Bike Cut Off While Riding

Technical Help Forum

Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-21-2008, 7:44 AM
Well, I'm back again with a new problem. I was riding to work this morning when the bike decided it didnt want to go over 65 mph/6000rpms. I also noticed the temp guage was getting close to hot. So i pulled over to the side of the intertsate and sat for a little while to let it cool down. I started the bike up and the oil light was blinking at 1100rpm but when i gave it gas it cut off I then began to ride again and the bike started to develop a lower and lower top speed. I got off the interstate and the bike would only get up to 30 mph, i quickly pulled the clutch in and coasted into a parking lot, the bike cut off on its on before i made it all the way into the lot. I tried to see if it would start in neutral but it would only make a "click" from the starter. I tried to push start it and it seems to try and catch but i dont think i was moving fast enough. I'm worried that this may be a major problem. Where should I start. I just did an oil change two days ago and there was no metal in the oil, but the bike has always had a kind of ticking sound from the radiator area i thought it was the fan so i was going to check it this weekend. Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Anonymous 05-21-2008, 8:05 AM
see this thread, sounds very similar,

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-21-2008, 8:20 AM
Forgot to mention Bike is a 1982 GL500, i read over the other post but my transmission was shifting fine which is why i dont think the motor is siezed up. But i could be wrong......??

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Harold 05-21-2008, 8:49 AM
The bike in that other thread was a cx, that may make a difference. The gl needs battery to run, if your battery is dead, or maybe a bad connection somewhere, it may cause the symptoms you describe.
If the battery is not dead, you will have to see why it is not turning over.

Good Luck, I'm hoping it is the battery.

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than biker gangs."

1978 CX500
1980 CX500 Custom
1981 CX500 Custom
1982 GL500 Silverwing
1975 XL-100
http://www.myspace.com/downwiththebutterfly

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

mildhog 05-21-2008, 8:50 AM
You could try to turn the engine at the front with a socket/wrench to see if it's siezed. But I would first check your electrical connections and grounds. Check the easy stuff first. If you have normal oil and coolant quantities with no apparent leaks and no clattering from the engine, I'd suspect an electrical problem...particularly loose grounds. They cause strange things to happen. Make sure the battery is charged. Again, easy stuff first. I'm no expert, just my thoughts. Good luck and let us know what you find.

Arnie in VA

1982 GL500I Silverwing
1983 GL650

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Anonymous 05-21-2008, 8:54 AM
Check the 30 amp main fuse link.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-21-2008, 9:18 AM
Well I'm stuck at work right now but when I get off i'll go check the main fuse, As far as engine noise goes all i had outside of normal noise was the sound from the ticking type sound from the fan area except it was louder than usual this time or maybe my fear of my bike breaking down amplified it. Lmao!!! Trying to keep some humor so i wont worry too much.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

mildhog 05-21-2008, 9:36 AM
http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/13458/ShowPost.aspx

This deals with the 30 amp fuse.

Arnie in VA

1982 GL500I Silverwing
1983 GL650

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

RichNCT 05-21-2008, 9:44 AM
Charge the battery up good. If it starts/runs okay then, check voltage across the battery and rev the engine up, voltage should get past 13.5 VDC. If not, charging system is malfunctioning and as previously stated, the TI bikes need battery for ignition. If not charging, check the connector for the 3 yellow stator wires (on the GL it's under the battery sidecover, rear of the battery, in a plastic panel mounting). Disconnect the three yellow wires, test for AC volts between each pair of yellow wires from the stator (engine) and expect to see 30-50 or more volts when revving up the engine. If not, likely stator failure. Also test each yellow stator wire to ground, expect no continuity to ground. Also, a bad battery can make troubleshooting difficult, but the above tests do not require a new battery. If charging is ok, suspect a bad battery, they sometimes fail quickly. With the results of these tests, the troubleshooting decision tree can be redirected. We wait with bated breath.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-22-2008, 3:33 PM
I charged the battery up but when I press the start button the lights dim but the stator doesnt turn over. After I hit the start button a few times the stator will turn for a moment but then it stops and nothing happens. As far as my 30 amp fuse goes I can hear it click when I try to start the bike. On the post for the battery it reads about 13 volts but for the one for the motor when i press the start button it only reads about 8 volts. In the inside of the fuse it looks like the P.O. replaced the factory piece that goes between the two screws with some homemade piece of metal. I'm at a loss as where to go from here.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-23-2008, 10:05 AM
As I reread the post about the 30 amp fusible link I feel like i may be looking at the wrong part, is the fuse that you make reference to the one behind my sidecover on the left side by the battery or are you referring to the fuses in the handle bar box? The ones in the box look fine but the one by the battery is the one that the P.O. appears to have messed with.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

RichNCT 05-23-2008, 11:02 AM

There are no fuses in the starter motor circuit. If the starter tries but doesn't crank the engine it could be (in order of liklihood):

Battery is shot or not adequately charged.

