Help!!! I hope someone can help. The love of my life is poorly. I'm the proud owner of a 2003 Hinckley built, Carb model, 790cc Bonneville. I tasked myself in maintaining it to the high standards previous owners have. It is in amazing condition (....not perfect but..!!!) & now, has now travelled 13000miles, 5000 of those miles with me. The problem I have now is that the engine will simply cut out dead with no warning. Sometimes, i can travel 1/2mile down the road, other times 5miles. When left for 5-10mins, it'll re-start & continue as though nothing happened for another 1/2 or 10miles. With its latest episode, I managed to determine no spark at the plugs! From advice on other posts, I've replaced the Ignition Pick Up Sensor & the Ignition Coil. I've checked the Clutch Switch & Side Stand Switch & both seem to function correctly. I'm now at the point where I suspect the Ignition Control Unit is suspect. But it costs a fortune & before I purchase any advice will be gratefully recieved. Can they be tested?? Has anyone got a spare I can borrow to substitute to check??
Hi & thankyou for your thoughts & yes, I'm sure the carbs are filling ok. On the last occasion it cut out, I managed to remove a plug & no spark!! 10-mins later it started sparking again! In my own mind, having replaced the Pick-up sensor & the coil, I'm sure its the ignition control unit. I'm looking at the TTP Firestarter unit. Anyone had any experience with that unit?
It is likely the Ignition Control Module. If you get the part number from it you could check eBay, there are a number of bike breakers on there.
Hi, Thanks for your idea. I've got the Part Number & looked on ebay. Quite a few I.C.M.'s but typically, none with my Part Number. I think I'll just have to take the hit & buy a new one! Also, those I looked at on ebay were very expensive for a 2nd hand electronic unit, no guarantee & no history!
If you have changed the PU sensor and the coil, then the ignition module is the likely culprit. Do you have a tach on your bike? If so, look at the RPMs next time it cuts out, with the engine still turning over but no power, if the needle is at zero then it is likely that.
Thanks for the info on the Tacho & yes, my bike has one. Previously, when cutting out, its not anything that I noticed or looked for. I have ordered a new ignition module so hopefully, it'll fix the problem. When fitted & tested, I'll update this post.
Thanks for the info on the Tacho & yes, my bike has one. Previously, when cutting out, its not anything that I noticed or looked for. I have ordered a new ignition module so hopefully, it'll fix the problem. When fitted & tested, I'll update this post.
Well!!! Fitted new Ignition control unit & still the same problem! Anybody know what the Diode Pack is fitted & whether this could be the culprit & whether I can test it? It's definitely an electrical issue as when it cuts out, there isn't any spark at the plugs but having changed the Ignition module, Pick up coil & Ignition Coil, what else is there??
It sounds like it is electrical, did you check to see that when it cuts out and the engine is still spinning if the tach drops to zero? Check all connectors under the saddle to ensure that they are fully engaged. How long does it need to cool down before it restarts? The diode pack is located under the tank, taped into the wiring harness and can be difficult to see. These rarely give problems.
Afraid I didn't catch sight of the Tacho when it cuts out. The time it takes to recover such that it restarts seems to vary a bit but it is getting longer & I suspect that the time it takes before it cuts out is getting shorter. As you suggest, I'll have a closer look at the connectors. I checked the operation of the clutch switch but I'm not sure now if I checked it when it had the fault or if it had recovered! I'll check it again when i'm certain it has the fault. Many thanks for your help & suggestions & it is good to talk to some one who has some experience with these things.
If you suspect the sidestand switch, you can find the connector for it and jumper the connections on the harness side. There is another way that involves grounding wire No. 9 at the control module plug but I don't know if that is just for the starter circuit or not. I will try to find out.
Yes, have put a link in on the sidestand switch & still no spark at plug so I'm sure that, at least is ok.
Have you checked the kill switch - my other bike is a fireblade and on that forum it’s a known weak point. Regularly a post comes up on bikes not starting and a good blast with contact cleaner (or WD40) in the switch block on the handlebar, combined with multiple operations of the switch resolves things.