Bike won't restart after running when it gets hot

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Crockagater, Aug 11, 2016.

  1. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    Hi all, I have been a creeper on here on and off, since getting my 2007 about 2 years ago , and am now a member. I have learned a lot, and love the forum.
    My ride (VFR) is an '07 with 2008 grey paint, single smoked zero gravity fairing, road 4 tires, a competition werkes tag bracket/fender eliminator, k&n filter, Delkevic exhaust, and a black Honda rear seat cover that the tab broke off of.
    I am having a strange issue, that I haven't seen on here yet, and maybe someone has had or has seen a post of the same type of thing. I bought the bike with 35k on it, and it now has 41k. Last year I started having electrical issues, blown and melted starter solenoids, and related weirdness, which I found out on here is pretty common. (On my 3rd one now) I had the stator replaced along with the rectifer, (the stator was black inside!) and the melted wire was replaced with a thicker guage. I bought a new battery also, before I had that done. Everything was solid after the work until a few weeks ago. I noticed the bike was hot, but temp guage said 230 ish, so it wasn't super hot. But then it wouldn't start after riding for a while, like the battery was dead, and after a few tries of nothing it started. Another day starting cold, the temp was going up fast after starting, and went to 235 and over in just a few minutes. Next day, I added distilled water, as it was a little low, to top line, and rode it. It went up slower, but still up to about 230's. I turned it off, to let it cool, and again no start when hot, had to get it jumped.
    Today, I got a new battery, it started up great, ran great, didn't go over 226,( fan was coming on still) (it's 91 and humid today) and I stopped at Autozone to get some injector cleaner, and when I hit the kill switch, the temp guage shot up to 235 (it showed 225 when I stopped) and I tried to restart with no luck. I went in, got my stuff, came out and turned the bike on, and it hesitated to start, reading 226, and then fired up. Ran fine, got home, and when I hit the switch again, the temp guage spiked again and wouldn't restart when I tried.
    I am lost, have no idea how to start tracking this down. My only thought was either using a coolant additive or replacing the thermostat. Coolant looks good, but It hasn't been changed since I got it. My mechanic friends said if it looks ok, it should be fine.
    Any help would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. blackvfr

    blackvfr New Member

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    What octane gas are you using?
     
  3. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    I run 93 almost exclusively, since it is only 4-5 gallons. Occasionally I will run regular if I am topping off, or such, but haven't used that in quite a while.
     
  4. blackvfr

    blackvfr New Member

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    I have heard that these motors run hotter under higher octane. Try dropping down to mid grade or even regular for a while. I use mid grade the highest I've seen was 222 in traffic.
     
  5. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    Thanks for the tip. I'll try it. Any ideas about the temp gauge going crazy when I shut it off?
     
  6. blackvfr

    blackvfr New Member

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    Not sure if these bikes have a temperature sensor that relays that info to the temp gauge or not but I would start there. If there is such a thing it may have gone bad. I've only been riding mine for about six months. I don't want to send you on a wild goose chase. I'm sure someone will have a definitive answer for ya soon, some good folks in this forum.
     
  7. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    VFR's run best on regular gas. The owner's manual says to use regular and they're right on that. The first thing I would do is get rid of the high octane gas. I doubt if gas is your problem but when you do find the problem use regular.
     
  8. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    I downloaded the pdf manual since I don't have one, and I read that it takes 86. Who knew? Thanks, I am going to burn up this tank and switch. I am going to try a new thermostat and replacing the coolant. Hopefully that will help. No one seems to have heard of the gauge shooting up with the use of the kill switch.
     
  9. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    It isn't fuel, an electrical gremlin is starting to take hold and being intermittent is near impossible to trace till it actually fails. Unplug and reconnect every connector in the loom and see if this improves things
     
  10. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    I agree with Norm, this is an electrical problem, octane has nothing to do with it.
    I recommend checking out your earth block to start with.
     
  11. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Start with the crappy connection on the left side. I'm also going with electrical especially as you say you are on your 3rd ! Suspect that when you had your electrical issues you didn't sort out the earthing block on the front
     
  12. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    It sounds electrical. I suggest you do the drill to check the state of your charging system - fuel injected bikes don't play well with low battery volts.

    http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/39277-How-to-fix-common-regulator-Stator-failures?

    (yes the thread began for 5th gen bikes but many 6th Gens have encountered similar issues and the same testing process applies).

    See post # 9. Do the tests twice - once with the bike cold and then repeat asap after the bike has been on a 30minute plus ride - to make sure things electrical are hot. Sometimes stuff tests OK when cold but insulation in stator windings and diodes in the RR can start to break down when hot and instead of charging the battery they start to drain it. I suspect your RR is dying and the battery is not being recharged fully hence it is unhappy starting up when it is hot.

    PS You may not have spotted it but the VFR manual suggests you only use the kill switch to turn these bikes off in an emergency - normally you should turn the bike off using the key!


    Good luck - let us know how you get on.



    SkiMad
     
  13. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    Thanks everyone! This is why we love these bikes, right?! :smug: I will start with these and go from there. A new symptom has reared it's head, sometimes when the bike won't restart, if I put the kickstand up, it does. Don't know if the safety is going bad too, or just part of something else. Other times, nothing. Even in neutral and with the clutch in. So far, this starter relay is gtg. I filled the plug with dielectric to keep moisture out and it seems to be helping. I also heard that using a multimeter on the r/r will give me an idea if it is overcharging. Good places to start. Thanks for all the tips, I will get to it and if I figure it out, will post up. Also, I had not seen the kill switch warning. Will have to see if my switch is going bad.
     
  14. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Before you start thinking that a multimeter on the R/R is a good idea to see if it is overcharging, it would be a good idea to read skidmads post above, it explains what you need to do. Next thing to do is remove the dielectric grease from inside the plug
     
  15. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    I don't know how i missed that. Thanks. He mentions that one of the causes is moisture, which i wouldn't doubt played some part in frying my starter solenoid, as the bike stays outside, and is in Fl. I was under the impression that dielectric grease keeps moisture out. I'll go over his link again, and see if it helps with my bike.
    Appreciate you, thanks!
     
  16. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    The dielectric grease will keep the moisture out of the connector, but it is not good across the pins in the terminal
     
  17. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    So. The dialectic /tune up grease is bad when you give a liberal squirt into you spark plug boot? Do you believe in using anything on the threads of spark plugs? Not threadjacking hopefully :thumbsup:
     
  18. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Whats Mick Doo ing
     
  19. Crockagater

    Crockagater New Member

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    You threadjacker, you. Lol. I too am curious about that.
     
  20. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Having a pretty good time I would imagine
     
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