Bike keeps dieing on me

Hi all

I have read a few posts but thought I would write to see if anyone can give anything else.

I started the bike up after a month or two sitting without petrol tank, got replacement tank from len, put fresh petrol in the tank, road it around no problems, then today road it to work then on way home it kept dieing, i would paddle it to the side sometimes press the starter button and nothing, then after a few minutes I would press the button and it would spring into life, i was then able to ride it home.

I have researched into similar problems and people say TDI UNIT, and others say aternator brushes, I have checked neither yet.

I have cleaned and used the clear tubed method for the carbs, but not checked on the bike-need to do.

I have changed my tank for a better one from Len.

any comments welcome

Thanks

Daz

 

When you say "Push the starter button and nothing" do you mean it didn't turn over, or it didnt fire?

The dying sounds like a fuel issue - either the vacuum fuel tap isn't working correctly or a blocked fuel cap breather.

If all the electrics seem to die - check the use box. If it's original - it's likely to cause trouble!

 

I press the starter button and didn't turn over or fire, I wait then it starts and idles

Thought I would say that I put an inline fuel filter on yesterday, the fuel pipe route may be slightly up hill, would this make a difference?

I should change the vac pipe too as this is v old

The fuel tap has new parts, I remember sucking on the vac pipe outlet and heard the vac pulsate if you know what I mean!, can I test for faults?

Thanks

Daz

 

Daz: Could be a long shot , but these xj bikes need pretty much a 'PERFECT' battery to run right. You did check out the TDI and the alternator and if they DO check out , go to battery, fuse box or grounding issues. Hope that gets you started.

 

Battery is newish and freshly charged

what voltage am I looking for if I use a volt meter on the TDI and the alternator?

Fuse box was upgraded recently

Question: On my engine there are two earth wires to battery, I left out one, should I be having two connected to negative point on battery.

Thanks

Daz

 

If your lights stay on when it dies -- in other words, it acts like you hit the kill switch -- to me, that screams TCI right there. If so, you'll end up pulling it apart, swapping out the electrolytic capacitors and touching up the rest of the solder joints on the circuit board.

It's not as hard as it sounds.

 

Thanks, i might just get a new one from len!

 

what RPMs do you normally cruise at?

 

A couple of quid in parts is a lot less than getting a replacement unit from Len.

However, after reading your other replies again, I'm not entirely convinced the TCI is at fault after all. If it were in fact the TCI, then the engine would crank, but not fire. (Ask me how I know this.) If your bike won't even do that, then I'm thinking the problem lies elsewhere.

Not too long ago, we had a user with a similar problem; turned out to be a loose connection in the handlebar kill switch. If not there, then a dodgy connection somewhere else, perhaps.

 

My bike is wierd, I road around today and everything is fine, I have tried to clean the handlebar switch cluster and anything else electrical, I will keep you posted on the days to come.

This bike feels like it chooses when to work!!!

Daz

 

Please let us know if this keeps happening. I had a similar thing happening to my 1985 XJ700N last Fall, which I hope to tackle this Spring.

The behavior: Cruising along at moderate-to-highway speeds, suddenly all electricity is shut off. I coast to the side of the road, try the starter switch, get NOTHING. No crank, nothing but a faint "pop" sound. Scratch my head in confusion, remove the seat, look at the battery. Twiddle thumbs. Try starter switch again, get instant start. Shrug, keep riding.

It was sporadic enough where it was hard to pinpoint the problem, but common enough to make me not trust my bike. It happened maybe on 1/3 of my rides, usually at 35MPH+.

Is this what you're seeing? If so, let's track this down.

 

losifer, my bike has done something similar in the past. It has only happened maybe a total of 3 or 4 times since mid december when i started riding the bike daily. I would start the bike in the morning on the way to work, i would set off after letting it idle for a few min with the choke on, make it to the end of the block in about 3rd gear, and pull the clutch in to come to a stop and the engine just cuts off. i coast to a stop, go wtf all the electrics are working, push the starter and it cranks but doesn't fire. flip the kill switch a couple times and try again after about 10-15 seconds, it starts. I go about my way, it doesn't happen again for a long time. It hasn't done this in at least a month but i'd like to make sure it never happens again

 

Hi

It only happened for a day, I have only started to ride it properly a week ago as I had messed up the previous tank!!!, I am getting used to leaving choke on when she's cold, but last monday she played up on the way home after work, riding down the road and something explodes out of the exaust, so I think I'm not going any further!, she dies once more on the way back home, I clean every electrical point, clean cluster handle bar, clean and check brushes too. I have road every day since then and no trouble, I can even get her to idle at 1050rpms when warm. Maybe she needed running in!!

How is your bike?
Daz

 

Many times the probs you are all describing are due to a simple short in one or more of the following areas.
1, start switch
2, kill switch
3, sidestand or clutch safety switch.
The reason it will start after a rest is because the short(ing) wire has cooled down enough to handle current.
For instance:
A small, intermitant short in the sidestand switch can stop the bike anywhere, any time the wires make contact due to the vibration during riding.

 

If you have an Original Fuse Panel ... that could be the cause, too.

The Clips holding the Fuses lose their gripping power.
Squeezing them together to make them tight, again, breaks them off.

Sure sounds "Electrical" related.
Get one of these Test Lights.
They're the Best that money can buy.
$12.00

http://www.rjtool.com/p-1354-circuit-so ... an-72.aspx

 

Definitely sounds like TCI, or again, could be as simple as a kill switch. Check the switch first; if that looks good, pull the box and go to town on it.

 

well what i noticed the other day is i'll turn the key on and all the elctronics turn on and everything is fine. if i push the key all the way to the on position until i feel resistance all the electronics shut off. what could be causing that?

 

A prob with the switch.

 

Clean the kill switch and ignition switch. Re-grease and have another go at it.