| Author | Message | ||
     Birdmanrh |
Well, it has happened about a dozen times now. The red light flashes and the engine runs like crap until I slow down, it cools and then I can go again. Of course the dealer tells me that I should not run at 80-90 for hours at a time, but what the heck?! This has happened with temps as low as 80, but in 100 plus heat quite more often. I am wondering if anyone knows of an upgraded oil cooler kit for the bike, I am betting that is what it needs. | ||
| Bubabuell |
Of course the dealer tells me that I should not run at 80-90 for hours at a time That is riddiculous. 90+ here often in L.A. I ride all day. Could be a faulty temp sensor. (Message edited by bubabuell on June 18, 2006) | ||
| Jlnance |
Something is wrong. We ran 80 all 500 miles down to Daytona and had no problems with overheating. Perhaps you're oil cooler thermostat is stuck closed? | ||
| Davo |
Birdmanrh, I would check your timing! Are you having any pinging? How long does it take for the fan to come on? Check your plugs and see if one or both are running hot. I speculate early timing but it could be a intake manifold vac.leak or a bad ET sensor. See the timing thread by Davo. I think there is a real timing issue with ULy's. ET is pin 9 (pink with yellow) off of the gray connector at the ECM. When you come in hot pull the connector and check the resistance from pin 9 to ground with a multimeter or a DVOM (digital volt/ohm meter). You should be greater/more than 200 ohms. If not post the reading. (Message edited by davo on June 18, 2006) | ||
| Chadhargis |
The factory tested the bike at top speed for tank fulls in Arizona. Your dealer is misinformed. | ||
| Dave |
Elevate the problem and the service department's reluctance to resolve. ... seek another dealer if available. DAve | ||
| Gowindward |
Engine Temp Sensor, have the wiring checked out for a short or have the sensor replaced. | ||
| Davo |
If the wiring on the ET was shorted then the fan would run immediately and the bike would go into skip mode as well. There might be a fault in the ET sensor but I think a plug read would be a good idea. I would want to know if the engine is actually over heating. If it is then retard the timing and/or look for a intake manifold leak. | ||
| Crusty |
I just rode out to Syracuse, NY and back. 300 miles each way at 80 MPH. Yesterday, it was 94 Degrees F, and the humidity was something like 85%. The bike ran fine. Find a dealer with a competent service tech. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
On the 'Ride around Texas' ride, I rode along the Tex/Mex border in 100+ degrees with high humidity that varied from city traffic, (Galveston, South Padre Is) to highway riding. This was a fully loaded bike with a aux. fuel cell. No pinging, cutting out, nothing. The Uly ran perfectly. As Crusty says, "Find a dealer with a competent service tech." | ||
| Buelldualsport |
BOB: Any pictures of the aux fuel cell? Thanks | ||
| Blake |
What Davo said!  Thanks Davo. | ||
| Whodom |
Don't his symptoms also fit in with the sticking exhaust servo valve that was a problem on some Uly's? Valve sticks closed at high speed causing overheating? | ||
| Davo |
They claim it will go 80. Check it out: http://www.buell.com/en_us/bikes_gear/ulysses/index.asp "steve: Will the Ulysses cruise comfortably at 80? Dan: All day." (Message edited by davo on June 19, 2006) | ||
| Davo |
I had a bad exhaust actuator and the only symptoms that I had was engine light on and engine cutting off at highway speeds after stumbling. You can simply open up a faulty unit and free it up. There is a barrel bolt and a gear that gets jambed up inside the actuator. I do not think it is a overheating issue. I would really look at timing!!! | ||
| Jim_sb |
My SoCal based Ulysses will cruise at 80+ all day. I think that's much easier on the motor than a 500 mile day shredding canyons. Did I mention it does that too? I broke it in by the book and at 4k miles it has more 'juice' now than ever. Mileage is improving as well. Best, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Birdmanrh |
It will be at the dealer on Wednesday, I will give them a shot to figure it out. It has never made me stop, the light flashes and the engine stumbles. I get off the throttle and actually downshift. The light goes off and the power comes back and BOOM I am off and running. Maybe it is the exhaust valve?? (Message edited by BirdmanRH on June 20, 2006) | ||
| Bubabuell |
That sounds suspicously like the exhaust valve, IMO. | ||
| Birdmanrh |
A lot of head nodding when I said exhaust valve at the dealer this morning. They will be replacing the fan.....again..... | ||
