Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Unreliable? help

My 10 yo America has stopped running three times recently. at a stoplight like someone flipped a switch, twice, and once while coasting into a parking lot. One time did not start right back up, had to push it up a hill, twice started right away, have noticed some missing on acceleration, Help! What to look at? Intermittent issue that I cannot reproduce. Starting not to trust my reliable trumpet, reminds me of my Hardly days.... thanks for any help

CDI or a coil is what first comes to mind, with an emphasis on CDI. If you want to test the CDI I can lend you mine because my bike is off the road for the winter.

I had same symptoms a while back. After much frustration I discovered a loose battery cable. Tightened cable and problems went away.

Try calling the Triumph hotline.

http://www.bonnevilleamerica.com/forums/...ge=0#Post607979

Check the cables from the rectifier/regulator. Three yellow cables under the seat. Mine burnt off at the connector and was a pita to find. Happened to more than me.

Missing on acceleration and suddenly stalling sounds like electrical issues to me assuming the stalling and missing are caused by the same problem. When it runs, does it run well (that will eliminate a vacuum issue causing misfiring). When it misses, does it run on one cylinder for long? If so, try switching the coil primary and secondary wires to see if the cylinder that's misfiring switches sides. If the misfiring cylinder switches sides, you have a coil/wiring that's failing/failed. If it remains on the same side, the CDI is probably failing.

If the problem is intermittent can you help by telling when it happens? Cold, hot or both? Check the primary wire connections to the coils and look closely at the secondary wires to the plugs. Look at the connections and insulators making sure they are a snug fit in the coils and on the plugs, both insulators and connectors. Check the pickup coil wiring on the right side of the engine for chaffing.

Some items that have caused the bikes to stall but not necessarily misfire are;
1. Loose side stand spring on the stand,
2. Defective wiring on the sidestand switch or defective switch itself
3. Loose connections on the ignition switch or a switch that is failing.
4. Loose/corroded fuse in the fuse panel
5. Battery connections
6. Failing kill switch

This isn't comprehensive and is in no particular order. Some of the other fellows could chime in. Look for the easy things first before tearing into the wiring.

You guys are Great! Thanks for the help, at least I have a number of things to look at, Complete cut off, switch like, occurs when hot and sitting at idle at light, one time while slowly coasting, missing on acceleration is very intermittent, when warm and not all the time, seems like random cylinder fails to fire once with no particular pattern, other times pulls strong. Again, thanks for the help and at least I have some place to start looking.

While your checking for loose wire connections,fuses and such, have some No-ox on hand and smear a little on after you clean any and all contacts.

Went looking for suggested loose wires and connections today. After getting to battery, three different tools just to get to it and screws at funny angles, what a pain. Found negative battery cable able to move on battery, tightened it, but have not had chance to test ride. Thanks for the suggestions, you guys are GREAT, happy Thanksgiving weekend.

10 YEARS to first look at your battery? Dang...

Glad you got it sorted!

Test ride this AM with no misses on acceleration, no cut outs at idle, ran like a top, after it warmed up, does not like the cooler temps for start ups. (nothing new)

This is the best site ever, thanks guys. Flawless December test ride.

Glad it was easy.