2017 Goldwing Stalling

[brianl]

I took my wing out for about a 2 hour ride with no issues. Temperature was about 45 degrees . I stopped at a gas station a mile from my house to fill up and on the way home the bike just died while going up a steep hill. I pulled to the side of the road and it wouldn’t start in gear. Not even a sound from the starter. I was able to back up onto a side street, put it in neutral and it started right up.

When I got home I shut it off and it started fine while in gear. This has never happened before. The battery is 5 years old and has 22,000 miles. It’s been a week between rides and I didn’t use the battery minder with cold nights. I will replace the battery out of caution but I did this on my old bike and it ended up being the alternator. Any suggestions? Would a weak battery cause it to stall?

[Jack Klarich]

Yes, a bad battery can have many bad affects, as well as loose and corroded connections

Clean and tight, and should be on a normal maintenance schedule IMO

When you buy a new battery, be sure to fully charge it before riding

[cScjhb]

Interesting problem. The fact that it started right up after shifting into neutral makes me think it could be the clutch lever micro switch. That prevents you from starting the bike in gear unless the clutch lever is pulled in. Could it be that you down shifted when you went up the hill? That may have caused that clutch lever switch to mal function.....? That's the first place I would start looking. Keep us informed. Good luck..... Jim

[ROAD DOG]

Like Jack said test the battery , check the connection,s , test the alternator , And replace the 5 year old battery , A 5 year old motorcycle battery you mind as well have tow truck follow you around .

[Sidecarbill]

Kickstand switch on my Suzuki would do that.

[paws]

The Wing suddenly not-starting-in-gear happened to my 2008 GL1800.

It became an aggravation as sometimes on a quick pullover stop it would not start in gear and would not readily shift into neutral so that I could start it … had to really work with it while everybody else was pulling away…

It got to where I would shift into neutral at a stop before I turned the key off and hope I was in a position that it would not roll… usually would put it in reverse if I was going to get off the bike.

It had a new battery.

Even though the mechanic said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the micro-switch on the clutch I had him put on a new one.

Still would not start in gear..only in neutral.

He turned the little silver tension dial on the clutch lever such that it allowed for a more firm “pull” on the clutch…ie…a better contact… THAT DID IT!!

I had always had it set on the easiest tension pull for my hand. No more problems after that with starting in gear. Something was not making contact as well as it used to in that clutch lever.

Your 2017 Wing might not have that little silver dial with numbers on it but I betcha its something in that clutch lever not making contact as well as it used to.

It’s a no-cost thing to try anyway.

[cScjhb]

Carla (Paws) is correct about the clutch lever adjustment. That's why I mentioned it in my previous response. If I adjust the clutch lever for an easy pull, my Goldwing will not start in gear. I have mine set on #3. I can hear the switch click as soon as just barely pull in on the clutch. If I go even one setting easier, I have the no start in gear issue.

The switch may be sticking on your bike which could have caused a shut down if you did a down shift to go up that steep hill. Then when you shifted back to neutral the bike would start as you indicated. Check out that switch and lever adjustment. I am assuming you no longer have a side stand on your trike so that switch would be disabled and not be a potential source for your issue. Let us know what you find..... Jim

[brianl]

I bought a new battery today. Exact same as the original. I can’t believe Roadsmith couldn’t have come up with a better design to access the battery. It’s half buried behind the trike fender and I have to remove the lower screw on the relay box and push it out of the way so I can barely wiggle the battery out to make the connections. Right now it’s on the battery tender charging. As luck would have it the bottom tab that of the plastic cover broke and the cover is sitting on my kitchen table hoping that the Loctite super glue will hold so I can reinstall it.

I have a Hartco sheepskin cover on the seat which makes working on anything a major project because it’s in the way and makes it very difficult to slide the cover under it. You’d think Honda could have come up with a more durable way to install the Tupperware. Give me a good old fashioned screw and nut any day. Just the lower section of the cover costs $211 so I can see why they want them to break.

[Jack Klarich]

I took my wing out for about a 2 hour ride with no issues. Temperature was about 45 degrees . I stopped at a gas station a mile from my house to fill up and on the way home the bike just died while going up a steep hill. I pulled to the side of the road and it wouldn’t start in gear. Not even a sound from the starter. I was able to back up onto a side street, put it in neutral and it started right up.

When I got home I shut it off and it started fine while in gear. This has never happened before. The battery is 5 years old and has 22,000 miles. It’s been a week between rides and I didn’t use the battery minder with cold nights. I will replace the battery out of caution but I did this on my old bike and it ended up being the alternator. Any suggestions? Would a weak battery cause it to stall?

Brian, read here. You will find out how to check a motorcycle charging system.

Take note of the battery voltage reading during initial test to see if your battery is capable

https://motorcyclemd.com/how-to-chec...arging-system/

[ROAD DOG]

I bought a new battery today. Exact same as the original. I can’t believe Roadsmith couldn’t have come up with a better design to access the battery. It’s half buried behind the trike fender and I have to remove the lower screw on the relay box and push it out of the way so I can barely wiggle the battery out to make the connections. Right now it’s on the battery tender charging. As luck would have it the bottom tab that of the plastic cover broke and the cover is sitting on my kitchen table hoping that the Loctite super glue will hold so I can reinstall it.