Starter solenoid contacts are buggered

Battery, starter solenoid, starter motor, or ground connection is poor

Starter motor needs internal cleanup or replacement

Engine is binding

IMO you need a new battery, if it's more than 3 yrs old or you don't know the age, replace it.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-23-2008, 11:53 AM
Battery was purchased in feburary, how would i be able to tell if the engine is binding, I thought it was an electrical problem since when i press the start button there is nothing but the clicking of the starter magnetic, and after a few presses the engine will try turn over for about 1-2 seconds.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

RichNCT 05-23-2008, 1:42 PM
Remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over with the starter or by rolling. There will still be resistance, but it should roll over okay. That's LAST on my list, and it means your have a very expensive problem, so forget about it for now. For an easy test, jump from a car battery. Get the polarity right the first time and every time, look twice before connecting. If it still doesn't turn over with some vigor, jump the battery positive to the starter motor post on the starter solenoid. This will bypass the solenoid contacts. It should crank no matter where the key is positioned. Be careful with these checks, your making sparks around a fuel tank, and reverse polarity can ruin electronics in a split second. Are you sure the bike battery is being charged by your portable battery charger?

Born to be relatively wild

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-23-2008, 3:54 PM
I think the stater solenoid has gone bad. I tried to jump the battery positive to the post but it didnt make the stater turn the motor over. I'll see if i can track down a solenoid.....if that doesnt fix it then i'll move on to the stater.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

fll1441 05-24-2008, 12:55 PM
It sounds like your battery voltage ran down while you were riding and that made the bike run poorly and, eventually, die. I suspect the later cranking problems are related to the weak battery. As Rich said, a weak battery will confuse trouble shooting. I don't think a solenoid problem would have caused your battery to go flat while the bike was running. If I were you, I would take the battery to an auto parts store and have it tested. I bought a new battery a few months ago and it worked for a couple of days and then wouldn't hold a charge. When tested, it was bad. When the bad battery was on the bike, it would not crank, even when jumped from a car. I suggest you confirm the battery is okay and fully charged. Then check all the battery cables, connections, etc. If you get the bike running, do the stator tests Rich described.

1982 CX500 Custom

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 05-24-2008, 1:56 PM
Well seeing as how there arent any places around here that I have found that can check a motorcycle battery i guess i will have to buy a trickle charger, but when I checked the battery voltage prior to cranking it was around 12.50 but the voltage going to the starter was only about 6 volts and then it just continued to drop. Is the starter solenoid suppose to click when the start button is pressed? I ask because I've never heard it make a sound due to the fact that the motor was always turning when i would start it.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

DaveNearAtlanta 05-24-2008, 2:18 PM
You've measured the battery voltage as 12.5 volts prior to cranking, which is a no-load condition. What is the voltage across the battery during cranking, when it is at full load?

If it drops below 10.5 volts or so during cranking, the battery is most likely discharged or bad.

If the battery voltage is above that during cranking, and the starter voltage is only 6 volts, then the voltage is being dropped somewhere between the battery and the starter. In this case, it could be the solenoid, the heavy battery cables, the starter cable, or a poor connection between them someplace. You can use the voltmeter to pinpoint the location where the voltage is being dropped.

My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

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Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 06-24-2008, 8:03 AM
Ok, I have replaced the battery and the starter solenoid, but bike still will not start. When i hit the start button the headlight cuts off but there is nothing from the starter, and then i can hit it again and the starter will try to turn over for about a second then its nothing again. It just keeps doing that. What areas would i be inspecting to see where the volts are being dropped? Start at the battery and then go on to the solenoid or what?? I also forgot to mention that after i tried to start the bike the stater was really hot, alomost burned myself is this normal?

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

PWG in Lowgap NC 06-24-2008, 9:46 AM
Disconnect the battery ground wire. Remove the spark plugs. Place the bike in neutral. Remove the plug in the front cover and crank over the engine, using a ratchet and socket. If the engine will turn over easilly with no binding then remove the starter. open up and clean the starter according to Honda Service Manual instructions. What? You don't have a manual? You're screwed.

http://httassociation.com
82 GL500 / 66 MGB Trike "Old Yeller"
05 Suzuki S50 "Plaything"

ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

RichNCT 06-24-2008, 9:58 AM
Jumping from the + battery terminal to the cable lug on the starter will bypass everything but the ground. If it doesn't crank over pretty well, check the ground connections at the battery and the other cable end at the starter mounting bolt. Before replacing the starter (yes, I did get your email) I would disassemble it and clean it up (unless it's damaged or burned up internally). Once removed from the engine, two screws permits it to be opened up. Pay attention to any shaft end washers and their position on both ends. Use fine emery or scotchbrite to polish the commutator, and check the brushes and springs for some life left. The carbon buildup in the starters is often the biggest problem. I have "saved" several starters with no new parts this way. It is much more likely that the starter is malfunctioning than the engine binding, but anything is possible. Are you sure the new battery is charged up good? They don't come from the store charged up fully.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 06-24-2008, 11:32 AM
Yes the battery is fully charged, i'll try and get the starter out sometime this week but time isnt easy to find nowadays. So a burning hot starter is normal? I will also take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over with a ratchet and socket to see if the motor is siezed.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

RichNCT 06-24-2008, 2:14 PM
No, a burning hot starter is not normal, but it will get too hot to touch (and hotter) if one cranks it over very long. They are an electric motor designed operate for seconds at a time, and not frequently. They have little cooling designed into them, but use very high current (read HEAT). Also, they cool very slowly. The starter R&R really only takes an hour or so (including coffee or a beer). Disconnect the battery cables first. The starter can be stubborn to pull out, it has an O-ring on the "nose", but it basically just pulls out, no internal restraints other than the o-ring dragging. Battery connections and cable to starter disconnected, two mounting bolts out, pull it out, two screws to disassemble, clean and lightly lube bearings, and then reverse to install. If the brushes are really short and worn out, they should be replaced, but usually they are okay, and you could just reassemble it anyway for the time being.

Born to be relatively wild

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Anonymous 06-24-2008, 6:09 PM
If it kills over after jumping it odds R and I hate to say it but they"re notorious for it mine and my bro's had the same problem. The stators out Ouch. Pretty easy to do yourself we did ours with no experience just be patient

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

dbarale 06-24-2008, 6:37 PM
I do not know if you've tried that yet:
use jumper cables and a fully charged car battery.
Feed the postive to the positve on the bike and the negative directly to the engine block.
Does the starter turn over then? If so you have a bad main ground, it's pretty common and is something I always check and correct on older bikes. It helps getting a brighter headlight too...

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

hakko808 06-25-2008, 9:30 PM
Maybe I missed something along the way but it appears as if the bike overheated and at least partially siezed. Every symptom listed since seems to fit. Adding extra current from a car battery risks burning out the starter.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

DaveF 06-26-2008, 5:23 AM

Anonymous wrote:
If it kills over after jumping it odds R and I hate to say it but they"re notorious for it mine and my bro's had the same problem. The stators out Ouch. Pretty easy to do yourself we did ours with no experience just be patient

The bike is an 82 GL500 with the TI (not CDI) ignition. Since this stator only has charging windings, its failure will not cause the bike to stall after jumping unless the battery is weak or dead.

Just to clarify, there is normally nothing wrong with jumping the bike with a car battery. 12V is 12V no matter where it comes from; the current that flows depends upon the load present. A car battery is capable of delivering much more current than a motorcycle battery if the load demands it. The potential problem is when there is a malfunction (such as a partially siezed engine). If the load draws excessive current, the car battery will likely provide it.

Phil's test above checks for a partially siezed engine.

Sly Fox wrote:
...What areas would i be inspecting to see where the volts are being dropped? Start at the battery and then go on to the solenoid or what??...

Connect the negative lead of the voltmeter to the negative battery post and leave it there. Take the positive lead of the voltmeter and check in sequence the positive battery post, the positive battery cable terminal at the battery, the solenoid battery cable terminal, the solenoid starter cable terminal, the starter positive terminal, the negative battery cable terminal on the starter, and finally the negative battery cable terminal at the battery.

