Help with Stalling Issue

SARider

New member
Hi All and Happy New year, good riding in the Southern Hemisphere and hope the winter in the Northern side of the world is short.
Need some collective wisdom please - bike is a 2009 version with only 6,000kms on the clock, rode at the end of last Summer/Autumn - June 2016 down here, and all was OK.
Had a lay-off with injury for a few months. Washed the bike ready for a ride in January it started, and off we went - grand. 10kms in it stalled. Started again, then stalled (few times) got going and struggled back home.
Figured first it would be the 'old spark plug cap issue' - so rang my dealer, he checked and they were done by the first owner in 2011 - to be sure I ordered some more and replaced them with NGK's. Fitted those ok but still stalling (will stall from tickover) - sits on 1100 rpm fine - misses a beat or two then stalls. I can get it back to my dealer, but that is 90 mins ride away - so looking for any ideas or where I could look to check for issues I can resolve.
Thanks guys and galls:)
 

ridenotwalk

New member
Can be the oil level sensor/switch failing or reading that the oil is low.
It can also be (so I found out) a bad connection at the battery or a battery on it's way out/not holding charge very well.

Check your oil level and top it up to spot on the max mark (a little over won't matter but not heaps over)
Have the battery checked (load tested) and also make sure the battery connections are nice and tight plus clean as a babies bum.
If you can't get the battery tested, give it a good charge with a multi stage charger (if you can) so that it'll float charge the battery overnight or longer at low amps.

Hope that all helps but if not it could be the oil level sensor/switch itself
 

Gizmo

Active member
Site Suporter
Hi All and Happy New year, good riding in the Southern Hemisphere and hope the winter in the Northern side of the world is short.
Need some collective wisdom please - bike is a 2009 version with only 6,000kms on the clock, rode at the end of last Summer/Autumn - June 2016 down here, and all was OK.
Had a lay-off with injury for a few months. Washed the bike ready for a ride in January it started, and off we went - grand. 10kms in it stalled. Started again, then stalled (few times) got going and struggled back home.
Figured first it would be the 'old spark plug cap issue' - so rang my dealer, he checked and they were done by the first owner in 2011 - to be sure I ordered some more and replaced them with NGK's. Fitted those ok but still stalling (will stall from tickover) - sits on 1100 rpm fine - misses a beat or two then stalls. I can get it back to my dealer, but that is 90 mins ride away - so looking for any ideas or where I could look to check for issues I can resolve.
Thanks guys and galls:)

Did you say that you 'washed the bike' before taking her out? I wonder IF you got some water intrusion into the bike! From what you said prior, the bike was running fine before you got laid it up. I kinda lean towards 'something' happened after June 2016 and it just might be 'human intervention.' Check to see IF you knocked 'something loose' while you washed the bike. VERY interested in finding out what happened!
 

dndom

Member
Stalling

Contaminated cut off switch?
The fault indicator should flash if components are failing, number of flashes?
 

SARider

New member
Did you say that you 'washed the bike' before taking her out? I wonder IF you got some water intrusion into the bike! From what you said prior, the bike was running fine before you got laid it up. I kinda lean towards 'something' happened after June 2016 and it just might be 'human intervention.' Check to see IF you knocked 'something loose' while you washed the bike. VERY interested in finding out what happened!
Interesting observation and the first time I have pressure washed the bike...it was and has always run perfectly before that. Have used WD40 wherever I can, but any water should have dried out now - had a few days at 40 degrees c so water doesn't survive (let alone humans). Thanks SARider
 

SARider

New member
Contaminated cut off switch?
The fault indicator should flash if components are failing, number of flashes?
No flashes at all - it thinks its happy! Will check that switch - strange thing, I noted this am - runs ok on first starting while the choke is on and running a little faster - when that cuts outs and it falls back to idle speed the hiccups start and it soon stalls. Cheers SARider
 

SARider

New member
Can be the oil level sensor/switch failing or reading that the oil is low.
It can also be (so I found out) a bad connection at the battery or a battery on it's way out/not holding charge very well.

Check your oil level and top it up to spot on the max mark (a little over won't matter but not heaps over)
Have the battery checked (load tested) and also make sure the battery connections are nice and tight plus clean as a babies bum.
If you can't get the battery tested, give it a good charge with a multi stage charger (if you can) so that it'll float charge the battery overnight or longer at low amps.

