My friend has a 1998 Vulcan Classic that runs good but will shut down for no reason we can see. It has all power but the starter, after 20 to 30 minutes it will start and run like nothing happened. We cleaned all connection and checked all fuses. The Fan has never come on that I have seen. It there a switch or relay that cuts the power when it gets hot? The temp or oil do not come on when the bike is runningbut they do work when the key is first turned on to start the bike. We have a trip this weekend (4/13/07) So any ideas where to look would be great..

Update: there is a buzzing from the fuse panel when the starter button is pushed (RRR-RRR sound real soft. Now it won't start at all. But th fan came on earlier in the testing process.
Thanks for any help we really need it..

 

Well how long does it run until it shuts down? I think it might not be getting any gas to it.

 

It is getting plenty of gas, it just shut down when ever it wants and starts again when ever it wants. It has all the lights but just makes a low rrrrrrr-rrrrrrr noise from the fuse panel when you push the starter button.. It did it last again last night and still has not started..

 

I just fixed a problem like that on my bike and it took weeks to figure it out. What happened was I left my bike in the rain one night and the wire harnes filled up with water and it never drained out. [sm=chairshot.gif]I had to pull my hole wire harnes out and when I pulled it loose from the headlight and turned it upsidedown about a cup full of water poured out.[sm=headbang.gif] so I started from there. I turned the key on and wigled ever spot that 1 wire split into two or more, and found one connection that was bad.[sm=bounceybounce.gif] I had to cut back about 2 or 3 inches of wire that was all rusted, put on some connectors and stuck them back together.

That was not fun, but I knew I had a short or open somewhere because I was checking the fuses and one fuse was getting real hot, and the bad wire went back to that fuse. So if you can get the bike started again run it for a minute or two and then feel your fuses. I hope this helps.

 

Will try that, we looked at a all the lower connections and cleaned everything but did not look at the upper connections.

 

I did the same thing. I really wanted to avoid haveing to pull the hole wire harness out, because I new getting it all back in the headlight would suck. And it did, but if you have an electrical problem it really needs to be done.Good luck, and remember . DONT TAKE YOUR FRUSTRATION OUT ON THE BIKE.[sm=shootshoot.gif]

 

Ok has anyone ever heard of a relay in the fuse panel going bad? A mechanic said it either that or the ECM. Just wanted to see if anybody has heard of that.

 

im sure it's possible relays do fail. common prolly not, but possible