Running Problem - UPDATE & HELP possible new problem...

Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Messages
53
Re my originally-submitted problem:
[‘Norton was shuddering and losing power with each shudder, and pulling back. I thought, I'd give it some really high revs. From that point on, everything seemed fine. It ran ok’.

[Not taken her out since until today]

Well, firstly, thanks again to all who have taken an interest by offering advice/help.

Today, I took her out for a run. Now, because of how it settled down on the last few miles of my - problematic - return journey last outing a number of weeks ago, I decided - for curiosity’s sake - to check her out on a run before going through all the checks/advice you guys offered.

[Weather today: warm, sunny and extremely pleasant for riding, while when I had the original problem a few weeks ago it was very cold and damp]

Well, she was running well with no indication at all of the shuddering/loss of power/pulling back that I got last time. There seemed to be no problem whatsoever, except…

What I did notice was that occasionally the gear NEUTRAL light (y’know, the green “N”) would flash on and then off again. The exact same thing was happening with the orange FUEL warning light… again intermittently. The two warning lights (the green “N” and the orangeFUEL PUMP’ symbol) did not necessarily come on at the same time. It wasn’t regular… just occasionally. At first I had the idea either or both would come on more when I - for example - used my indicator/s, but I don’t *think* there was a correlation.

Before I arrived home today, I stopped for some petrol (I like to have a full tank on getting home - saves any hassle when I go out for a run next time), and filled up with 8 litres… so there was still already 9 litres or so in the tank… no reason for the fuel warning light to flash on.

When I got home, I started doing some checking (such advice as was previously offered) and right away I noticed a probable issue. Whether this is related to the last or current problems I don’t know.

Anyway, I barely touched one particular wire and it came away from the transmission casing freely and with ease… as if it had been lying in position loosely and not fixed. I don’t know what this wire is but it goes into the transmission casing on the right side (while seated) of the ‘bike. It has a sort-of elongated plastic cover to it.

SEE ATTACHED PICS

Anyway, this completely loose wire comes away freely and easily on just merely holding it.

Now,

i. Could this (latter) point be something to do with the current problem of the two ‘warning’ lights/symbols coming on?

ii. If there was a problem with the fuel line, or whatever, causing (last time - a few weeks ago) the shuddering/loss of power/pulling back and then clearing with some very high revving, could the current fuel warning light occasionally flashing on be related in so me way even though the problem of a few weeks ago seemed completely fine today?

Appreciating any help/advice anyone can offer.

Best regards

BionicDan

Running Problem - UPDATE & HELP possible new problem...


Running Problem - UPDATE & HELP possible new problem...


Running Problem - UPDATE & HELP possible new problem...
 
Dan, you don't say which parts of you are Bionic. If it is your arms and legs like the Six million Dollar man, then you might be pulling on the wire with several tons of force and not realize your own strength.

To post pictures follow the info in this link. It sounds a bit involved, but once you get a Photobucket account, (easy) it is a simple procedure.

Glen


technical-information-how-post-photos-t2357.html
 
Great, thanks Glen.

I'm about to have my dinner.
Will try and get the images posted later.

Cheers.

D

PS. My bionic bits are best left undisclosed! :lol:
 
Ok, I've managed to upload pics to my first post (above).

Appreciating any forthcoming help/advice.

D
 
The occasional flashing of 'Neutral' and 'Fuel' indication lights is a known problem with early bikes (my CR has this as well) and can be sorted quite easily. I don't know exactly how (may be someone else can tell us), but I will let fix this next winter service. I am quite sure that neither this flashing issue has anything to do with the loose wire nor with your mentioned other problems.
BTW the bike runs out of fuel well before 17 litres. From full tank this will occur after about 13.5 litres are consumed.
 
Ok Dan, So the good news is your engine is running well! Did you have weather, you will never sort a problem riding every few weeks! :shock:

So since that wire is completely off your intermittent problem would become permanent if that was it, right? I don't know about the early bikes but every bike I own with a fuel light will flash sometimes when the fuel is below half and yours certainly was. The fuel light will flash especially when accelerating or braking hard as the fuel sloshes around! There was a problem on the earlier bikes which required a simple wiring change.

Ride your bike with the wire off and see what doesn't work. After that it looks like you can reconnect it and then put the cap back on.
 
Hi Bob
Do you know which wiring change?
I thought I could find the answer in one of the forums, but I didn't succeed.
 
Hi Raphi and BHorseGuy

The weather here of recent has been pretty good for this time of the year. Trouble is that I’ve been down with the ‘flu for the past three weeks. Hence, I’ve not been able to get out. In fact, I’m even now still trying to recover with this irritating cough.

Thanks for the link to the Norton Owner’s Group forum. I’ll try the grease idea but… what exactly is that wire/plug anyway? And what does it do? I notice it referred to as some kind of ‘switch’…?

