My Baby shut down in mid flight.

[majicmaker]

On my way to MacDill AFB in Tampa to do a job from Sanford. It was running like a piece of silk until the engine cut off momentarily a few times in mid flight and then just shut down. I pulled over and it started just fine until it did it again 4 times and now it'll start just fine but, in a minute it shuts down again.

Got AAA coming to tow me to MacDill but I have to get it looked at by the local YAMAHA dealership when I'm done which is tomorrow because nothing is open on Mondays. I need some forum brain power to give me some suggestions at what it might be so I don't get hosed by the dealer. All suggestions will be most appreciated!

 

[ionbeam]

An abrupt shut-off is almost always electrical. There is the always popular, "Have you checked your battery terminals to see if they are tight?". Your FJR is in the group that had ignition switch issues, do you know if the ignition switch was replaced? Are there any diAG codes set? Did your odometer/clock reset? Did you see weird lights? Err, um, did you notice dash lights on that were improper?

You are da man for making the impossible fly again so there probably isn't much that we could suggest that you haven't already tried in the field. Any observables you can share with us?

Sorry to see that you are having a bad day. I assume that it was either blistering sun or drenching rain at the time...

 

[radiummadman]

thank your lucky stars, the FJR BrainSquad will save your ***.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Did you ever have the ignition recall done?

 

[ionbeam]

thank your lucky stars, the FJR BrainSquad will save your ***.

Hey, if I can help get his bike running again he may buy me a drink at EOM

 

[RossKean]

In approximate order of likelihood:

Sidestand switch

Ignition switch

Spider bite

Kill switch (dirty)

Fuel pump (is the cutoff abrupt?)

Have a nice day!!

 

[AtoBthruS]

majicmaker - where are you?
Gary

 

[majicmaker]

Mr Ionbeam, my battery terminals are always clean and tight. No error codes on the dash and the odo did not reset itself to "0". I'm on my third ignition switch but, having that go out on me twice before, I'm thinking in that direction. I highly suspect the ignition switch. Thanks you for the help. You too, Radiummadman. :yes:

The tow truck should be arriving shortly. I'm 91 miles from the AFB and I will be able to knock that out at least. This is Aviation!! I've had much worse happen to me while on my way to a job. This one looks like a piece of cake.

 

[majicmaker]

Mr Ionbeam, my battery terminals are always clean and tight. No error codes on the dash and the odo did not reset itself to "0". I'm on my third ignition switch but, having that go out on me twice before, I'm thinking in that direction. I highly suspect the ignition switch. Thanks you for the help. You too, Radiummadman. :yes: The tow truck should be arriving shortly. I'm 91 miles from the AFB and I will be able to knock that out at least. This is Aviation!! I've had much worse happen to me while on my way to a job. This one looks like a piece of cake.

I'm on Hwy 417 in the shade (Thank God) directly under the Lake Nona Blvd overpass. I know where Mt Dora is. That's waaaay to far to be of any help. Much appreciated though!

 

[NTXFJR]

When the engine dies, do the instruments or headlights die too, or is it just the engine? That would shorten the list of possibilities.

 

[majicmaker]

The instrument lights stay on when it dies. The headlights stay on too. All is normal when it dies. Other than the pesky shutting off part.

 

[RossKean]

The instrument lights stay on when it dies.

...and no spiderly oddities such as high beam light, both signal indicators on, non-functioning windshield mechanism etc.?

 

[majicmaker]

The instrument lights stay on when it dies.

...and no spiderly oddities such as high beam light, both signal indicators on, non-functioning windshield mechanism etc.?

Nope! All is normal when it dies. I can start it right up but, in a minute or so, it dies again.

 

[ionbeam]

You did look at the gas gauge...

Regardless of gear, did it die around the same rpm range?

There sure are a lot of things which are right. With the dash lights correct and the odometer not resetting pretty much lets out the battery and makes the ignition switch and spiders unlikely. The sidestand switch move up the list of suspects. It may be getting closer to needing to wiggle the harnesses and see if it dies.

More basic things which I'm sure you have taken into consideration -- have you recently done anything to your motorcycle such as farkling or maintenance?

I'll go out on a limb and guess that it's not related to a clutch switch and you didn't try to restart the engine by popping the clutch on that fancy AE of yours.

 

[majicmaker]

Gas tank is full. It shut down in every rpm range. I keep starting it up and it fires right up with no problem but, in a minute or so it shuts down again. I keep my lube joints clean and lubricated regularly. This has me baffled. I guess I'll find out what it is soon enough. Still waiting for the tow. I think I'll give them a holla.

 

[NTXFJR]

Good point on the side stand switch, with the stand down and bike in neutral, does it still cut out, or is it only when in gear? To an earlier post, does the engine die quickly and solidly or is it kind of sputtering and acting like it's running out of fuel?

 

[ionbeam]

...It shut down in every rpm range. it fires right up with no problem but, in a minute or so it shuts down again...

And there goes the possibility of a bad TPS. Shuts down -- like a light switch turning off or with a sputter or misfire.

Edit: I see NTXFJR was asking the same question while I was typing.

 

[majicmaker]

It shuts off like a light switch. It does it with the side stand down in neutral. I can start it anytime I want but, in a minute it shuts down again.

 

[majicmaker]

Still waiting for the AAA. They dropped me off their radar on this issue and I've been here for three hours in 100 degree heat. Someone is supposedly on there way now and when this is all over, some one there is going to get an earful from yours truly! I'm pissed.