Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Cutting out, then no start '05 America

So hopefully I can get some help on this, and with all the knowledge here, I'm sure I will. So I think this may have started last year. Let me first apologize for the unorganized thoughts, just want to get this out as I remember.

- At the end of last riding season, Sept-Oct, there were a few occasions that I turned the bike off and it wouldn't start. There was nothing. Let me go back further, last spring I purchased a new battery after having to jump the one before that a few times. Last fall when I had the intermittent starting issue (only happened maybe 3-4 times), I thought that it was the "kill switch" on the left lever assembly. So I would just use the key to shut the bike off.

- Now to this year. A couple weeks ago I took a nice Friday afternoon ride to Hermy's; about an hour ride. By the way, while there bought an awesome new jacket (McQueen #2). On the way back on 222S (65MPH speed limit), I was doing about 70-75 and about 10 minutes from home it started to cut out and backfire. It seemed to happen around 5K-6K RPM. It felt like there wasn't enough fuel to the engine.

- I was hoping this was a fluke, so parked the bike for a week or so. Took it out last Saturday for a test ride, and the problem was even worse than before. Went about 2 miles from home and thought it was going to stall and I would be pushing. Got it home, parked, and proceeded to think about this.

- Now to today. I bought a can of Sea Foam, put some in the tank, let the bike idle for a few minues hopeing to get the SF thru the carbs. Then went for another test ride and it seemed to be better than last time, but again it would cut out and carry on around 5,000 RPM. Now I'm at my last nerve. Start tearing down the bike to check all the electrical connections (ECU was replaced 2 years ago). I pull the tank, headlight, all the side covers and everything seems OK. I pull the "HELLA" relay and reinstall, it started! Up to that point, I checked the following this evening while tearing down:

- Thought maybe another bad battery, tied jumping - nothing

- Thought maybe loose battery connections - nothing

- Tapped the stand switch, thought intermittent - nothing

- Cycled the kill switch while holding the start button, thought this was intermittent - nothing

I think that is everything, so for now I believe it is that faulty relay. Is this a common relay that I can find somewhere other than the dealer?

Let me know your thoughts please....

Yes. Bring the relay in to any Autozone and they should be able to match it up.

Stupid question, but did you try turning the petcock to reserve? That sounds exactly how mine sounds when it starts to run low on fuel.

Hi TexasBonnie, I actually didn't try that. I only have 60 or so miles on the tank of gas. Thanks for the tip though,

If you ran it outta gas and never checked that before posting. You have to wear a brass cow bell around ya neck for the next 500 miles.

definetly have gas, so no cow bell. When it wouldn't start, there was nothing. So far bought the following parts to change out next weekend:
Squirrel condoms
Removing the hidden gas filter and installing an in line fuel filter
Found the relay in question at Advanced Auto

Some may have nothing to do with the crisis, but with 11k miles, may be good preventive maintenance.

Will keep you posted how it goes. Thanks for the help, even the empty tank part.

Check for spark.

All there is to make a bike run is fuel and fire.
you can turn the little screws on the bottom of the carb bowls if there is fuel there. Then pull spark plug wire insert a sparkplug to the end of the wire and ground to head.

I had a simular problem with my 07 America....found out my tip over valve was on a 45 creating a vapor lock...a couple zip ties to stand her vertical and no more problems. ..that was 2 years ago...good luck