VMAX dies on me!

[texas-ss-tornado]

95 VMAX, recent project, first "extended" ride after replacing a bad stator cover gasket, which is no longer leaking but...........got a few miles down the road, running up through the gears, not "hard", but about 6K rpm in 2nd gear and the bike just DIES...........backfires a couple times, and then slowly comes to a halt. Turns over fine, but apparently, not getting any spark. I'm guessing it's electrical, what do you guys think? CDI? Is there a main fuse? I think the CDI is behind the left hand scoop, I have a spare and will try that first and check the fuses, any opinions? Thanks ahead of time for any helpful hints, I've also got a 90 model and it has NEVER left me stranded, luckily, I was only a few miles away from home so I didn't have far to trailer it home!

 

[Damon]

When you changed your stator cover gasket did you remove the middle-gear cover also? If not you might have damaged the crank-trigger sensor wires @ the point where the wires exit the stator cover. Removing the stator cover without removing the middle-gear cover can be very difficult without causing damage to the sensor & stator wires.

 

[maxcruiser]

Damon makes a good point, also check side stand switch, kill switch too.

Mike

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

Damon makes a good point, also check side stand switch, kill switch too.

Mike

Well, it wasn't the CDI, so I guess I will keep troubleshooting, keep the ideas rolling! Thanks guys!

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

I was very careful when removing the stator cover and it appears the wiring to the crank trigger is OK, no outward sign of damage. I've played with the side stand kill switch a bit and I don't see any problem there, although I have a replacement from a parts bike I can slap on there. Any other electrical relays or fuses that could cause this no spark condition?

 

[PATMAX]

Hey there TT, I guess you found out the CDI wasn't under a scoop by now. Well, if you are sitting on your bike, you take off the left scoop and behind the steering downtube and in front of your CDI sits a little black one inch square relay that sits in a little rubber sleeve on it's side with a small harness to it. One lead is colored the same as one of the wires that go to each coil. I think they are white with a red tracer stripe. Because of it's location, that can catch water if they are not sealed/glued together completely. Pull the one from the bike your parting and switch em' out see if that does it. Patmax

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

Hey there TT, I guess you found out the CDI wasn't under a scoop by now. Well, if you are sitting on your bike, you take off the left scoop and behind the steering downtube and in front of your CDI sits a little black one inch square relay that sits in a little rubber sleeve on it's side with a small harness to it. One lead is colored the same as one of the wires that go to each coil. I think they are white with a red tracer stripe. Because of it's location, that can catch water if they are not sealed/glued together completely. Pull the one from the bike your parting and switch em' out see if that does it. Patmax

Nope, tried swapping that one, no glory. Tried replacing the clutch and sidestand switches, no love. I'm really now starting to think it maybe is related to the pick up coils, but like I said, when I replaced the stator cover gasket, I was very careful with that wiring, and it looks OK from the outside. Are the pickup coils under the middle gear cover?

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

What about the pick-up coil control unit? It's accessible now that I have the bike all torn apart, looks easy enough to swap out, maybe I will try that one for grins. Funny, I've had my 90 VMAX for 5 years now, and haven't had to tear into the electricals ONE TIME! I'm learning all kinds of new stuff! Searching eBay is a good way to learn what WTF kind of electrical devices are on this thing!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-Y...370417409832?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories

 

[Rhoy Carter]

Swapping electrical componants from an earlier model withe the 90 model may not work, the 90 model is the year the electrics was changed. Try getting a late model relay and try that swap Patmax could still be right.

 

[Rhoy Carter]

OOPS I misread the year model bikes that you have

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

OOPS I misread the year model bikes that you have

I'm swapping parts from a 92 to this 95, and they all looked identical so far!

 

[satariel666]

What about the pick-up coil control unit? It's accessible now that I have the bike all torn apart, looks easy enough to swap out, maybe I will try that one for grins. Funny, I've had my 90 VMAX for 5 years now, and haven't had to tear into the electricals ONE TIME! I'm learning all kinds of new stuff! Searching eBay is a good way to learn what WTF kind of electrical devices are on this thing!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-Y...370417409832?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories

Its the v- boost controler, as far as I know they were the same trough all years.
IMHO the v-boost will never make that problems that You have.

You have the 90' so its supouse to be NEWER digital ignition. How many pickup coils did You have under the stator cover?
Or try to get number form TCI unit and its located under neck covers/under the gauge cluster.

I think You problem may be related with pickup coil. You will find some very nasty crimps on the wires from pickup coil. The crimps are located under the middle drive gear cover. You need to strip the isolation from the pickup coil wire.
Firstble remove Your seat and try to find the connector with 2 wires, black and orange. You may also check the resistance of pickup coil by the same time.
Good luck.

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

OK, so I go out this morning to start working at it again. First thing I did was get a flashlight and look at the wiring coming out of the stator cover, going down into the middle gear cover. From the top side, didn't see any problem. Get under the bike and notice there is still some leftover oil under there from the stator cover leak, get in there and run my hands across the wires that live under the middle gear cover, they have some leftover oil on them for sure, but no breaks or splices that I can feel. Anyway, for grins, I go and hit the starter button and VROOM! Starts right up. So now, I feel I have isolated the problem, but not sure "how" to fix it. Do you think I should pull the middle gear cover to better gain access to those wires and clean everything up? Maybe once I get that cover off I will actually be able to see the problem with the wiring, could it just be "oil soaked", causing a bad connection? Thanks for the help guys, feel like I'm almost there! Thanks!

 

[satariel666]

OK, so I go out this morning to start working at it again. First thing I did was get a flashlight and look at the wiring coming out of the stator cover, going down into the middle gear cover. From the top side, didn't see any problem. Get under the bike and notice there is still some leftover oil under there from the stator cover leak, get in there and run my hands across the wires that live under the middle gear cover, they have some leftover oil on them for sure, but no breaks or splices that I can feel. Anyway, for grins, I go and hit the starter button and VROOM! Starts right up. So now, I feel I have isolated the problem, but not sure "how" to fix it. Do you think I should pull the middle gear cover to better gain access to those wires and clean everything up? Maybe once I get that cover off I will actually be able to see the problem with the wiring, could it just be "oil soaked", causing a bad connection? Thanks for the help guys, feel like I'm almost there! Thanks!

Just I expected.

It wont hurt(only two gaskets) to take off the stator cover and MDG cover and inspect carefuly wires form pickup coil.
I think Your pickup wires crimps are full of green.
Time to solder them.

You may try to replace pickup coil wires with good shielded 2 wire cable.
I've done that and most defo engine runs much smother on idle now.
No need tho, just If ya want to.

I think in most pickup coils problems, people use to think that PC goes bad.
I never saw any bad pickup, just some mechanicly damaged but never fried one or so.
Im not an expert, I cant say that Im reparing those engines for 20 years but I think
in 90% cases PC's are good, wires are just bad.

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

Sounds like a plan, but do I really have to take the stator cover off again too? Will the middle gear cover come off without the stator cover coming off again? Reason I asked, I just put a new gasket on the stator cover, it was leaking from the previous owner who had a shop replace the stator, and now that I have FIXED the oil leak, I'd hate to have to pull that same cover off again. I will if it's necessary, just wanted to be sure. Thanks for the info!

 

[satariel666]

Theoreticly You dont need to however, You may have to.
Depends how those wires are placed. Its also more comfy to do that without
stator cover.

I say pull the mdg cover first, then see if you have good acces to wires.
If not then pull the stator cover.

Good luck :thumbs up:


I obligate You to post us the results or the Mod Monkey will get ya :rofl_200: