Died on the first ride. :(

[Buzzz]

Hi Guys,

Today I purchased a 2008 Rocket III with around 15K miles. The bike is amazingly clean and taken care of. On the way home, I stopped to fill up about 20 minutes from where I bought it. After filling up, the bike started fine and went dead. Really dead. The horn is all that worked. No headlights, tach lights or speedo lights. I pulled the main fuse and let it sit for a minute and it started and ran fine. The ride home was about 50 miles with a friend following behind in his pickup. On the interstate, the engine died 4 different times running about 75-80mph. It would shut off for a second then come back on. The gauges would cycle over and back like I'd just turned the key on then it would run fine. I finally made it home safely and the bike sat for a couple hours and now its completely dead again. Only the horn works. I'm sure i'm not the only one who's had this problem and was wondering if anyone has had the same issues and can point me in the right direction. I LOVE this bike and refuse to take it back to the guy I bought it from. Any help would be much appreciated.

Buzz

 

[cadconversions]

Welcome to the forum and sorry for your luck...

Look up "Eastern Beaver Mod" and see if that sounds like the issue you might be having. Basically the ignition switch is a known defect - might be your issue??? Others that are much more knowledgeable will be along shortly.

 

[CanberraR3]

Sure sounds like the ignition switch. You could try the connector under the tank from the switch. Pull it apart and look at the terminals, put it back together with a wiggle.

 

[scot in exile]

At least your horn must be an upgrade for you cannot hear the stock horn

 

[skydog1000]

Mine did the same thing it is your ignition switch. I would be going 70 or 80 mph and it would die or going 2 mph and it would die. You need to get a new ignition switch and a eastern beaver switch. This will fix the problem. Call the Mexican at midnight and tell him you will be there in 10 minutes and he will have you all fixed up in 30 minutes.

 

[ruzzle]

Ignition switch. The main feed wire (white?) to the switch will have got hot, lost its flexibility, wriggled around with steering movement, and cracked the solder joint on to the underneath of the switch. Contacts sometimes, sometimes not.

Fix it and fit headlight relays as mentioned to take the current away from that wire.

Common in pre-'09 models.

 

[Big Marty]

Ignition switch. The main feed wire (white?) to the switch will have got hot, lost its flexibility, wriggled around with steering movement, and cracked the solder joint on to the underneath of the switch. Contacts sometimes, sometimes not.

Fix it and fit headlight relays as mentioned to take the current away from that wire.

Common in pre-'09 models.

G'day Ruzzle;

not just the pre 2009 models mate still happening in 2010

 

[Evil Mitch]

It will either be your ignition switch or a loose plug under the tank mate
Fire her up and turn bars from lock to lock to see if its pulling on anything then lift tank ."just remove seat and bearclaw and the one screw up behind the gauges and she will lift . turn ignition on and wiggle plugs.
Dont be to concerned mate at worse it will be ignition switch and she will be good as new once fixed

 

[Buzzz]

Thanks for all the help guys. I read on the forum for hours last night and found all the problems with the ignition switch. What I haven't been able to find is pictures showing how to remove the switch. I'm gonna try to fix the wire myself and order the eb kit. If anyone knows where a "how to" is, that would be awesome.

Cheers,
Buzz

 

[Mittzy]

G'day Ruzzle;

not just the pre 2009 models mate still happening in 2010

Marty., my 2010 R3R had a warranty recall for the head light relay, yours should have also.
Check with dealer.