Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Results 1 to 3 of 3

Vulcan 1600 Fuel Injected - sputtering and stalling, first ride after winter

  1. #1

    Vulcan 1600 Fuel Injected - sputtering and stalling, first ride after winter

    It's a fuel injected bike (no carbs, no float bowls), and the gas in it is 6 months old. I charged the battery, mostly for good practice (the battery charger showed that took charge fine and was healthy). I started the bike after winter and it fired right up. I rode it around the block, and it felt a little bit different, but I could not pinpoint what it was. I warmed it up and rode it down the freeway for a couple of miles, at which point it started what felt like e misfiring and sounded like backfires. I pulled off the freeway and topped of the tank with some fresh gas. At this point the bike had trouble starting and would stall at idle. As I was riding it back home things got progressively worse, it would stall every time I roll off the throttle. The bike stalled a few times, but I was able to restart it by opening up throttle about 1/3 to half-way and hitting the starter. It ran at a little less than half throttle, but stalled if I closed it.

    Last summer it hesitated to start once or twice, but started fine later, so I never figured it out.


    I have tow working theories:

    1. Charging system problem. When the voltage drops below 12.5 on these the ECU freaks out and the bike runs like crap. Should be easy enough to check, I'll charge the battery overnight and if the bike starts and runs fine tomorrow morning, I know it's a charging system issue.

    2. A legitimate problem with either spark or fuel. Since the bike sat all winter, it could be an electrical issue, but I doubt it because initially it started and ran fine. It could also be a legitimate fuel system issue, like fuel pump going bad. I think it's less likely, because in my experience fuel pumps usually (not always) fail completely and cause no running at all.

    Any ideas on what to look for are welcome. I have no clue how to pull the codes on these (I have lots of car OBDII gear, never needed it for bikes until now). Is there a DIY-friendly option for bikes?

    Also, any recommendations for motorcycle repair shops in the Bedord/Burlington area would be appreciated. If there is a really good shop outside of the area, I'd like to know that too. Unless the root cause turns out to be a charging problem, I am renting a u-haul trailer and bringing it to the shop on a trailer.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,518

    Re: Vulcan 1600 Fuel Injected - sputtering and stalling, first ride after winter

    Open the airbox, see if the mouse nest is now in the throttle bodies?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3

    Re: Vulcan 1600 Fuel Injected - sputtering and stalling, first ride after winter

    What Josh said. Check air filter area and airbox

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Similar Threads

  1. For Sale - Motorcycles | 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1600, 12.5K miles
    By juha_teuvonnen in forum For Sale
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-10-21, 03:33 PM
  2. KTM fuel injected 2-strokes due in May
    By typeone in forum Dirty Bastards
    Replies: 53
    Last Post: 11-15-20, 02:56 AM
  3. Fuel Injected SRAD Keeps Dying
    By Garrett in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 09-07-18, 10:41 PM
  4. For Sale - Motorcycles | 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600
    By RyanNicholson in forum For Sale
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-16-16, 11:27 AM
  5. Help: Bike sputtering/stalling when moving from a stop
    By keeena in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-21-04, 01:49 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •