sure they know about it even if they can't fix it. I had a similiar problem with another bike it was months of going back before they found the trouble. As long as the same problem keeps cropping up you should be able to keep going back after warrenty expires. Hopefully they can fix it before hand.

If you are still under warranty Balckwind, don't make the same mistake I made by waiting. *see my thread coils/igniter recall, here. Make the dealer fix it!!!!!!

Was it raining?

Blackwind your problem is with the coils or igniter...If your engine spits and buck or back fires you have a ignition problem. Have your dealer check the coils and or replace the ignitor......Angelis

Have you at least called the dealer? They may say "Oh, another one of those" knowing exactly what it is. Don't have any experience with Houston dealers, the one near Hobby airport had a pretty impressive inventory, though.

I reported the problem at Thanksgiving (to British-USA,my dealer near Hobby airport), but the problem had not occurred since last June. They did not seem to be aware of any ignitor or known coil problems with these bikes. If there is/was a recall - someone please post more details. I know Cliff Holland, the owner, and I know he'll treat me right, but I'd rather just be able o take it into the shop and have the service manager or one of the techs just know their business, and be aware of something like this already. No need in dragging the business owner into it unless it's a last resort. (I'm sensitive - I work in the car business, and don't need everybody who knows the GM or the company Pres (or service manager for that matter) getting them involved before I have a chance to resolve the problem.)

It was not raining, and though not cold, I had my heavy gloves on Sunday. If the fuel vent line was pinched, wouldn't that be a more consistent problem? There are too many good miles between occurrences - too many good months!

See the reply under coils/igniter it was the early 2002 models with specific serial numbers. Phil looked it up for me. It is right above or below this thread yesterday.

It's the same thing that happened to me a few years ago.
I called the head mech. here in Buffalo NY & he knew what it was as soon as I told him the symptoms.
A small in-line fuel filter located just before the T to the carbs was plugged. Weird because it's not shown in our manual!
I blew it out w/gumout, replaced it & it never happened again.
In fact she ran like mad since.
I hope it's as simple for u as it was 4 me

Gary James
I have some images of it under my picture profiles.

Thanks Gary. Could be, although when this first happened last summer, and I really thought it was a fuel related issue, I drained the carbs (nothing), and pulled the airbox back to get the carbs loose (what a pain), and pulled that little filter (thanks to members here who had posted that before - maybe you). It really looked clear, clean and good at the time. That was at 9600 miles. I replaced the fuel line with clear hose and intended to install an in-line filter, bought all I found locally was too large, so I aborted that idea. I put the Pingle on while I was at it.

Now here I am at almost 14k, and I'm back to square one. I will say I have been on the bike every day this week except Monday. Made the bank run last night, so I must have put better than 200 miles on it - oops - it die on me once Thursday night on I-10 in VERY slow traffic coming home. Was in first or second gear, probably less than 20 mph at the time, and suddenly she just felt anemic - no power, just before she died. Cranked right back up though.

It does surge some at low speeds in 1st or 2nd (like trying to keep rolling in slow traffic). I attribute that to a tuning issue that may be best discussed in another thread.

I have my airbox and filter drilled (1 1/2"?) and stock pipes, with one shim under the needles. It may be constipated.

My dieing problem started before I drilled the airbox and filter though - it was bone stock. The first time it happened was the Sunday before Father's Day, and I cut the box/filter the following Saturday, and it liked to killed me getting home that Sunday, dieing several times on the same trips both those days. And then 4k miles with nothing.

Have you checked your coil, battery, and starter relay connections?

This almost sounds like something slightly loose electrically...

Use the timing light trick. Hang a cheap neon timing light on the bike and hook it up to one sparkplug. When the engine quits, look at the light to see if it is still flashing. This will narrow the problem down to ignition or fuel delivery.

Never have any trouble starting the bike - she cranks every
time. Could loose connections at the starter relay cause her to die after under way?

I'm sure I've seen it, but remind me where the relay is.

Had the battery out to move the airbox back - those connections were tight then.

It was not raining, but the humidity may play a role. It was very humid in June when all this started, and the humidity has been up here of late, although the temps haven't been above the low 70's.

I got caught out in the rain last night on the bank run, and she ran like a scalded ape all the way in. That was a rush! No problems though.

Look behind the right side cover.

Just to be sure, I would check all my electrical connections, even inside the headlight.

Well I keep riding, and she keeps dieing - really weird - days between occurences, many miles too, then it may happen two or three times in a day (or morning).

Died this afternoon while sitting in traffic - I was in neutral, on the shoulder as the freeway was completely shut down. After 4-6 minutes - she just died. I think she has an occassional miss at idle - sometimes I hear it, sometimes (often) it's just not there.

