Dies going down the road

[OHgent]

Okay I am not totally mechanically challenged but got a prob can't seem to troubleshoot.

Bike goes down the road and starts losing power and then just dies (sorta like bad alternator on a car). Restarted couple times then nothing so I figure battery is dead, or maybe loose connection to the battery. What is it on a bike motor that I could look at that is like the alternator?

[cl65ame]

the Stator. It is on the left side of the engine at the front. (your foot rubs on it when you shift gears) look around on here and you will find the test for it. in the stickys

[byggd]

So it starts cutting out and then dies? Or does it shut off all at once? Maybe the fuel system is vapor locked?

[John Hopkins]

Tell us more..bike model age..how many times has this happened..from what you tell us you might check the fuel is switched on..

John.

[OHgent]

'03 Shadow Spirit, 750 It starts losing power and then will eventually die. The last time I attempted to start it, it just wouldn't turn over and eventually the battery was dead. Just like if a car engine alternator was shot. Since I have had it, about a month, it has done it 4 times (twice today). Fuel has been switched on each time cause that is the first thing I checked to make sure I didn't hit it somehow. Plenty of fuel still in tank too.

["Captain D"]

Tech Stickies Useful Links, find the electrosport charging system testing proceedure, if the battery is dead...
Good luck,
"D"

[Schattenreiter]

Stopped up fuel filter. Allows enuff fuel thru to run but not enuff under power. Check to flow into then out of filter.

[superdiver]

Just had the EXACT same happen to me, it was the filter. I had just the day before ran it out of gas and either the gunk from inside the empty tank clogged it up, or the jerry jug I used to refill it had junk in it. I bet its the filter...

[oblivion_twister]

or, the tank vent is clogged so will run fine just long enough to get you a little ways down the road. When it has pulled enough gas to create a vacuum in the tank, fuel pump can't pull hard enough and it starves, losing power then finally dying. When you put gas in it, you broke that vacuum by opening the gas cap. Fired up, Ran fine. Clean out the tank vent line.

[John Hopkins]

Originally Posted by OHgent

'03 Shadow Spirit, 750 It starts losing power and then will eventually die. The last time I attempted to start it, it just wouldn't turn over and eventually the battery was dead. Just like if a car engine alternator was shot. Since I have had it, about a month, it has done it 4 times (twice today). Fuel has been switched on each time cause that is the first thing I checked to make sure I didn't hit it somehow. Plenty of fuel still in tank too.

I'm inclined to think the electrics is a result rather than the cause..

You need a cheap multimeter..

you need to charge the battery to at least 13v dc

now you can start testing..

get a spare sparkplug..

kill switch to run, bike in neutral, fuel tap to reserve,

unplug one sparkplug lead and plug the spare plug into the lead, press the thread of the plug against the cylinder fins with a piece of wood and look at the electrode..

press the starter...nice blue spark...repeat on the other three plugs..

if all good either the plugs are faulty or the electrics are good.

Change the plugs and see if the engine runs...if so..

measure the battery voltage with the voltmeter..over 12v at tickover..increase revs..voltage rises to 13.8 or more..charging circuits good..

press choke off slowly, if the revs slow and die after the engine has run for five minutes you have a fuel problem and need to remove the carbs...

John.