[samiam]

Uncertain how to proceed with my issue, and as I do not have a tachometer, I was in the hopes someone would have a suggestion on what speed to NOT exceed while staying in fourth gear. I am in the hopes I can cruise about 70-80, with my only issue being using lots of gas.
Why would I want to do this? I have an issue that NO ONE has been able to remedy, and I am doing whatever I can to rule out different issues. My 1800 intermittently shuts down when cruising above 65 or 70, the FI light comes on solid, and the bike quits running. Once I coast to the side of the road, turn the bike off, after a few minutes it restarts just fine.

I can cruise 60ish all day long with no issues at all. I am trying to determine if the issue also occurs at similar speeds but just not in 5th gear. (I did some very brief testing the other day, cruising about 70 for a couple of minutes with no issue, switched to 5th gear, bike shut down after about a minute.

Unfortunately, this is not readily repeatable, and there are NO codes stored in the computer.

Any and all advice would be much appreciated, as I sorely miss riding this on the freeway, thanks.

 

[JPT]

VTX's are RPM governed. Nothing will happen other than wear and tear on the engine being at a higher RPM. Also, V-Twins aren't designed to by high rev'ing engines like other bikes. They are designed for high torque at lower RPMs. VTX's do have their power at higher RPMs than Harleys, so we do want to ride around at higher RPMs, but they still are V-twins.

Do you have a fuel manager? If so, have you tried eliminating it to see if it is causing the issue?

 

[samiam]

VTX's are RPM governed. Nothing will happen other than wear and tear on the engine being at a higher RPM. Also, V-Twins aren't designed to by high rev'ing engines like other bikes. They are designed for high torque at lower RPMs. VTX's do have their power at higher RPMs than Harleys, so we do want to ride around at higher RPMs, but they still are V-twins.

Do you have a fuel manager? If so, have you tried eliminating it to see if it is causing the issue?

First, thank you for replying, second, I am embarrassed to say I have no idea, I will have to check with my mechanic. I do not have a single DIY gene, so pretty much rely on others to keep my stuff running. I will follow up once I am able to do some fourth gear testing and inquire about the fuel manager.

 

[JPT]

First, thank you for replying, second, I am embarrassed to say I have no idea, I will have to check with my mechanic. I do not have a single DIY gene, so pretty much rely on others to keep my stuff running. I will follow up once I am able to do some fourth gear testing and inquire about the fuel manager.

Do you have a picture of the bike you can post, from the exhaust side? Something that shows the air cleaner and the exhaust? If you have an aftermarket exhaust and air cleaner/box perhaps the previous owner added a fuel manager (there are a couple different fuel manager manufactures).

I don't have an 1800, so I'm not sure where the common places are to install them, or how to easily tell if you do have one.

 

[PaXman11]

Uncertain how to proceed with my issue, and as I do not have a tachometer, I was in the hopes someone would have a suggestion on what speed to NOT exceed while staying in fourth gear. I am in the hopes I can cruise about 70-80, with my only issue being using lots of gas.
Why would I want to do this? I have an issue that NO ONE has been able to remedy, and I am doing whatever I can to rule out different issues. My 1800 intermittently shuts down when cruising above 65 or 70, the FI light comes on solid, and the bike quits running. Once I coast to the side of the road, turn the bike off, after a few minutes it restarts just fine.

I can cruise 60ish all day long with no issues at all. I am trying to determine if the issue also occurs at similar speeds but just not in 5th gear. (I did some very brief testing the other day, cruising about 70 for a couple of minutes with no issue, switched to 5th gear, bike shut down after about a minute.

Unfortunately, this is not readily repeatable, and there are NO codes stored in the computer.

Any and all advice would be much appreciated, as I sorely miss riding this on the freeway, thanks.

Do the ground fix. Cost is only your time. After that I would change out the FPR, cost of ~$40-$45 or so. If those 2 don't fix it, start looking for loose or broken wires. Doing the first 2 won't hurt, but could help, even if they don't solve your proble, as many others have fixed their issues by doing these.

 

[PaXman11]

Do you have a picture of the bike you can post, from the exhaust side? Something that shows the air cleaner and the exhaust? If you have an aftermarket exhaust and air cleaner/box perhaps the previous owner added a fuel manager (there are a couple different fuel manager manufactures).

I don't have an 1800, so I'm not sure where the common places are to install them, or how to easily tell if you do have one.

Space for the managers is limited, so most put them behind the left side cover, usually attached to the tool box flap with velcro or dbl. sticky tape.

