Can a fuel pump be intermittent?

[FluffyDog6]

The bike occasionally just dies, like someone turn off the key.

After sitting for half an hour, it comes back to life, and runs like nothing happened.

I don't want to spend $350 replacing the fuel pump on a guess. It tests fine per the manual, but that wouldn't be during the "intermittent" failure time.

1996 GL1500 SE

[Rambozo]

If after sitting it starts right up, it is probably not your fuel pump. If the carbs were run dry from a bad pump, you would have to crank it for a bit to get the carbs to fill back up. If you do have to crank it a bunch you are probably on the right track looking at the fuel system. You can always ride around with a fuel pressure gauge to keep an eye on it. You can also wire in a test light to make sure the pump is getting power.
It goes without saying so I'd better ask, when it dies have you opened the fuel cap to check for a vacuum in the tank? (clogged cap valve)
Sounds like could be something heat related?

[FluffyDog6]

Yes, I had the cap open. It was the first thing I thought of.

I’m not certain it is the pump, as it kept trying to “kick” a little, and eventually with full choke and waiting about 30 minutes, it came back.

It ran poorly for a few seconds, then back to normal and I rode it straight home about 6 miles with no further drama.

It has since started right up three times on different days, but I haven’t risked riding it.

[Rambozo]

That does sound like a fuel issue. You just need to figure out if it is a pumping problem or an electric problem. The gauge and light will let you know what is going on. Maybe do some local laps so you ride a longer time but a shorter distance, just in case.

[4given]

Fuel shutoff valve and vacuum line to it? You can bypass it it to see if it is functioning properly or not.

[WingAdmin]

Could also be a faulty bank angle sensor. Try jumpering it and see if it solves the problem. If so, then replace the bank angle sensor.

[FluffyDog6]

What does that look like?

[Rambozo]

Could also be a faulty bank angle sensor. Try jumpering it and see if it solves the problem. If so, then replace the bank angle sensor.

If it was the BAS it wouldn't crank.

[WingAdmin]

Could also be a faulty bank angle sensor. Try jumpering it and see if it solves the problem. If so, then replace the bank angle sensor.

If it was the BAS it wouldn't crank.

When the BAS start to fail, they will trigger a quick, transient "hey I've fallen over" signal, usually when you hit a bit bump. This signal is latching, so all it takes is one quick bump on a faulty/failing one to latch it into "alarm" mode - and when this happens, the bike shuts off like you turned the key off.

If you turn the ignition off and then back on, assuming the BAS is not in a position that causes it to still be in "alarm", it unlatches the sensor and then the bike will crank and start up again.

[Rambozo]

Could also be a faulty bank angle sensor. Try jumpering it and see if it solves the problem. If so, then replace the bank angle sensor.

If it was the BAS it wouldn't crank.

When the BAS start to fail, they will trigger a quick, transient "hey I've fallen over" signal, usually when you hit a bit bump. This signal is latching, so all it takes is one quick bump on a faulty/failing one to latch it into "alarm" mode - and when this happens, the bike shuts off like you turned the key off.

If you turn the ignition off and then back on, assuming the BAS is not in a position that causes it to still be in "alarm", it unlatches the sensor and then the bike will crank and start up again.

Yeah, if you cycle the key. The OP said it wouldn't restart, but was cranking and he had to wait 30 min to get it to start. Those symptoms don't fit a BAS failure.