3rd Post & Problem Feedback Request - Honda Shadow Forums : Shadow Motorcycle Forum

emmazoemom · 11-05-2012, 10:45 AM

Hi there, it is me again with my 3rd post. I have only had my new-to-me 2006 Shadow Spirit 750 for 1 week, but I have had a problem arise already (and I am sad).

I use my bike for a daily commuter, about 20 miles each way). 3 times in the last week my bike just died on I-5. The first time, I thought I ran out of gas (looking back on it, I did not). The second time, I noticed that it felt like a loss of power. The 3rd time (3 miles later), it felt the same way - loss of power.

The last two instances happened just yesterday afternoon. The 1st time, I thought I had run out of gas like the time before. I opened the tank and it was over 1/2 full, so that was obviously not the issue. Given that, I tried starting it again. It was rough, but started, so off I went.

Exactly 3 miles later, the same thing happened. Knowing that I had gas, I tried other things. This time I flipped the kill switch on and off once. I tried restarting it and it worked and I made it home with no problems.

My husband looked this up last night and found that it was a fairly common problem with this motorcycle and that the general thought is that this issue lies with the kill switch.

Is anyone aware of a true fix for this problem?

Thank you, Becky

**old dad** · 11-05-2012, 12:59 PM

Start simple, check your battery connections, good and tight? ,,is the battery holding a charge?

emmazoemom · 11-05-2012, 05:01 PM

It is a new battery and I know the connection is good as I had to do some work on it. My husband checked it too yesterday, all is well.

So-Crates · 11-05-2012, 05:07 PM

Ive never heard of kill switch problems - and the first thing I was going to say was to check the battery as well.

Same thing happened to me when I first got my 1100. Left hand turn and suddenly the bike shut off. Only happened in left hand turns. Turned out to be a loose battery terminal and when I turned left, the battery shifted just enough to cut power. Loctited that bizzy in there and never had that problem again... And I never would have known it was the battery from a visual check. I literally had to use a wrench to lock that puppy down.

DarkAero · 11-06-2012, 01:31 AM

Exact same thing happened to me yesterday. I noticed that after I got it to fire back up my digital tripometer had reset to zero. That leads me to believe it was a complete loss of electricity. Did you notice if yours did that?

Sent from my PC36100 using Motorcycle.com Free App

emmazoemom · 11-07-2012, 02:21 PM

I haven't had a loss of power, it just feels that way.

Yesterday after work, it wouldn't start. I flipped the kill switch several times and it finally started.

I will be happy to check the battery again and report back.

Thank you!

cvaria · 11-07-2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmazoemom

I haven't had a loss of power, it just feels that way.

Yesterday after work, it wouldn't start. I flipped the kill switch several times and it finally started.

I will be happy to check the battery again and report back.

Thank you!

Check the fliud level in the battery every 3 months. I think you may want to do a self tune-up (replace plugs and oil) and then seafoam in the gas.

If none of that works then maybe some carb balancing and fun stuff like that.

you are opening the the petcock, right?

I still do that, i'll get to riding (ine-c, what f?) and then put put put... (O_o).... look around wondering what happened, the look down in shame at the off petcock. this usually happens in traffic when i'm in front at the light.... end up crab walking the bike off the road and bouncing around to get the fuel going.

**old dad** · 11-07-2012, 03:02 PM

folks always jump into heavy mechanics, not always needed,,has the tank been off, is it possible that a fuel line got crimped or pinched? I have said before start simple. It's usually the little things. I'd check the connections on the kill switch too, it may just need cleaning.(there is a thread on switch cleaning, though it's on the turn sig. switch)
Switch cleaning 101

emmazoemom · 11-08-2012, 10:09 AM

Well, yesterday it died, died, died on I-5. Fun, fun, fun. It was towed to the shop where they were able to quickly determine is wasn't the carb, but they aren't sure what it is. Of course after 3 hours of not starting, it started right away for the tech (Murphy's Law, right?).

They are trying to replicate the problem (shouldn't be hard) and to go from there. Needless to say, I am cranky cause I had to ride the bus and don't have my bike. Ugh! I want my bike back and the problems to go away. I wish I knew more myself.

Thanks for listening to me whine. I will be serving cheese later...

joe in calif · 11-08-2012, 10:58 AM

Sounds like the kill switch as you think. They can get dirty, you can take it apart and spray contact cleaner in it, DO NOT USE WD40. There was a recall on the kill switch on the Gold Wing a few years back so it's not unheard of. I'm not real familiar with the shadow but on the Gold Wing there is a bank angel sensor, if that fails the bike will only start if you turn the bike off and on again. let us know what the shop finds.
Have you checked your fuel filter? If it gets plugged the fuel flow will stop and after a short time the junk will float to the bottom of the filter and the bike will run again, for a short time.

