QuestionQUESTION: My shadow until recently was running fine and used regularly. Driving along now it it will shut down. Complete loss of power. Total shut off. No advance warning, no sputtering etc. Pull in the clutch, hit the starter button it cranks right up and may run for 5 minutes or 5 seconds. When it runs it runs perfect. Checked all the obvious, fuel, new plugs etc. I am thinking possible coil failure. Hope you can shed some light. Thanks
ANSWER: Paul, you didn't give me as much info as I would have liked, including mileage and other details.
"Complete loss of power" could mean that the engine continues to run, but poorly OR
Complete electrical power failure.....
I will guess that it is engine power loss, as you mention firing it up again with the starter button. .... go here for more clues.
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/5284/
Sounds like you are experiencing typical coil failures, which seem to be common on this series of machines...
Bill Silver
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The bike has 43500 kms. The engine stops running. Its like hitting the kill switch. It doesn't buck or jump, just dies.
Thanks Again for the response.
Paul
AnswerPaul, it is hard to troubleshoot a problem like this when it won't stay dead long enough to give you time to determine which ingredient is missing..... The ignition is solid-state, battery-powered.
Circuits associated with the engine ignition system would be:
Ignition switch.. check all connectors. If you have a lot of keys on your key ring the weight of the keys waving around can wear out the ignition switch tumblers causing it to want to cut off. Basically, the ignition switch cuts off the ignition system, which cuts the power off to the coils. Ignition switch bases can come apart over time and give intermittent ON-OFF cycles.
Pulser coils, which are triggered from the flywheel magnet. If loose or if the connector is bad, you can have intermittent signals to the ignition module box.
KILL SWITCH... if the KILL switch (which opens the ignition circuit) contacts inside are corroded, you could be getting intermittent contact to the wires inside. Check kill switch wiring connectors and wiring leading to it.
Ignition module.. if it is overheating and shutting down momentarily, then that will be an expensive item to replace. Honda shop manuals may have a test procedure, but it may be hard to do if it is a heat-related failure.
Coils... VT500 Ascots are known for coil failures, but you have two coils, so it is unlikely that both are shutting down at the same time, if you are experiencing a total engine kill experience. The Ascots share the same components as the VT500C models.
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/5284/
Wiring... all the connectors and wiring between the above components needs to be checked for security, cleanliness and overall integrity. That includes all chassis grounds, as well.
http://www.hondashadow.net/index.php
After 22 years and 43,500km, it is time to look the whole wiring system over very carefully.
Something else to watch for is the vacuum operated petcocks, which will fail over time and cause the fuel to be restricted or shut off to the carbs.
Bill Silver
