Bike lost all power while driving

Decemberist · Jul 19, 2014

Last night I was riding on a pitch black road when out of nowhere my 74' Roadster completely lost all power including the engine for about 5 loooong seconds. Power then suddenly returned and the bike pop started and everything returned to normal. It scared the crap out of me, I decided to get it home when the same thing happened about a mile later. This time, i guided the bike to the side of a busy dark road turned the key off and back on ignition seemed to be fine and I managed to get the bike home w/o any further issues. Earlier on in the day I stopped to get gas I started it but when I went to full on with the ignition the bike shut off. I am thinking it may be an ignition switch problem but before I drop $100 bucks on a new ignition switch I was hoping to see if any of you folks have had a similar "experience" with your bike.

25ring · Jul 19, 2014

Decemberist, Had the same problem on my 74 Roadster.Started as a miss when above 3K with switch in ignition and lights.Went away in ignition only. Finally lost all power completely in ing and lights. Bought a 3 position switch for a Harley @JP Cycle [$26.00].Fits in the original mount perfectly. Lucas switch is crap!--FWIW,Mike.

Deets55 · Jul 19, 2014

You could try going to a place like Radio Shack and buy a can of tuner cleaner. Spray it down the key hole and work the switch rapidly back and forth. It not only cleans but leaves a protective coating on the contacts. It is made for sensitive radio tuners.
Pete

25ring · Jul 19, 2014

Deets55, I tried that first,but it ended up being a loose terminal.I guess the staking points have vibrated loose over time.Might want to check that also.--Mike.

lwmcd1 · Jul 19, 2014

Yes it happens, 99% of the time it is a bad pos. grd. wire. One of the sneaker places this occurs is in the swt. cluster. The ign cut off button. If it's contacts gets dirty enough it will stop the engine. Before buying new parts carefully clean the cluster with contact cleaner and check any and all wiring especially red ones.

Old Bloke · Jul 19, 2014

25ring said:
Decemberist, Had the same problem on my 74 Roadster.Started as a miss when above 3K with switch in ignition and lights.Went away in ignition only. Finally lost all power completely in ing and lights. Bought a 3 position switch for a Harley @JP Cycle [$26.00].Fits in the original mount perfectly. Lucas switch is crap!--FWIW,Mike.

I also had the same thing happen with the Lucas switch, No ignition, when switch was in ign+lights position. I too fitted one of the Harley switches

One like this: (in the UK)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Round- ... 0510172138

P.S. I have no experience with this seller, just showing the example.

Mark F · Jul 19, 2014

Check your battery and fuse connections.
Loose wires, bad joints.

CanukNortonNut · Jul 19, 2014

Decemberist said:
Last night I was riding on a pitch black road when out of nowhere my 74' Roadster completely lost all power including the engine for about 5 loooong seconds. Power then suddenly returned and the bike pop started and everything returned to normal. It scared the crap out of me, I decided to get it home when the same thing happened about a mile later. This time, i guided the bike to the side of a busy dark road turned the key off and back on ignition seemed to be fine and I managed to get the bike home w/o any further issues. Earlier on in the day I stopped to get gas I started it but when I went to full on with the ignition the bike shut off. I am thinking it may be an ignition switch problem but before I drop $100 bucks on a new ignition switch I was hoping to see if any of you folks have had a similar "experience" with your bike.

December,
Check your Fuse holder. The little buttons that contact the fuse, which tends to sometimes break apart from vibration. I had this happen to me just like what you are describing here. Every time I used my turn signal the bike would completely shut down all power. It took me a while to finally catch the fault. Start with the inexpensive stuff first and work through the electrical methodically.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

Guido · Jul 19, 2014

Are you running a Tri-Spark?
Same thing happened to me. 3 year old unit failed just like you are describing.
I have the new updated unit and works fine so far. Been a few months now.
Or it could be the switch. Takes yours apart but bring a barf bag with you.

CanukNortonNut · Jul 19, 2014

Guido said:
Are you running a Tri-Spark?
Same thing happened to me. 3 year old unit failed just like you are describing.
I have the new updated unit and works fine so far. Been a few months now.
Or it could be the switch. Takes yours apart but bring a barf bag with you.