Hope that all helps but if not it could be the oil level sensor/switch itself
Thanks for that idea - connected to charger now - its a battery minder so will leave on for a day or two (I usually leave that connected in the winter) Cheers SARider
 

ridenotwalk

New member
Another couple of ideas before doing too much intrusive type of work.

How old is the fuel. If it's left over since last year it might have gone off so fill up the tank with new stuff and see how things go.
A couple of tricks are to add a small amount of metho to the tank to get rid of water in the tank due to condensation/washing the bike. Not too much about a cap full will be more than enough given the bike only has a 15 litre tank. Add some two stroke oil as well (again, small amount, maybe 50ml at most) as this will give a bit more lube to things as metho can reduce this effect.

How old is that air filter. Has it been changed/cleaned. If not might pay to do that as well (easy but time consuming job)
 

Gizmo

Active member
Site Suporter
Interesting observation and the first time I have pressure washed the bike...it was and has always run perfectly before that. Have used WD40 wherever I can, but any water should have dried out now - had a few days at 40 degrees c so water doesn't survive (let alone humans). Thanks SARider

I just threw that out there because to have such a 'catastrophic' fault is VERY rare (motorcycle component failure) after sitting for a while. I ALSO lean towards the oil level sensor too ... they DO get 'flaky!'
 

whitehawk

Member
I had a similar issue at the weekend. Bike has been garaged and on trickle charger for a few weeks, so as the weather was above freezing for a while I thought I'd take it out for a short ride. Started fine, ride was fine, but when I got back I though I'd wash the worst of of the dirt and salt off and used a normal low pressure hose. I left the engine running as I was only doing the bottom of the fairing and lower part of the engine, pegs, wheels etc.
But the engine suddenly cut out. Started it again, and a bit more hosing - more careful and tried allowing a very small amount of spray around the plugs - and it cut out again.
So started it again and put it back in the garage and had a closer look at the plug caps - they were arcing very slightly to the engine casing (only visible in the dark of the garage). A bit of water in that area probably increased the arcing enough for it to stall. But even when dry and the engine is idling normally I can still see a bit of arcing.
The plug caps I have are the replacement NGK VD05F so it looks like the insulation may have broken down a little and they may need replacing again - I put these ones on a couple of years ago. I'll order some new ones and see...
 

SARider

New member
Thanks for that idea - connected to charger now - its a battery minder so will leave on for a day or two (I usually leave that connected in the winter) Cheers SARider
Oil level sensor on order now - once I have that installed will report back on any success - fingers are crossed Cheers SARider
 

SARider

New member
Stalling update

Hi All and Happy New year, good riding in the Southern Hemisphere and hope the winter in the Northern side of the world is short.
Need some collective wisdom please - bike is a 2009 version with only 6,000kms on the clock, rode at the end of last Summer/Autumn - June 2016 down here, and all was OK.
Had a lay-off with injury for a few months. Washed the bike ready for a ride in January it started, and off we went - grand. 10kms in it stalled. Started again, then stalled (few times) got going and struggled back home.
Figured first it would be the 'old spark plug cap issue' - so rang my dealer, he checked and they were done by the first owner in 2011 - to be sure I ordered some more and replaced them with NGK's. Fitted those ok but still stalling (will stall from tickover) - sits on 1100 rpm fine - misses a beat or two then stalls. I can get it back to my dealer, but that is 90 mins ride away - so looking for any ideas or where I could look to check for issues I can resolve.
Thanks guys and galls:)
So just to let know progress so far - none is the real answer, despite so many good suggestions from you all - really appreciate that. I have changed the plugs caps for new NGK, replaced the Oil Pressure Switch, checked and replaced fuel, battery has been on charge (maintenance slow charge) and seems to be fine - will take it out and get that tested. Bike still runs a few mins and them just stalls. So riding is not an option to get it to my dealer. Any other ideas gratefully received. Cheers SARider
 

Gizmo

Active member
Site Suporter
I know you checked the fuel ... I wonder IF there is a 'filter' in line that is messing up or something sitting in the bottom of the tank that is being sucked in. I just can't get over that it was running fine prior to lay up and now it's creating havoc. Only 3 possibilities that it could be: Electrical, Air or Fuel. I wonder if it's on the Air side. I hate to say this but it NEEDS to be hooked up to diagnostic machine to see what is really happening. Is there anyway you can contact SOMEONE who can come out to the house that has a 'portable' machine since you can't get the bike to a Honda shop?
 

