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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: streetsurfer on August 25, 2015, 02:15:50 PM

Title: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: streetsurfer on August 25, 2015, 02:15:50 PM
I recently encountered a problem after downing my bike on the left hand side. My bike starts up fine and runs smoothly for about 10-15 minutes. Then...immediately the engine dies. I've done all the easy stuff like cleaning the carb and clearing the tank breather hoses and passages that may choke the engine. I've also replaced the petcock diaphragm and made sure all hoses were connected properly with no pinches or cracks.

Since the bike was recently drop, it led me to research previous posts discussing goats and starwalts but because it starts fine it doesnt seem to be the problem. I've heard about rohdes syndrome from a post mentioning Buddha but cant seem to find enough info on it to make anything of it. Could someone elaborate on "rohdes syndrome"?

Im beginning to think it could possibly be a ignition cable/coil or signal generator that is faulty at heat as many GS's have seemed to have this problem in the past. For reference i have a 07 f model. Before I go spending money on expensive parts, does anyone have experience with this issue? Definitely seems electrical but that is beyond me to diagnose. PLEASE HELP ME!
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: stokes776 on August 26, 2015, 01:17:46 PM
Do the lights stay on when it dies?
Dash? Headlight?

Can you immediately restart it or does it have to sit for some indeterminate amount of time before it is operational again?

Sounds kinda like the kickstand sensor perhaps? If bike is in gear and it detects the kickstand as DOWN, engine gets turned off.
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: streetsurfer on August 26, 2015, 01:31:42 PM
Yes the dash lights and headlight stay on. I can start it back up after a few tries but it will eventually die again after a short ride. Every time it dies, it becomes harder and harder to start until it no longer wants to start. If I come back the next day, it starts up again - which has led me to believe it has something to do with a part being faulty at heat.

Thanks stokes776! Is there any way to bypass the sensor temporarily so I can determine whether the kickstand sensor is the problem?
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: streetsurfer on August 26, 2015, 02:45:29 PM
Now that i think about it, if the kickstand switch was the problem, the bike should have no problem starting back up at a stop if I put the bike back into neutral - I am not sure this is the case. I will check back in with an update once I try this out.

In the meantime, does anyone else have any suggestions? Experiences with coils/cables or signal generator failing at heat?
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: Janx101 on August 26, 2015, 05:38:07 PM
The wiring  harness connectors under tank/above engine can be susceptible to heat... I've had and repaired/replaced several issues in that area.  All the front end switches go thru those plastic connectors... kill switch, clutch switch etc. ..

If the harness isn't zip tied up in place properly the wiring can sag down to 'very close' over your hot engine!
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: Bluesmudge on August 26, 2015, 05:44:32 PM
I had a similar problem with my GS. Turned out to be the signal generator pickup wire. If I remember, there was really no way to test it so I just had to replace it after determining that the other parts of the electrical system were functioning properly. Do you have a manual with the process for testing the electrical system components?
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: bmf on August 26, 2015, 05:53:48 PM
Just to make sure, you have opened the tank when it dies to make sure there is no vacuum/ as well as tried it on prime?

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: jeZZa on August 29, 2015, 10:05:35 AM
Sounds like your signal generator. Check the resistance. Sorry I can't rember the value. But check it for continuity as soon as your bike dies. Iv had it befor that a bike will run perfectly until it gets hot and then the pickups will die
Title: Re: Engine Dies after 10 minutes of riding - electrical issue?
Post by: Wagoneer on August 31, 2015, 04:00:14 AM
It's the pick up! Just went though the whole troubleshooting process with my bike with the exact same symptoms. My pick ups tested fine when cold but one of them failed when hot so one cylinder would shut down and not work until the bike completely cooled down about 2hrs later.

I assume yours is a newer GS with a single pick up which is why both cylinders shut down when it's hot.