Bike stops running

[dennist]

'92 907IE in great shape, has always run fantastic, dealer maintained, 27k miles. Riding the other day when the bike "hiccuped" once and then 5 seconds later motor shut off for 2 seconds and then restarted like nothing happened. Was doing about 60 mph on hiway. Then 3 days later when riding same conditions the bike stopped running completely, gave throttle back and forth thinking might be fuel related but no response and then motor started right up again in about 5 seconds. Ran just great the rest of the way home. I thought might be fuel or fuel pump related but it must be something else as motor turns off in an instant and then restarts like nothing has ever happened. Electrical? Injection? Any ideas where to start checking to find the problem? Bike was running about 172 degrees so not hot. Fuel has been fresh all summer and bike ridden all summer. One of those problems that cannot be duplicated in a shop or at riders will. Help!

[angelix]

'92 907IE in great shape, has always run fantastic, dealer maintained, 27k miles. Riding the other day when the bike "hiccuped" once and then 5 seconds later motor shut off for 2 seconds and then restarted like nothing happened. Was doing about 60 mph on hiway. Then 3 days later when riding same conditions the bike stopped running completely, gave throttle back and forth thinking might be fuel related but no response and then motor started right up again in about 5 seconds. Ran just great the rest of the way home. I thought might be fuel or fuel pump related but it must be something else as motor turns off in an instant and then restarts like nothing has ever happened. Electrical? Injection? Any ideas where to start checking to find the problem? Bike was running about 172 degrees so not hot. Fuel has been fresh all summer and bike ridden all summer. One of those problems that cannot be duplicated in a shop or at riders will. Help!

do this :

turn on the ignition key and check how long does it take to the fuel pump to end the "cycle", i bet is 4-5 seconds.

My feeling is that you have a loose connection somewhere, remove all the bodywork including the tank (without disconnecting it, just pur it on a chair close to the bike) ythen start the bike and while it is running start moving around the cables and connectors, starting from the ones around the handlebars

The other thing might be someting being sucked by the fuel pump, once it stops, the pump releases the object and starts working again.

Check also the pickup sensor, might be loose.

I do not recall if the bike has a side stand switch, could be that it goes off while hitting a bump on the road.

Last but not least... sometimes the Eprom inside the ECU gets loose causing the ECU to go crazy.

[Fast Eddie]

'92 907IE in great shape, has always run fantastic, dealer maintained, 27k miles. Riding the other day when the bike "hiccuped" once and then 5 seconds later motor shut off for 2 seconds and then restarted like nothing happened. Was doing about 60 mph on hiway. Then 3 days later when riding same conditions the bike stopped running completely, gave throttle back and forth thinking might be fuel related but no response and then motor started right up again in about 5 seconds. Ran just great the rest of the way home. I thought might be fuel or fuel pump related but it must be something else as motor turns off in an instant and then restarts like nothing has ever happened. Electrical? Injection? Any ideas where to start checking to find the problem? Bike was running about 172 degrees so not hot. Fuel has been fresh all summer and bike ridden all summer. One of those problems that cannot be duplicated in a shop or at riders will. Help!

do this :

turn on the ignition key and check how long does it take to the fuel pump to end the "cycle", i bet is 4-5 seconds.

I'm having the same problem. How long is the fuel pump suppose to "cycle". Mine goes 4-5 seconds when I turn the key on.

[du907]

Check fuel pump relay, may be getting weak. I would check the plug (amp type) on the left side frame just below the back corner of the gas tank. Remove the side cover to get to it, there should be two connectors zip tied to the frame, one I think is made of white plastic, it will not run if this plug is loose. Also check the plug going into the ECU under the seat. Remove the right side cover to get to it. There is a metal clip that catches a tang on the plug, could be coming loose from vibration. I use a zip tie here so that it doesn't come loose, left me on the side of the road and after trailering it home I spent a lot of trouble shooting time before I noticed it.
du907

[dennist]

Thanks guys for the checks to do. I will take off all the body work and while running check/wiggle every electrical connection I can get my hands on. It must be a loose connection since the bike has and does run so strong all the time and then just stops and starts like majic! Will let you know the results.

[angelix]

Thanks guys for the checks to do. I will take off all the body work and while running check/wiggle every electrical connection I can get my hands on. It must be a loose connection since the bike has and does run so strong all the time and then just stops and starts like majic! Will let you know the results.

Check also the battery connections, take them off, clean the contacts and re-fit them.

I had an episode where one of the cables was okidized and the engine stopped for few seconds 2-3 times ove a ride of 70 miles and on arrival at home I checked the battery as the symptoms where similar to a failing regulator with consequential cooked battery.

I noticed that one of the poles of the battery was so hot I couldnt keep my hand on...after few chacks I discovered that it was JUST oxhidation of the battery pole and the cable terminal, which was causing a "resistance point" overheating and reducing the voltage to the ECU just enought to shut it down for few seconds.

[dennist]

Last year I cleaned all contact points for battery and starter and installed new battery. At that time bike was slowly firing up and this procedure completely cured that. But will double check all contacts to make sure nothing has occured over the year.
Thanks.

[persempre907]

Check also the pickup sensor, might be loose.

Mine went broken and it did the same issue.
Check it.
Ciao

[Fast Eddie]

Check also the pickup sensor, might be loose.

Mine went broken and it did the same issue.
Check it.
Ciao

Where is the pickup sensor located?

[Tamburinifan]

Two of them, one on each side of the collant impeller housing on the alternator cover.
Follow the wiring, you`ll see two connection to the ECU.

[dennist]

Ok, I took all the fairings off and left the gas tank on. Ran bike and wiggled every connector that I could find, bike still ran perfect. Removed tank and checked all connectors there. I took off all connectors, cleaned them, greased them and reconnected. The dealer is going to plug in the ECU to see if anything shows up on the Mathesis machine. Unfortunately 907IE electronics do not store codes, only shows up if the problem is there at the time of checking. Since stopping problem has shown up only 2 times, it is impossible to duplicate at the dealer. Dealer also suggested replacing all the relays.
Question: How many relays are on the bike, I can only find 3 up by the rectifier.
How many sensors are there, I find the two on the alternator cover, any on the injection system? I have a wiring diagram but not too clear on it.

Also where can I get (USA suppliers) new sensors and relays that might be less expensive and just as good than dealer supplied?

Thanks for the help, will let you guys know how I progress.

[persempre907]

By my experience, I think it is not worth replace the relays.
My mechanic checked the pickup sensors measuring its impedance.
Really, I can't tell you more because of my weak electric skills.
But, I'm sure some good friend here can tell much more about.
Ciao

[Tamburinifan]

Download user & workshop manual here: http://ducatipaso.org/docs/907/manuals/

[angelix]

By my experience, I think it is not worth replace the relays.
My mechanic checked the pickup sensors measuring its impedance.
Really, I can't tell you more because of my weak electric skills.
But, I'm sure some good friend here can tell much more about.
Ciao

I disagree.

The relais tend to break internally, the contacts wear out and the connectors get loose.

so, take them to the local garage and get replacements (they are very very common) and check the connectors where the relais are slotted.

with the time and ythe vibration those connectorse get loose and can cause the relais to temporarly cut off the power to ECU, PUMP etc.

I just had a friend of the Motoclub having this very same issue on his 916.

Last, when you fit new relais, secuire them with an elastic band, or few drops os silicon, just to prevent vibration causing the connectors to get loose.

[higgy]

As Angelix has pointed out,relays are often the source of many electrical issues and should always be a prime suspect.

Corroded, broken or loose terminations would rank second only to the relay as electrical enemy number one