sudden loss of power at speed

[BigLou]

Howdy all. My GK has developed a annoying problem today.

While riding along, it just "dies" for 1-2 seconds, them comes back to life and runs fine, till it does it again. Speed/RPMs dont seem to matter much.

Its almost like someone hits the kill switch, then turns it back on.

Any advice on where to start?

[chef1366]

I'd start checking fuel flow through the petcock.

[Mysuzyq]

Gas tank venting too (through the cap).
Tony.

[tkent02]

I was thinking coils, or power to them being interupted. Maybe the coils fail intermittently when they get hot? Wait, it's not likely to be both coils, I'd look for a connection problem. Could be anywhere in the circuit through through the ignition switch, to the kill switch to the ignition. Two seconds is too short for a fuel flow or venting problem to fix itself, and the switch off, switch on you describe sounds more like something electrical. All four cylinders would not die and come back alive again at exactly the same instant if it were fuel related.

[hikermikem]

As others as alluding to, sounds like a fuel supply issue. Is there a fuel filter on the line?

Check the vacuum line to the petcock as well...

[doctorgonzo]

I agree with TKENT02. I am actually having a similar issue I have to tear into when I get home. Intermittent short in the RH control. Sometimes you hit the starter button and no click at the coil, other times works fine, then day before yesterday first instance of the short killing the whole bike. Took RH control apart and sprayed with electronics cleaner, to no good effect, tonight is check wiring under tank, then maybe tear whole switch apart.

[Kaiser Sosei]

I second, or maybe third checking the kill switch. The one one my 1100 starting getting flaky and would do similar things as you described. I bypassed it until i could get a replacement.

[TheCafeKid]

I suffered the same problem with my 1100ES. Once nearly killing me. Check the orange/white main power feed from the ignition switch where it goes into the fuse block. Often times and especially if the charging system has suffered for long periods of time the wires get so hot that the connector melts around the pin for that wire and the connection becomes intermittant. AFTER you source the cause (ie fix your charging system) shoot a little plastic epoxy resin into the connector block and it fixed mine up just fine.

[BigLou]

Thanks guys, I too was thinking electrical.

I am replacing the coils tommorow anyway, and the original stockers are still on, and one plug wire on each coil is cracked.

I will chase the wires from the RH switch gear while I am at it.

Thanks again.

[BigLou]

Thanks for the advice guys, Just a follow up.

It was the kill switch in the RH controls, it was all corroded. I have cleaned it the best I could, seems to be ok for now. I may have to replace it or some of the internals if they can be bought seperately.

Thanks again

Lou

[tkent02]

If you cleaned it good enough it should last another twenty or thirty years or so.