 

[samiam]

Do you have a picture of the bike you can post, from the exhaust side? Something that shows the air cleaner and the exhaust? If you have an aftermarket exhaust and air cleaner/box perhaps the previous owner added a fuel manager (there are a couple different fuel manager manufactures).

I don't have an 1800, so I'm not sure where the common places are to install them, or how to easily tell if you do have one.

Including a pic, from my memory, which is not the best, I believe the pipes are Vance & Hines, and at one time there was a box wired into something under the seat, but it was all removed within the last year, and the problem persisted both before and after. I will print out the suggestions and info on ground issues to take to my mechanic, it is just hard for me to warp my head around a possible wiring issue that (maybe) ONLY occurs when in 5th gear, and then, very intermittently. Sometimes it happens within 5 minutes of hitting the freeway, sometimes not at all, but will continue hoping.

 

[samiam]

Including a pic, from my memory, which is not the best, I believe the pipes are Vance & Hines, and at one time there was a box wired into something under the seat, but it was all removed within the last year, and the problem persisted both before and after. I will print out the suggestions and info on ground issues to take to my mechanic, it is just hard for me to warp my head around a possible wiring issue that (maybe) ONLY occurs when in 5th gear, and then, very intermittently. Sometimes it happens within 5 minutes of hitting the freeway, sometimes not at all, but will continue hoping. View attachment 243597

after re-reading your post, presume a picture would have been of more help with the covers off, will redo and repost soon.

 

[slutren]

You may need a fpr but I doubt it will fix your problem. It sounds like an electrical issue to me.

These bikes have a rev limiter so you can't over rev the motor. As others have said it will cause extra motor wear by running 80 mph in 4th gear.

I doubt it's speed related, but more likely rpm related since only the speedometer knows how fast your going.

Good luck

 

[samiam]

You may need a fpr but I doubt it will fix your problem. It sounds like an electrical issue to me.

These bikes have a rev limiter so you can't over rev the motor. As others have said it will cause extra motor wear by running 80 mph in 4th gear.

I doubt it's speed related, but more likely rpm related since only the speedometer knows how fast your going.

Good luck

As I am not a DIY kind of guy, I gave all of this info to my mechanic for review. However, I am perplexed on how this might be an electrical issue, as it does NOT happen in 4th gear, (as yet anyway), but only in 5th gear, and is so intermittent. I was going to also take a picture with the cover removed, but mine did not look like anything in the pics for the ground fix. Maybe I have some kind of hybrid 1800? : >) I have had to deal with this for the last 2-3years, but at least I can cruise for a bit in 4th, I just am not doing much freeway driving at the moment, and keeping my fingers crossed that someone besides me has a somewhat similar issue.

 

[scott beschta]

As I am not a DIY kind of guy, I gave all of this info to my mechanic for review. However, I am perplexed on how this might be an electrical issue, as it does NOT happen in 4th gear, (as yet anyway), but only in 5th gear, and is so intermittent. I was going to also take a picture with the cover removed, but mine did not look like anything in the pics for the ground fix. Maybe I have some kind of hybrid 1800? : >) I have had to deal with this for the last 2-3years, but at least I can cruise for a bit in 4th, I just am not doing much freeway driving at the moment, and keeping my fingers crossed that someone besides me has a somewhat similar issue.

how much gas is in the tank? How old is the fuel pump? have you replaced the pump? does this happen when you brake?

 

[samiam]

how much gas is in the tank? How old is the fuel pump? have you replaced the pump? does this happen when you brake?

The fuel tank can be at any level when this occurs, I have had it occur from low to full. Braking does not cause it to happen. Have not yet had the fuel pump replaced. I was going to take a pic of the bike with the access panel off, but when I looked, it did not mimic anything I saw in the pics for doing the ground fix. So far, this ONLY occurs, when in 5th gear, and going somewhere over either 60 or 65. In limited testing, I can reach the same or higher speeds in 4th gear, and it does not shut off. I printed out all of the suggestions for my mechanic, and she is going to take another look at it in the next few weeks.

 

[2004 VTX Rider]

First, thank you for replying, second, I am embarrassed to say I have no idea, I will have to check with my mechanic. I do not have a single DIY gene, so pretty much rely on others to keep my stuff running. I will follow up once I am able to do some fourth gear testing and inquire about the fuel manager.

Remove your seat ,I have a PCIII it sits on to of the battery ,your fuel manager maybe located there.

