Cutting out....

[AncientAndy]

Now and again when flipping the throttle my engine cuts out. Anybody else suffer a bit of this?
The other day a French "citizen" walked out on the road in front of me and I slowed quickly, I changed down the box quite quickly, flipped the throttle to take first gear and the bike dropped into a beautiful silence. Happened in front of a busy pub, with a large group sitting outside laughing at the sound of my starter motor.

I have had the occasional cut out in various situations and was just wondering whether this was commonplace in this old v-twin.


"09" plated, VA8 Varadero in the superfast orange colour.

[sparklymarkly]

Yes Andy, I've had the same thing happen to mine (VA6 model) a couple of times. I don't know why it happens (there are other mentions about this on various sites) but when it happens it is annoying to say the least.
Unfortunately, mine cut out just as me & the Mrs were coming back from a nice ride last week and were just coming back up our drive. Two-up, at a bit of an awkward angle between our cars on a sloping drive - suddenly bike cuts out and over it went!
Very embarrassing, scratched crashbars and a broken footrest! Nice.
If anyone else can shed any light on this phenomenon, I'd also be grateful.

[StumpyFingers]

If they are fuel injected then it is the exhaust sensor.
Due to emissions there is a sensor in the exhaust which alters the mapping to stay in the groove, when the throttle is blipped it messes the gas flow and the engine dips below tickover and stalls.

[AncientAndy]

If they are fuel injected then it is the exhaust sensor.
Due to emissions there is a sensor in the exhaust which alters the mapping to stay in the groove, when the throttle is blipped it messes the gas flow and the engine dips below tickover and stalls.

I take it the answer is don't blip the throttle? However, it also cut out whilst changing up and thankfully I noticed the lack of engine whine despite the ear plugs. This was about 60mph and changing into 5th.

It has been a couple of weeks since the last episode, but I can't help feel that Honda should be better than this.


Thanks for your reply Stumpy.

[Boris]

If they are fuel injected then it is the exhaust sensor.
Due to emissions there is a sensor in the exhaust which alters the mapping to stay in the groove, when the throttle is blipped it messes the gas flow and the engine dips below tickover and stalls.

My VA5 doesn't have a lambda sensor and it occasionally cuts out. It can go for month OK then a few times in a week it cuts out when downshifting. I suspect it may be down to differences in fuel quality / supplier.

[marc lenssen]

at which rpm does your idle run? Is it up to the required 1200 +/- 50?

[AncientAndy]

at which rpm does your idle run? Is it up to the required 1200 +/- 50?

Yep, I believe so. The tachometer is indicating somewhere above the 1k mark.


You know, I am tending towards the fuel idea myself. This tank has had no cut outs and the other tank must have had at least three. The fuel was purchased from two different places. I have sat, idling at traffic lights, blipped the throttle and it has either cut out or there has been a flat spot, followed by a bike fart, similar to a backfire.

Thinking about it, I have had no problems on this fuel. I am off outside to do so blipping.

[marc lenssen]

is a known dero issue. usually a synchro of the crabs or turning up the idle too 100 rpm's helps. just above 1000 rpm is too low. Set it to 1250 and if that doesn't help a carb balance will help.

regs,
Marc

[AncientAndy]

is a known dero issue. usually a synchro of the crabs or turning up the idle too 100 rpm's helps. just above 1000 rpm is too low. Set it to 1250 and if that doesn't help a carb balance will help.

regs,
Marc

Marc,


It may well be around the 1200, I will check it properly. No carbs here, it's an 09 VA8 model.


Andy

[marc lenssen]

Oops. Silly of me....

i seem to remember from the bmw injecton engines that you can/should synchronize the air intakes. I am not sure though if this is teh same for the Dero's.

Another typical honda issue is the fuel pump.....my older 2000 Dero shares the crap pump wiith the AT, which is known for pump failure.....

I can hardly imagine that depending on where you buy gas the engine will stall or not..... unless that one tank had some real crap petrol in it