SARider

New member
Stalling issue solved

Hi All and Happy New year, good riding in the Southern Hemisphere and hope the winter in the Northern side of the world is short.
Need some collective wisdom please - bike is a 2009 version with only 6,000kms on the clock, rode at the end of last Summer/Autumn - June 2016 down here, and all was OK.
Had a lay-off with injury for a few months. Washed the bike ready for a ride in January it started, and off we went - grand. 10kms in it stalled. Started again, then stalled (few times) got going and struggled back home.
Figured first it would be the 'old spark plug cap issue' - so rang my dealer, he checked and they were done by the first owner in 2011 - to be sure I ordered some more and replaced them with NGK's. Fitted those ok but still stalling (will stall from tickover) - sits on 1100 rpm fine - misses a beat or two then stalls. I can get it back to my dealer, but that is 90 mins ride away - so looking for any ideas or where I could look to check for issues I can resolve.
Thanks guys and galls:)
So an update. But first thanks to all who offered suggestions, advice or thoughts that helped get to the issue, and get it fixed. Don't worry about your DN-01. It was no biggie really, just an issue started by a bad fuel load, refuelled after the lay-off, that lead to plugs being fowled. The real issue, not known was first, the bad fuel, and second that the iridium plugs - once fowled, stay that way. So the replaced Plug caps, Oil pressure switch, I replaced, all done to no avail.
Watched my bike picked up by the nearest Motorcycle service place (50 kms away) and driven off. Bad day.
Mechanic rang a couple a days later with - fuel removed, tank cleaned, filter, cleaned, plugs replaced - test ride all good - come and get it! Wow! Great service, if you're ever in SA 'The Garage' at Strathalybn need to take a bow - great job, thanks so much - and to note here, this was the first Honda DN-01 they had ever seen, they specialise in Italian bikes. Plus they thought it was very cool bike!
 

SARider

New member
I know you checked the fuel ... I wonder IF there is a 'filter' in line that is messing up or something sitting in the bottom of the tank that is being sucked in. I just can't get over that it was running fine prior to lay up and now it's creating havoc. Only 3 possibilities that it could be: Electrical, Air or Fuel. I wonder if it's on the Air side. I hate to say this but it NEEDS to be hooked up to diagnostic machine to see what is really happening. Is there anyway you can contact SOMEONE who can come out to the house that has a 'portable' machine since you can't get the bike to a Honda shop?
Cheers Gizmo - you were so close - thanks SARider!
 

Overthehill

New member
WOW, in this day and age I did not think it possible to get crap fuel any more.
With today's technology it should be impossible.
I would give the servo you got the fuel from a big miss!!!!
What fuel did you put in??
I would never put any less than Oz 95 in any of my vehicles and definitely NOT ethanol.
Anyways, glad you got it sorted even if it was expensive.
Cheers
Pete
 

Gizmo

Active member
Site Suporter
I know I'm beating a dead horse. And you FINALLY got the gremlins that resided in your Dino exorcised. Yet could it have been possible that the original fuel that was in the tank BEFORE you added new had been BAD to begin with! Therefore, causing the escalating problems that developed. Just my final $.02.
 

SARider

New member
I know I'm beating a dead horse. And you FINALLY got the gremlins that resided in your Dino exorcised. Yet could it have been possible that the original fuel that was in the tank BEFORE you added new had been BAD to begin with! Therefore, causing the escalating problems that developed. Just my final $.02.
Yep, agree, I did think that after the whole thing was over...I guess if it left too long gain I should drain the tank and start clean. Is there something I should add to the fuel that could preserve it? Cheers SARider
 

Gizmo

Active member
Site Suporter
Yep, agree, I did think that after the whole thing was over...I guess if it left too long gain I should drain the tank and start clean. Is there something I should add to the fuel that could preserve it? Cheers SARider

I've ALWAYS used Seafoam as a add-on to fuel to HELP stabilize the fuel ESPECIALLY IF the vehicle (bike) is being put up for storage. Some people have been known to just drain the fuel but I like to OCCASIONALLY run the bike to maintain lubrication. (Also it helps to put the bike on a battery charger/maintainer to prevent the battery from going DEAD! Still running the ORIGINAL battery ... 9 years old!)
 

dndom

Member
Lack of use.

Never 'Stored' a bike in 40+ years, just run them up to temperature every couple of weeks. Never had such issues or related electrical problems either. Seen it far too often though.Use quality fuel and operate all controls and switches whilst running.
 
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