Hi all, hopefully someone can help... I have a 97 Electra glide with 42k. All stock. After I ride for 10-12 miles, it dies out. Won't turn over, unless I remove the plugs. After I pull the plugs and spin it over I can reinstall the plugs and it fires up and keeps going. I don't see any fuel leaks in the tank lines (inside the tank) nor do I have any check engine light or codes. Just before the bike dies, it starts running poorly, as if it's starved of fuel. It seems to be running hot and possibly lean (plugs are white and the pipes glow cherry red off the heads) not sure where to start on this one...

 

check and see if you have a vacum leak to your petcock, if you have the stock vacum petcock and the line is leaking, the valve will not operate correctly and this symptom can happen. check for other vacum leaks as well while you are at it.
m

 

Not very familiar with the vacuum operated petcock, but that sure sounds like leaning out and fuel starved. How is the tank vented to atmosphere? Next time it starts to die, loosen the gas cap. if it runs normal you found the problem.

 

I did run it with the cap loose... for about 10 miles. Then it died. I'll look into the petcock and vac leaks, but loosening the gas cap has no affect. Thank you for your insight!

 

If the headpipe is red, the exhaust valves are very hot also.
If not the petcock, the ignition could be the culprit.
Scott

 

Investigated a little further, no problems with the petcock or vacuum lines. The ignition wiring appears to be fine, ignition works as it should and I don't see any evidence of an issue. This thing is killing me... Anyone have any ideas on what else I could look for?

 

What you are describing is typical of the Elect. Ign. unit gone bad ( carb engine )

Engine start just great -- warms up can't keep it running low RPM shuts off --- Engine cools off appox 1/2hr -- engine starts just fine till the heat returns then shuts off .
Over and over again till you change the Ing module

ebay --$125 -- Ultima #53644 --fits in the Cam nose cone -- all factory stuff goes to trash ( Recheck the part # )

 

Your bike is av Evo, correct? I think the next thing to look for is if younare loosing spark once it gets warmed up,,,,,the timer pick up plate in the nose cone of the cam cover falis and has this symptom,,,,,the time it takes for you to pull the plugs and spin it might give it enough time to cool off and work again....
Get the bike warmed up till it quits, then immediately check and see ifnyou have spark or it went away....if it went away, you know its ignition,,,,,,the take the timer covre off, get it hot till it quits, then try to quick cool the sensor,,,safest way is probably blowing on it with compressed air,,,then try it and see if it tuns again...if so or if the sensor looks melted down, replace it set timing, best to mark it prioir to removal, then have fun!
M

 

As marcodarq said about marking
With the Ultima --mark the 'V' notch for adjusting very good and replace exactly where the old notch was -- will fire right up and run , but still need to double check timing

 

Yes, it's an EVO EFI. I'm 99% sure I replaced the ignition module last season. Doesn't exclude it, but I only managed a couple hundred miles last season and less this year. I'll do some more looking tomorrow. Thanks again for the help, I'll take all I can get!