I don't know for sure but that sounds like the same thing that my bike did when I first got it and it turned out to be a pinched fuel tank vent line up under the fuel tank. My bike would be running great and then just shut down. I would either pull over to the side of the road or sometimes just restart the bike while coasting down the road. If you have not checked this out yet it would be worth your while. Good luck, Ron

Intermittent problems are the worst to troubleshoot. I am still thinking this is eletrical. Check all your connections.

btw, how do your fuses and the fuse block look (the metal parts)?

Hi Everyone
Been keeping an eye on this thread hoping you could sort the problem out. About a month ago my bike started the playing up same as yours & has now given up the chase.
Starts fine no problem after 5 mins when engine hot she stops, wait five mins starts up runs 1/2 mile & stops.
Checked petrol,filters & all connections no difference.
This morning I had it picked up & taken to Triumph dealer.
Mechanic who picked up my bike thinks it is the CDI unit (Ignitor) as everything else looks ok.
Anyway I will let you know what the problem is dealer will be phoned twice a day until fixed. Or else I will have to bring ADEY with me as back up.

Danny
TBA 04
UK

Fuses and block look great. Fuses fully seated, no corrosion, dielectric grease present where needed.

Now that I know it will die at idle in neutral, and occassionally there is a noticeable momentary misfire - like a dead space in the rythem (no backfire) - but it seems to be brief. Fleeting. Then back to normal.

I'll bet it can be diagnosed in the shop now, and not require someone wasting time riding it waiting on something to happen.

I just need to give her up (that's going to be hard) and let them put me on a loaner bike to get back home on. If it would get to be more frequent or consistent, it would make everything easier as I would be more willing to take her in.

Looks like a common problem on 04 bikes exact same symptons.

Good luck

Danny

Forgot to mention that I spoke to Triumph dealer on Monday & waited until Saturday to have bike picked up. Thinking Get bike to dealer early say 10am go with recovery van wait for bike to be fixed & ride home. Dealer 30 miles away.
Didnt work out because service dept do not work on saturday only sales which they never told me on Monday. Also they only loan spare bikes for 24hr only. What really gets me is the problem came to a head on Monday when I was off work, 2 miles from home instead of phoning recovery then we spluttered home only to be told not covered for home start
Funny now was not too impressed then
Any way hope some of this will help some one else or give you all a good laugh at least.

Danny
TBA 04
UK

Well hurry up and get'er fixed so we can go riding......Angelis

Was suggested to me yesterday that I check and clean all ground contacts. That said on a 200+ mile ride with not a problem all day. She hiccupped a time or two, but ran like a star all day long.

How many ground points are there, and where might they be?

Keith

Dealer contacted me today faulty ignitor.
Also ray having same problem in uk.(lounge)
Both 04 bikes.

good Luck

Danny

Begging your pardon, but where exactly is this fuel tank vent line at? The one time I had to pull my tank, the only fuel hose I had to disconnect was the main, that came off the petcock. I'd like to know, because my bike has intermittent stalling as well. Thanks!

front right

Frank

Thanks a bunch!

Ok, next question, about how long should this hose be, and is there a preferable place for it to be routed? Any kind of internal valving? I think I'm looking at the right spot, but instead of a hose, looks more like either a giant wrap of electrical tape, or a rubber cap, like 1" long. Now I'm confused.

Thanks for the pic, that's definitely not on my ride. Is that supposed to go to the airbox? What are people doing with the hose when they freak? Just let the hose hang? Appreciate the help guys!

Mine just hangs. Not sure if it went to the box before...

That hose is typically routed from the tank vent, down the backbone, across the top of the carbs, and then behind and below the battery. It's a soft rubber hose, btw...

Thanks Benny and Phil! Is it safe to assume that there is valving in the hose, or is the mechanism internal to the tank? Looking further at mine yesterday after work, what was left of my hose was gasoline-wet (but not dripping), which explains why sometimes I smell fuel while idling at a stop. I know I didn't mess with the darn thing, my Jedi Master skills are sensing another dealer conspiracy in this one!! Thanks again for the help!

I think the CA models have a check valve in the line. On my '02, it is just the hose from tank to atmosphere.

My vapor line is hard plastic with a valve inline.. just FYI.

Thanks Chy, I'll try to come up with some redneck jury-rig here shortly. Yet another occasion when the bike dealer red-azzes the consumer..ARG!

Interesting Chy, considering we both have '02s. I will have to look at that hose again but I was sure mine is just hose

There should be an inline "rollover" valve to keep the tank from draining if the bike falls over. on CA emissions bikes, the vent hose terminates in a canister about the size of a Fosters tin attached where some think a centerstand should bolt on. On 'rest of the world' bikes, it dangles down well behind the engine.
The hose should be routed around the front of the rubber tank holder to keep it from getting pinched when the tank is installed.

By the way, a major overflow while filling the tank can cause enough gas to run down the hose to close the rollover valve. The cure is to empty out the hose and give the valve a good shake or maybe blow some compressed air up from the bottom to open it.

Thanks for the insight, I'm fixing to call the Triumph Dealership in Hattiesburg about the cost of the hose and the valve.