Bike dies, then must reset the key Off / On before restart???

[Mark222]

7 of us just completed the Key West run for another year.  All went well, out and back safe and sound, weather was the best perhaps ever! But the sporty in the group (1996 model w/ 2003 883 / 1200 replacement engine) would die at idle periodically after long runs.  Hit the starter to restart, nothing. No click, no starter engagement, just nothing. But after he would reset the key (turn off / then back on) and hit the starter button and it would fire right off.  Everything else about it ran fine, sounded fine, acted fine.  All lights worked, no electrical gremlins or surprises.  Happened maybe 10 times in the 2,200 miles.

Any ideas?  I was thinking a hot relay?  But the key did not need to be off for more that 1 second before turning back on to get the started to roll?  Could not hear a breaker resetting either, but we were never in a real quiet place at the times it happened either.

Bike is 600 miles from me now, so I cannot check anything myself, but hoping somebody can throw out someplace for him to start looking.

Mark

[TCSTD]

Ignition switch contacts worn, battery terminals need attention or breaker opening would be my guess at this point.

[Mark222]

I was leaning toward the breaker too.  Especially since it was hot. (And they are cheap)

Ignition switch is an interesting thought, but I would think it would fail at higher RPM too (backfire, misfire, etc?)

I have had a bad batt connection before too, (ground side) makes a hell of a racket of idle and will not accelerate.
Funny thing here is it only seems to be an issue when it chose to die, otherwise, ran strong.

[Justpassingas]

May not be the same type of switch but I had green corrosion on the contacts in my ignition switch on my 98RK....The bike would die periodically with the lights still working...I took the switch apart and cleaned them up.....

[PoorUB]

Did the '96 have a "tip" switch? I remember a long time back someone mentioning that some Sportys had bad tip switches. The problem described sounds like a tip switch as they need the ignition cycled to reset.

[Mark222]

Nope, don't think they do. Don't ask my buddy how I know, but I saw it run once on it side!

Talked to him again today, he did state it died under power too, and would re-fire with a dump of the clutch in gear.

Score maybe another vote for ignition connection?

Mark

[Mark222]

That should read: Would NOT re-fire..................