2014 RT - with paddle shift that shuts down engine! Any ideas?

[Don in E Texas]

Engine starts w/o any issues. Placing paddle shift into either gear shuts the engine down. Any idea what the problem is? Have not ridden in a couple of years - bike is in 'storage' now.

Thanks

don

 

[BertRemington]

I'm confused about the sequence of events here. Here's what it seems to be:

Your 2014 was working properly several years ago. Then you put it into storage for "a couple of years". Then (When?) you took it out of storage and tried to operate it. You haven't described what "resuscitation" actions you performed to return it to road-ready condition. Then you tried to ride it and the engine stalled when the transmission was shifted into 1st or Reverse. Then you put it back in storage.

Is this correct?

Feel free to provide additional information including why you put the 2014 in storage the first time and the "resuscitation" actions you performed. SyderLovers doesn't charge by the word -- use them generously.

There are several causes of the problem you observed, some dire and some easily addressed. We need more information from you to identify those causes.

PS do you know how to retrieve the fault codes from the instrument console?

 

[BertRemington]

There's a possibility the clutch plates have gotten "grabby" while in storage. The following might help correct that:

Verify the coolant level is correct (at or above the Cool mark). Start the engine and allow it to idle until you have 3 bars on the temperature indicator. Turn off the engine and verify the engine oil level is correct (a little high is better than a little low). Start the engine and allow it to idle for a minute or so. Bring the engine RPM up to 4000 and return to idle 5 times. Seated with your foot lightly on the brake pedal with the engine idling, try to shift into 1st. If the engine stalls, restart it, repeat the 4000 RPM step, then try to shift into 1st. If this fails 3 times the problem probably isn't grabby clutch plates.

As you might already know, the HCM uses pressure to engage the clutch. If the clutch plates are grabby or the line pressure doesn't match engine power, the engine can stall.

 

[Don in E Texas]

Bike only in 'storage' since it developed the problem. First noted issue when bike was not started for a few MONTHS (winter weather). Maybe an oil additive would help? Oil, water levels are all full. Fresh oil in late Fall - maybe 300 miles on fresh oil change? I've warmed engine up until cooling fan comes on - still have the problem.

 

[EdMat]

Bad gas? What happens if you accelerate while in neutral?

 

[BertRemington]

I'm still trying to understand your sequence of events.

Your 2014 was working properly last Fall when you changed the oil (what brand and weight?). Your 2014 continued to work correctly for 300 miles whereupon you parked it, without any preparation, for several months during the winter weather. Now with Summer almost here and apparently without any post-Winter "resuscitation" actions, you are unsuccessful in keeping the engine running when shifting into 1st or Reverse.

I'm still hopeful for grabby clutch plates. Here's a test to verify that. With the 2014 in Neutral, push it forward and backward about 2 feet. Using the gear shift left on the left-hand side, manually shift into a gear (preferably 1st). Then push the 2014 forward and backward about 2 feet. If the gear-engaged drag feels about the same as Neutral drag, you probably don't have grabby clutch plates and your stall problem is elsewhere.

If the drag is much higher, then manually shift back into Neutral, warm up the engine oil as before, turn off the engine, manually shift into a gear and with a friend push the 2014 back and forth for a total of 50 feet. Then manually shift back into Neutral, start the engine and see if you can shift into 1st without stalling.

 

[Dean8]

https://youtu.be/3AXrT9BFnC0?si=IeZsVBMo027SXa82 Different year but may work

 

[Mikey]

An oil additive would not be in any way an option in my book!

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

An oil additive would not be in any way an option in my book!

+10…….Think about it Don. Adding an additive to a wet clutch system, the intent of which is to increase clutch slippage. Sound like a good idea?

 

[Snowbelt Spyder]

Well, the “drag” test certainly isn’t a bad idea, and it's easy enough to do. I wish that Don could provide info if there are any secondary indications of a dragging clutch, such as the shift into gear being extra hard, or that the bike shudders, jerks, or tries to move before it stalls. Or... does it simply act as though he turned off the key? There’s nothing really special to be done to the oil system for winter storage that he didn’t do.

 

[Don in E Texas]

Engine runs fine..