11-05-2012, 10:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
emmazoemom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 13	3rd Post & Problem Feedback Request Hi there, it is me again with my 3rd post. I have only had my new-to-me 2006 Shadow Spirit 750 for 1 week, but I have had a problem arise already (and I am sad). I use my bike for a daily commuter, about 20 miles each way). 3 times in the last week my bike just died on I-5. The first time, I thought I ran out of gas (looking back on it, I did not). The second time, I noticed that it felt like a loss of power. The 3rd time (3 miles later), it felt the same way - loss of power. The last two instances happened just yesterday afternoon. The 1st time, I thought I had run out of gas like the time before. I opened the tank and it was over 1/2 full, so that was obviously not the issue. Given that, I tried starting it again. It was rough, but started, so off I went. Exactly 3 miles later, the same thing happened. Knowing that I had gas, I tried other things. This time I flipped the kill switch on and off once. I tried restarting it and it worked and I made it home with no problems. My husband looked this up last night and found that it was a fairly common problem with this motorcycle and that the general thought is that this issue lies with the kill switch. Is anyone aware of a true fix for this problem? Thank you, Becky

11-05-2012, 12:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
old dad Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: sc Posts: 7,253	Start simple, check your battery connections, good and tight? ,,is the battery holding a charge? __________________ 2006 vlx

11-05-2012, 05:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
emmazoemom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 13	It is a new battery and I know the connection is good as I had to do some work on it. My husband checked it too yesterday, all is well. __________________ Becky 2006 Honda Shadow Spirit VT750

11-05-2012, 05:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
So-Crates Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 416	Ive never heard of kill switch problems - and the first thing I was going to say was to check the battery as well. Same thing happened to me when I first got my 1100. Left hand turn and suddenly the bike shut off. Only happened in left hand turns. Turned out to be a loose battery terminal and when I turned left, the battery shifted just enough to cut power. Loctited that bizzy in there and never had that problem again... And I never would have known it was the battery from a visual check. I literally had to use a wrench to lock that puppy down. __________________ 2003 Victory Vegas - 92 cu. in., Mustang seat, straight pipes, K&N filter, remapped ECU, powder coated wheels/foot controls/hand controls/handlebars/ rear pulley/rear luggage rack. Digital speedo/tach with powder coated housing.

11-06-2012, 01:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
DarkAero Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 366	Exact same thing happened to me yesterday. I noticed that after I got it to fire back up my digital tripometer had reset to zero. That leads me to believe it was a complete loss of electricity. Did you notice if yours did that? Sent from my PC36100 using Motorcycle.com Free App __________________ 07 Aero 750 Mustang seat M/C Enterprises floorboards Heel/toe shifter

11-07-2012, 02:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
emmazoemom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 13	I haven't had a loss of power, it just feels that way. Yesterday after work, it wouldn't start. I flipped the kill switch several times and it finally started. I will be happy to check the battery again and report back. Thank you! __________________ Becky 2006 Honda Shadow Spirit VT750

11-07-2012, 03:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
old dad Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: sc Posts: 7,253	folks always jump into heavy mechanics, not always needed,,has the tank been off, is it possible that a fuel line got crimped or pinched? I have said before start simple. It's usually the little things. I'd check the connections on the kill switch too, it may just need cleaning.(there is a thread on switch cleaning, though it's on the turn sig. switch) Switch cleaning 101 __________________ 2006 vlx

11-08-2012, 10:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
emmazoemom Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 13	Well, yesterday it died, died, died on I-5. Fun, fun, fun. It was towed to the shop where they were able to quickly determine is wasn't the carb, but they aren't sure what it is. Of course after 3 hours of not starting, it started right away for the tech (Murphy's Law, right?). They are trying to replicate the problem (shouldn't be hard) and to go from there. Needless to say, I am cranky cause I had to ride the bus and don't have my bike. Ugh! I want my bike back and the problems to go away. I wish I knew more myself. Thanks for listening to me whine. I will be serving cheese later... __________________ Becky 2006 Honda Shadow Spirit VT750

11-08-2012, 10:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
joe in calif Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Jacinto, Calif Posts: 699	Sounds like the kill switch as you think. They can get dirty, you can take it apart and spray contact cleaner in it, DO NOT USE WD40. There was a recall on the kill switch on the Gold Wing a few years back so it's not unheard of. I'm not real familiar with the shadow but on the Gold Wing there is a bank angel sensor, if that fails the bike will only start if you turn the bike off and on again. let us know what the shop finds. Have you checked your fuel filter? If it gets plugged the fuel flow will stop and after a short time the junk will float to the bottom of the filter and the bike will run again, for a short time. __________________ IF YOU ARE BORN ONCE YOU WILL DIE TWICE IF YOU ARE BORN TWICE YOU WILL DIE ONCE Last edited by joe in calif; 11-08-2012 at 11:01 AM.

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