 

[samiam]

I think I HAD a fuel manager, I erred earlier, I believe I have Cobra pipes, and there was a fuel manager under the seat. The problem existed while I had it, my current mechanic removed it awhile ago and let me know I would be better off without it. However, the problem occurs both pre and post fuel manager. I hope to have her relook at this in the next couple of weeks once she has reviewed this info for any new suggestions to try. I have to go through my receipts to post things she has already tried, keeping my fingers crossed. I greatly appreciate everyone's feedback, hoping for a cure to this.

 

[68valiant]

This really seems to be an RPM driven issue to me. Try riding around in a lower gear with the engine running at approximately the same RPM that it is when in 5th and 60-65mph.

I agree that it sounds like a fueling issue. Could it be a pinched or clogged vent line to the tank? I have read on here where that can cause fueling issues as well.

I have not had my FI light come on before, so am not familiar with what parameters trip that light (fuel pressure, voltage drop, etc...). Knowing what trips that light will help narrow down the possibilities. Hopefully, one of the more knowledgeable people on here will have that answer.

Ride Safe!

 

[RJ64]

Your FI light comes on when there is low fuel pressure between the pump and injectors and when you first turn the fuel pump on when it runs for a second to prime. Does the fuel pump make a normal whirring sound when it primes or does it sound like a bag of rats trying to kill each other? It could be the pump failing and could also be a connection problem. Remember that the bike has different vibrations at different rpms and speeds and gears. Also the engine load determines how much fuel it needs. Here is what I would do: 1. Do what Fran said about the ground fix. 2. Get a voltmeter attached somewhere on the bike so you can see it easily going down the road. Connect the leads to the wires going to the fuel pump. You will need the wiring schematic to find a good spot to find those wires. MAKE SURE the voltmeter is reading properly when you turn the key on. Remember that when you turn the key on it will only give power for a second and then stop. With the engine running it will give power all the time so make sure it is reading voltage then. Go for a ride trying to mimic the issue and take note what the volt meter is doing when the bike dies. If the voltmeter drops to zero as if you turned off the bike, then it IS NOT the fuel pump. If you look at the price of a new one you might pass out, so don't do that yet lol. If the voltage stays up and the bike dies, well you found the problem. Fuel pump. Assuming the voltage drops when the bike dies, start checking connection issues. The kill switch cuts power to the fuel pump as well but it will not have the FI light come on when it cuts power so that may not be it, but I would check it out anyway. You could check for problems all day long but if you don't narrow down the fuel pump you could be wasting a lot of time. Anyway, that is what I would do. Please let us know what you find out.
BTW, you can go about 110-115 mph in 4th gear.....don't ask lol.

 

[lemaro07719]

Do you have a picture of the bike you can post, from the exhaust side? Something that shows the air cleaner and the exhaust? If you have an aftermarket exhaust and air cleaner/box perhaps the previous owner added a fuel manager (there are a couple different fuel manager manufactures).

I don't have an 1800, so I'm not sure where the common places are to install them, or how to easily tell if you do have one.

I have a `03 VTX1800C with an aftermarket air intake and a Power Commander. It's installed just inside the left side cover, just forward of the battery's positive teminal.

 

[samiam]

First, my sincerest thanks to all that replied to this post, your thoughts are extremely helpful. I printed out the various suggestions and got them to my mechanic for review, then my 1800 spent the past couple of weeks being poked and prodded, and changed. With eager anticipation (but no guarantees) I picked it up and hit the road. It was running smoother than I remembered, hit the freeway, popped into 5th gear, F1 light came on and it died, sigh......
So my follow up question is: Would anyone have any insight on how long I should be able to sustain highway speeds in 4th gear? For now, I am throwing in the towel on getting my problem resolved, but I can still enjoy riding it, just hoping to avoid any engine catastrophe if at all possible. THANKS.

 

[Vinish]

Find a new mechanic. Your current one clearly did not test his work adequately to assure he had solved the problem before returning the bike to you. You really should not be running at highway speeds in 4th gear for long periods of time. At 55 mph, sure but not at 75-90 mph.

 

[samiam]

This is the ONLY mechanic that would even attempt to address the issue. No Honda dealership would even bother to look at it, as no codes are stored when the F1 light comes on. Independent mechanics, same story. I even attempted contacting Honda, but they are no help at all, their only solution is to take it to one of their dealers. I knew going in the odds were not in my favor, but at least SOMEONE was willing to attempt to do something. As there is no other mechanic to take it to that I trust as much as this one, unless I can come across someone with the same issue, as well as a resolution, looks like I am stuck. Fortunately for me, I guess, is that for me highway speeds are 65-75, so just will have to see how long that holds up, sigh.....