| Fullpower |
how you could "overheat" your aircooled engine while moving i don't know. sound s highly unlikely. there is no thermostat in the oil cooler plumbing, it circulates all the time. my version of thermostat is to stuff a shop rag into the oil cooler air scoop. | ||
| Jim_sb |
The engine is air cooled but it is also tightly wrapped in a frame of metal. The rear cylinder in particular has precious little room for air to circulate. I have also noticed that at times the frame itself gets quite warm. I would hope the bike won't overheat, but I wouldn't count on it if I was riding on a warm day. Jim in SB | ||
| Chadhargis |
I spent considerable time moving slowly in rush hour traffic on a 90+ degree day. When I was able to get out of traffic, the engine pinged badly on roll on, but after about a mile, it cooled enough to allow full throttle roll ons with no pinging. This is the only aircooled engine I've never worried about overheating. | ||
| 44mag |
What is the purpose of the right side cover? The manual calls it an air scoop, but it doesn't look like a scoop to me. The manual calls the left side a ram scoop. | ||
| Birdmanrh |
So far they have had the bike for 6 days and they have tested NOTHING! All they have done is drive it around. That and they are telling me that they will not replace the fan until it stops...... Not having a lot of confidence in this process so far.... EDIT -- I guess all the riding around actually paid off. They have duplicated the problem and now are talking to the factory about it. Seems that when it happens it does not throw a code?? (Message edited by BirdmanRH on June 26, 2006) | ||
| Thunderbox |
I would be very surprised if the bike is actually overheating. I just got back from a 7800 Km trip and after a full day of riding 2 up with 100 lbs of baggage at 65-75 mph I could still but my hand on the oil reservoir and it was not uncomfortable. I am sure there is no need for any extra cooling at all on the Uly. Apparently Buell knows what they are doing in this regard. If anything I am worried the oil doesn't get warm enough to do the best job. By the way I was very pleased with the fuel economy during the trip I took. I was getting 50 mpg (US) or better 95% of the time. Only time it was not that good was when running at 80 mph or above and when I had severe headwinds. (on the prairies) | ||
| Birdmanrh |
OK, I thought I was getting somewhere. I got a call today and they told me that they found the problem...... They unplugged my aftermarket horn and the problem went away????? I calmly explained to the tech how that was not a possible conflict. He assumed since he had the problem once and then rode the bike again and had no problem that the horn must be the problem. They still have yet to even physically inspect the wires for the engine temp sensor....... ARRRRGGGGGG!!!! (Message edited by BirdmanRH on June 28, 2006) | ||
| Davo |
Birdmanrh, How is the overheating problem going? | ||
| Birdmanrh |
It still does it, the dealer was zero help and I am completely frustrated. They had the bike for a week, rode it around and tried to tell me it was the horn?! They supposedly said they checked the wiring, but I doubt that and they did not check the ET sensor. The fan also sounds like it has a bearing going bad and they would not replace it either. I just don't think I should have to troubleshoot a brand new bike...... | ||
| Stevenknapp |
A couple of things that are very easy to check ..I know you shouldn't need to. But hey. The muffler's variable exhaust tract valve is easy to check. Throttle wide open, then turn on the key, it should cycle. Check the free play in the cable too, there should be *very* little when closed. You'll need to remove the airbox cover to see the servo. Look at the fan by removing he seat. Mine was making similar noises, turns out a bug was stuck in it. Quick flick with my finger, no more bug, blew it out with some air, all is better. I don't think this will fix your problem BTW. I'd also call Buell customer service. added some words to clarify what "exhaust valve" to check (Message edited by blake on July 17, 2006) | ||
| Birdmanrh |
The fan is a bad bearing, pretty familiar with electric fans, I thought for a while it might be a leaf. Thanks for the valve check, that I can do. I did pull the entire airbox and saw a slight fray in the wire to the ET sensor. Mostly through the plastic protector, did not see wire (red cover I think?) The wire however was sitting directly on the head. I lifted it and I guess we will see. I am guess that we are going to see a recall on the timing of this bike. I am not sure how they can avoid it.... |