"my 74' Roadster completely lost all power including the engine for about 5 loooong seconds." quote.
If I read the original post correctly, that should rule out "any ignition type".
December, Did your lights go out when driving at night? Very concerning during the event but it would narrow down the troubleshooting logic.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

Guido · Jul 19, 2014

I missed that. My bad.

kerinorton · Jul 20, 2014

check your fuses. I got back from a long ride on time and found the end had worn out of the fuse.[ the type where the fuse material wraps round the fuse itself]. Also often I find the fuse itself needs to be rubbed because corrosion or verdigrease tends to stop it contacting.

Decemberist · Jul 20, 2014

CanukNortonNut said:
Guido said:

Are you running a Tri-Spark?
Same thing happened to me. 3 year old unit failed just like you are describing.
I have the new updated unit and works fine so far. Been a few months now.
Or it could be the switch. Takes yours apart but bring a barf bag with you.

Click to expand...

"my 74' Roadster completely lost all power including the engine for about 5 loooong seconds." quote.
If I read the original post correctly, that should rule out "any ignition type".
December, Did your lights go out when driving at night? Very concerning during the event but it would narrow down the troubleshooting logic.
Cheers,
Thomas
CNN

Yes, all lights and the engine went dark, I took the ignition cover off yesterday and found the inside of the cover wet, water must have gotten trapped from the last time I washed my bike. I left the cover off to dry the switch in the sun and after I cleaned the switch and terminals. I took bike for a long ride with no problems, it seems like a good fix.

Decemberist · Jul 25, 2014

lwmcd1 said:
Yes it happens, 99% of the time it is a bad pos. grd. wire. One of the sneaker places this occurs is in the swt. cluster. The ign cut off button. If it's contacts gets dirty enough it will stop the engine. Before buying new parts carefully clean the cluster with contact cleaner and check any and all wiring especially red ones.

I thought I had found a good fix with the moisture in the ignition cluster however, today the engine died twice for no apparent reason almost as if I hit the engine kill button. I will try to clean/inspect all grounds and go from there thanks folks for the advise to me it sounds like a loose connection somewhere.

Nater_Potater · Jul 25, 2014

Decemberist said:
I thought I had found a good fix with the moisture in the ignition cluster...

If it's "just" the engine that died, and, as you recently washed it, my money is on the handlebar kill switch.

Nathan

pete.v · Jul 25, 2014

Nater_Potater said:
Decemberist said:

I thought I had found a good fix with the moisture in the ignition cluster...

Click to expand...

If it's "just" the engine that died, and, as you recently washed it, my money is on the handlebar kill switch.

Nathan

That's a good point. If all power is lost look around the battery and ignition switch. Possibly a negative terminal rather than a positive (ground) connection.

lwmcd1 · Jul 25, 2014

Kill Swt. on handle bars. At least it was on mine. It got fouled with brake fluid from a leaking master cylinder. Plus I ran some more red wires I found in the mulitude of extras ones to be found in a stock Norton harness to the frame.

pete.v · Jul 25, 2014

lwmcd1 said:
Kill Swt. on handle bars. At least it was on mine. It got fouled with brake fluid from a leaking master cylinder. Plus I ran some more red wires I found in the mulitude of extras ones to be found in a stock Norton harness to the frame.

Did you loose all power or just engine. The kill switch only effect the ignition system through the ballast resister I think.

I think Decemberist noted that he lost ALL power.

Decemberist · Jul 25, 2014

pete.v said:
lwmcd1 said:

Kill Swt. on handle bars. At least it was on mine. It got fouled with brake fluid from a leaking master cylinder. Plus I ran some more red wires I found in the mulitude of extras ones to be found in a stock Norton harness to the frame.

Click to expand...

Did you loose all power or just engine. The kill switch only effect the ignition system through the ballast resister I think.

I think Decemberist noted that he lost ALL power.

That is my problem it was originally ALL power lights, engine etc. After drying the moisture of of the back of the ignition switch I rode it and all seemed fine. Today just the engine died while stopping for a light, who knows maybe I'll get some contact cleaner and hit the front of the ignition switch, and then shoot some wires.

Bike lost all power while driving

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