Feeling Foolish

[Coffinlance]

I have 86 Voyager 1200. Last year it started missing when hitting bumps, and eventually died when I got in the driveway. Tried to restart it with no success, but when I turned it "off" and removed the key- all the lights ect stayed on. Soo, I ASSUMED it was the ignition. Well, $153.00 later ... it wasn't... Pissed me off and I parked it for the year (low on patience/funds).
This winter I asked the local dealership mechanic, and w/o skipping a beat, said it was a relay. Ok, I start with the ones easily accessible, and pull the Ignitor.... Wammo!! Super pumped. Order one from eBay...plug it in & holy crap...fires right up! But...the floats dried out and leaking gas all over....wait a week and give it another shot - no leaks.... BUT, in my excitement... I touched the handlebars with the wrench and killed it! Back to square one... same symptoms, and have bought 3 MORE IGNITORS with no luck (foolish part). All symptoms the same, and with used parts, I thought maybe I drew the Short stick two times in a row... No way I've gotten 3 out of 4 bad ignitors.... Or is it igniters? Any words of encouragement? I bout to dig a hole and bury it!!!

[cranky]

.. can't help ya but, at some point ya hafta stop throwing parts at it, get into
a fail condition, and have a tech type folk find the problem... sorry!!!

Ya need a good wrench.... IMHO I'm sure a lot of 'guesses' will come
in, but IMHO, you will just continue guessing... sorry....

[Mr Jensee]

Any chance the other ignitors weren't any good? Did you buy them locally from a dealer or off Ebay? My first thought initially was that since the bike was so old the boots that went from the carbs to the manifold had developed cracks I.E. leaks. However going by what you said it said that wouldn't account for the fact that hitting the handlebars with the wrench caused it to die. My second theory is you have something going on with the on off kill switch on the right handlebar. This may sound crazy but bear with me for a moment. I had a problem that stumped me for months. My headlight worked fine but my emergency alternative dash light wouldn't go out. I changed out 2 of those alternative wiring units under the left dash. Nothing worked. Carl Leo suggested I cut some wires on device but that didn't seem be a real cure. It was ONLY when I ordered new and changed out the whole left handlebar control did it end. I hope you find your problem but think out of the box. I know it sounds crazy but It might help.

[Me Again]

Touching the handle bar with a wrench should not have stopped the bike .
My Guess is you have a short and blew a fuse.