Do this while attempting to start so the circuit is complete. What you're doing is working your way through the series circuit from the most positive point (the battery positive post) to the most negative point (the negative battery post).

You'll see the measured voltage drop as you make your way through the circuit. If things are working properly, the major voltage drop should be across the starter itself.

My Home Page
1981 GL500I
1982 GL500I
1983 GL650I

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Anonymous 06-30-2008, 12:29 PM
Well I did all the test that i could today and I found out that my motor was very hard to turn by hand, but after i got it going it moved fairly easily. Upon freeing it up i tried to start the bike again and she turned over but wouldnt start. I sprayed starting fluid and gave it some throttle, she started up and ran while I was giving it gas. But when I released the throttle the bike stopped and wouldn't turn over again. I tried to turn it bu hand but it is completly seized. So how screwed am I?

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 06-30-2008, 12:32 PM
Sorry that was me i forgot to sign in

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

hakko808 06-30-2008, 5:09 PM
That depends on if you have a replacement motor handy. If not then I would think you are somewhat screwed. You may be able to find a motor with bad stator or one that has been stripped for parts and do some transfering.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

CXSarnia 07-01-2008, 6:01 AM
reading this thread, all seem to assume that the starter motor is functioning normally. The first "stalling" I can't account for, but I have experienced what the mechanic called a seized engine. Having been a responsible owner for years, with full maintenance done on time - every time, I couldn't believe that a normally operating engine would just seize. Turns out the starter motor had fried. The gears stayed engaged in the flywheel...and brought the motor to a halt. I'm not saying this IS the problem, but worth a check.

1979 CX500 Deluxe Newest ride in the fleet
1982 CB750K Daily rider September 1999
1982 CX500 Custom - project Originally bought April 1982 reacquired April 2006

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 07-01-2008, 7:51 AM
Well i'll try to get the starter out sometime this week....not sure what to look for as a sign of it being fried but will post results after it is removed

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

hakko808 07-01-2008, 3:40 PM
On a car this would make sense. On this bike the gear is always engaged. Just a sprag clutch between gear gear and rotor. Anything is possible though I guess.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 07-22-2008, 7:21 AM
Well here's an update, I took out the spark plugs and rotated the engine by hand from the front bolt. At first it wouldnt turn to the right, but it did turn to the left. It turned over freely until it reached a tight spot, but with a little more effort it continued to turn. So i replaced the spark plugs and attempted to start the bike. The stater engaged and it turned over but wouldnt crank. I used starting fluid to get it to start since it had been awhile sine the last start. It started while i held the throttle and once i released the throttle it ran for about 2 seconds then it stopped again, it made a slight click sound when it stopped. So is this something that I am going to need to tear into the engine for? I also used the wrong weight oil in my last oil change (5w-30), could this have caused my problem. Sorry about not posting about the oil before i just went back and looked at it when i got ready to change the oil in my car. Lol guess it could have been worse i could have put the motorcycle oil in the car....

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

WisconsinCX 07-22-2008, 7:47 AM
Something is binding your internals.

83 650 Silverwing Interstate Phoenix
81 Deluxe
80 Custom
78 Maggot
83 CB1100F yeah baby!!

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

dbarale 07-22-2008, 8:10 AM

Sly Fox wrote:
I also used the wrong weight oil in my last oil change (5w-30), could this have caused my problem.

Not good, it could really possibly be related. I can see how the oil pump would not work well with oil that's too fluid, especially in hot weather. This could cause oil starvation and major engine damage.
I'm afraid it may be time for a teardown.

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Ayal 07-24-2008, 6:22 PM
Before teardown, I suggest you consider the fan, because you mentioned both noise and overheating. Do you have the fan on the main axle like my 79 CX500? The fan may catch on the housing and interfere with engine rotation. If you have an electric fan, try disconnecting its leads and starting, maybe it shorts and eats up the power for the sparks. Good luck.

Strive to learn something new every day

Re: Bike Cut Off While Riding

Sly Fox 08-06-2008, 11:40 AM
Well I havent had time to get back to work on the bike so my grandfather took it to a mechanic and he said the engine was locked up like it had no oil, so i guess I should start looking for a new engine or part it out.....suggestions