Regarding the symbols flashing… ok, so it’s a known problem, Any idea how to fix it? If I leave as is, can it cause knock-on problems?

Regarding the original problem that seemed to clear… since it *seems* fine now and running well, could it have been a bit grime in the petrol line, or a bit of bad fuel?

I have recently also been using a fuel performance/protective additive but I’d never previously had any problems so I don’t see why that should now cause any problems.

D
 
Read my post again, I didn't say symbolS flashing was normal. I said less then half fuel when stopping or going hard sloshes the fuel and will flash the "fuel" light on all my bikes so equipped!

Are you now running the bike harder, that would explain the engine problem lessening if it was the racing plugs!

You also state you "recently" started using a fuel additive. Could you be more Vague??? What does recently mean, what additive???

EXACT details might help us help you! Where is here, your signature does not state your location, again that would help us help you!
 
That is the OIL PRESSURE SENSOR Wire. ECU may think the oil pressure is low and put in LIMP mode. Simon will answer soon I'm sure. I wouldn't ride it until it's fixed.
 
Update - Looking at the wiring diagram, it looks like the wire in your photo goes to the cluster so it prolly wont make the bike run bad. But the Neutral Safety Switch runs to the ECU and if it's shorting out that could mess up the ECU and make it run bad. Sounds like two things going on or perhaps water in your cluster???? Maybe the broken wire shorting out the cluster causing this?????

Simon will likely chime in tomorrow morning as he gets up 5 hrs before most of us. Good luck!
 
FAO BHORSEGUY...
Thanks. I do very much appreciate your help/advice, but I must say I am disappointed and surprised you've found it necessary to get angry with me... at least that's what I take from the tone of your message. If you read *my* post/reply again you'll see that nowhere did *I* say that *you* said the flashing lights was normal... and I definitely did not take it that way. I merely recognised the previous assertion that it was a known problem with the 'older new' models.

To answer your points:
i. No, I've not been running the 'bike particularly harder lately.
ii. I've used a fuel additive for two full tanks of petrol now, over the last 3-4 months. The fuel additive is AMSOIL PERFORMANCE IMPROVER.
iii. I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland UK

FAO RICHARD...
Thanks, Richard.

FAO SIMON of NORTON UK
Are you abel to give me some input/advice on this, Simon? It would be much appreciated.

Dan
 
Dan I'm not angry just frustrated. People always leave out the details and it is the details that make the world go around!

When I said running the bike harder I meant versus your last ride when you had the problem. Now maybe it is me being vague!. You said you revved it and it cleared up! I suggested others have had a problem when running their bikes in heavy traffic or gingerly such as during break in because of the cold plugs.
For those reasons I thought you may have ridden it harder on your last ride!
 
Ok, bhorseguy, glad to hear it.
I actually - personally - thought I'd been quite comprehensive all along.

No problem.

Thanks for taking an interest in helping me. :)

D 8)
 
Hi Dan

The wire you have photographed is, as Richard pointed out already, the oil pressure switch. It is simply wired to the instrument cluster so that if the engine oil pressure drops too low the warning light illuminates. The ECU does not know the status of the oil pressure and therefore the oil pressure sensor wire is not likely to be the cause of any other issues. The easy way to fix this issue is to use a pair of pliers to push the contacts of the loom together, thereby creating a firmer grip of the oil sensor.

The symptoms you have described COULD be due to bad fuel quality or water in the fuel.











BionicDan said:
FAO BHORSEGUY...
Thanks. I do very much appreciate your help/advice, but I must say I am disappointed and surprised you've found it necessary to get angry with me... at least that's what I take from the tone of your message. If you read *my* post/reply again you'll see that nowhere did *I* say that *you* said the flashing lights was normal... and I definitely did not take it that way. I merely recognised the previous assertion that it was a known problem with the 'older new' models.

To answer your points:
i. No, I've not been running the 'bike particularly harder lately.
ii. I've used a fuel additive for two full tanks of petrol now, over the last 3-4 months. The fuel additive is AMSOIL PERFORMANCE IMPROVER.
iii. I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland UK

FAO RICHARD...
Thanks, Richard.

FAO SIMON of NORTON UK
Are you abel to give me some input/advice on this, Simon? It would be much appreciated.

Dan
 
Thanks for that, Simon... and the flashing off and on FUEL and NUETRAL indicator lights?
Can this be sorted?
Cheers
D
 
The flashing warning light is due to random variances in the way the looms are manufactured meaning that on some bikes the HT leads and other (electrically) noisy items can induce voltage into other wires causing the warning LED's in the clocks to flash. Their is a simple patch lead that can be fitted under the tank to cure the flashing warning light (P/N 6500088).

Please contact our UK Sales team to help get you sorted.
 
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