I have a Hartco sheepskin cover on the seat which makes working on anything a major project because it’s in the way and makes it very difficult to slide the cover under it. You’d think Honda could have come up with a more durable way to install the Tupperware. Give me a good old fashioned screw and nut any day. Just the lower section of the cover costs $211 so I can see why they want them to break.

Brian if that tab don't hold get it over to me and I can fix, mail it over or stop by some day .

[Marc H]

The Wing suddenly not-starting-in-gear happened to my 2008 GL1800.

It became an aggravation as sometimes on a quick pullover stop it would not start in gear and would not readily shift into neutral so that I could start it … had to really work with it while everybody else was pulling away…

It got to where I would shift into neutral at a stop before I turned the key off and hope I was in a position that it would not roll… usually would put it in reverse if I was going to get off the bike.

It had a new battery.

Even though the mechanic said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the micro-switch on the clutch I had him put on a new one.

Still would not start in gear..only in neutral.

He turned the little silver tension dial on the clutch lever such that it allowed for a more firm “pull” on the clutch…ie…a better contact… THAT DID IT!!

I had always had it set on the easiest tension pull for my hand. No more problems after that with starting in gear. Something was not making contact as well as it used to in that clutch lever.

Your 2017 Wing might not have that little silver dial with numbers on it but I betcha its something in that clutch lever not making contact as well as it used to.

It’s a no-cost thing to try anyway.

Many of us change the grips Kuryakyn being a popular choice and those grips are bigger around than the OE ones.That keeps the lever from coming as far back as it used to and can keep the clutch switch from working.Happens on all brands.

[brianl]

Brian if that tab don't hold get it over to me and I can fix, mail it over or stop by some day .

Thanks Dan. I appreciate the offer. I glued it and it seemed to take. We’d definitely like to get together with you guys next year for a ride. I’d be curious to find out what you do to repair those tabs. I’m sure I’ll run into the problem again.

[ROAD DOG]

Thanks Dan. I appreciate the offer. I glued it and it seemed to take. We’d definitely like to get together with you guys next year for a ride. I’d be curious to find out what you do to repair those tabs. I’m sure I’ll run into the problem again.

We have some really good 3m epoxy glue for repairing plastic bumpers all the plastic shit on the cars today. Yes we will have to get together for a ride .

[cScjhb]

There are some amazing glues today. I had a broken place on the top shelter on my GL1800. It was next to an air vent where the top shelter is only about 3/4 inch wide. I took the vent out so I could access the back side of the broken area. I then super glued the 2 pieces together and let it cure for a couple of hours. I resisted the urge to test and play with the repair....hard for me to do. While it was curing I snipped the head off a 1 inch serrated nail.

I then reached in behind the repair area and liberally applied some JB Weld epoxy putty. Then I imbedded the nail into the putty reinforcing the broken area. Then, another coat of JB Weld putty and reinstalled the air vent. It is now probably one of the strongest parts of the top shelter. The repair is near invisible. You'd have to get down on the ground and look really hard to find it. I don't know the dynamics of your broken tab but maybe some of my repair techniques may help..... Jim

[Burnerboy]

I bought a new battery today. Exact same as the original. I can’t believe Roadsmith couldn’t have come up with a better design to access the battery. It’s half buried behind the trike fender and I have to remove the lower screw on the relay box and push it out of the way so I can barely wiggle the battery out to make the connections. Right now it’s on the battery tender charging. As luck would have it the bottom tab that of the plastic cover broke and the cover is sitting on my kitchen table hoping that the Loctite super glue will hold so I can reinstall it.

I have a Hartco sheepskin cover on the seat which makes working on anything a major project because it’s in the way and makes it very difficult to slide the cover under it. You’d think Honda could have come up with a more durable way to install the Tupperware. Give me a good old fashioned screw and nut any day. Just the lower section of the cover costs $211 so I can see why they want them to break.

I have to totally agree with you about replacing the battery on the Roadsmith....What a PITAzz.....Yea can't get your hand in there to just easily place the battery in there

Ronnie

1/5/22

[rhino 2]

I have to totally agree with you about replacing the battery on the Roadsmith....What a PITAzz.....Yea can't get your hand in there to just easily place the battery in there

Ronnie

1/5/22

There are Designers and there are Engineers' And then there are people that actually work on their bikes cars etc..... ''None'' of those people are designers or engineers who don't have a clue on working with their hands..

[cScjhb]

Wondering what the final outcome was...... ..... Jim

[brianl]

Wondering what the final outcome was...... ..... Jim

I was able to get the tab glued and it held. The Tupperware went back to together fine. As for the original problem of the bike stalling, I put the bike away for the winter right after I replaced the battery. I’ll have to wait until spring to see if I still have the problem.

[rhino 2]

I was able to get the tab glued and it held. The Tupperware went back to together fine. As for the original problem of the bike stalling, I put the bike away for the winter right after I replaced the battery. I’ll have to wait until spring to see if I still have the problem.

If you haven't already.....Keep that battery on a maintainer...[Not a trickle charger]

[brianl]

If you haven't already.....Keep that battery on a maintainer...[Not a trickle charger]

Yes I always do. I added a “pigtail” connection on the battery so I don’t have to remove the side panel to plug in.