| Author | Message | ||
     Skifastbadly |
After my 07 puked a crank, I gave it lots of thought and picked up an 08 for a decent price. Given all the improvements that the 08 was supposed to have, I felt fairly confident that I'd be better off. So on Friday, I left Seattle for a 5 day tour of the Northwest. On Friday afternoon, just outside of Ontario, OR, the bike started surging, like it was starving for fuel or having some electrical problem. It was in the high 90s and I'd put 450 miles on that day. So I got to the destination and decided to worry about it the next day. Saturday it ran like a champ until later in the day when again it was in the high 90s and again it started surging. Crap. Because I've wasted...er...spent hours and hours on both this site and ADV, I had lots of anecdotal information inside my helmet. I thought of the skip spark problem, and with the heat, that kind of made sense. But what I noticed then was every time the bike started losing power, it was after I was down a gallon or two of gas, and every time I filled the tank, it immediately ran fine again...until I got back down on fuel. At one point, I pulled over in Moscow, ID for lunch, and even though I had put 65 miles on since the last refill, gas was dripping out of the overflow tube. So now I'm thinking "the gas in the frame is boiling". Weird. Was it running too hot? Was the gas cap not venting properly? Hard to say. In addition to all this, on a couple of occasions when I turned on the kill switch, there was no power to my GPS, which is hooked into that circuit. I'd pull a fuse, inspect it, find it good, and replace it, and then the GPS powered on with the switch. Stranger and stranger. Then my turn signals failed and my headlight blew. Electrical, right? So yesterday, after spending the night in Missoula, stopping by Montana Harley/Buell to buy a new headlight, I headed north. 50 miles north of Missoula, only 15 miles after I had filled, the bike died. I pulled over and tried to restart, it popped and backfired but no go. Also, upon turning the kill switch on, I could not hear the fuel pump go on. Called the dealer, they sent a truck up. While waiting around I tried starting it again, after it cooled down, and I it started normally, ran for a bit, and then died. I got back to the shop at about 3 and they can't figure it out. Might be the ECM, might be something else. I suggested that there's a known issue with the fuel pump wiring (could explain the other electrical issues?) and they're looking at that. There's a tech with an 07 coming in later this morning, they might try and swap the ECM to see if that sorts it, but I don't believe the 07 is compatible with the 08 ECM. I thought long and hard about this trip before I left, I went back and forth on the Uly vs. my 04 HD Heritage. That'll teach me. As it stands, I'm stuck in Missoula in a Holiday Inn WHICH IS EXACTLY LIKE BEING ON A BUSINESS TRIP WHICH I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING A VACATION FROM... Who do you know wants to buy a Uly? | ||
| Badrap |
Sorry to hear about your problems. I hope they get it fixed fast. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sorry to hear about it Craig. I'd vote for ECM. The ECM controls a lot more of the electrical system on the 08-up bikes than it did on the 06 and 07's. ECM problem would explain the weird electrical issues. It could be something in the ECM breaking down with heat. It may have nothing to do with the fuel level- simply cutting the bike off for a while gives the ECM time to cool down and then work correctly until it heats up again. Also- have you seen the threads about the seat resting on the ECM connectors eventually leading to failure? It'd be worth checking the ECM for signs of the seat rubbing on the connectors and/or cracks on the ECM near the connectors. Good luck- keep us posted. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Thanks Hugh. They're chasing that down. They were doing a pin by pin analysis last night and this morning. I didn't see any scuff marks on the ECM which would indicate the classic seat rub problem. Will keep everyone advised of progress. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Your thread title reminded me of this Bottle Rockets song: I guess you feel like the character in this song. "Can't go west, can't go east, I'm stuck in Indianapolis with a fuel pump that's deceased." (Message edited by Hughlysses on August 23, 2011) | ||
| Motorbike |
Skifastbadly, the seat on my 08 XT was hitting the ECM, even with the spacer block installed. It was very hard to see at first and took me a few times to notice it was actually hitting the connector, just in one corner. It was not real obvious. When I installed my Erik Buell Racing ECM, I decided to re-position it so I would never have to worry about that again. Also, I believe the seat base gets softer as it heats up, allowing the plastic to flex down and make contact with the connector, especially with my gravitationally challenged ass pushing it down. I hope the shop can get you going soon. Good luck! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Dig that Bottle Rockets song, Hughlyssess. Two more votes here for seat rubbing on/cracking the ECM. Not that it matters, but on my trek from MN to FL about two months after our '09 Uly X/Macon/ECM fiasco, I stopped by the HD/B (Macon)dealership that initially tried to diagnose our problem to let them know it was a cracked ECM causing our problems. Once we limped the X home to FL, Seminole HD confirmed it was a cracked ECM and it was replaced. Quickly. Had Macon not seemed like such a Buell friendly dealer, I would not have bothered stopping by and following up with them. Knock wood, no problems since. Hope you get it resolved quickly, skifastbadly. | ||
| Dr_greg |
SFB, I don't have anything to add to the other comments, but I'd just like to commiserate with you, and hope very much that you get back on the road quickly. It would be unbelievably frustrating to have a vacation go bad like that. Here's hoping... --Doc | ||
| Mtdan |
SFB, I am about 3 hours away and could help on thurs if you are still high centered.....let me know if I can come that way and be of assistence.....sorry for your troubles, hopefully the dealer can get you straightened out....good thing you were that close to a dealer. Heck, hopefully you are back on the road right now!!! | ||
| Skifastbadly |
According to the dealer, it's likely the ECM. He's overnighting one and should have it installed tomorrow (Wednesday). Either I ride home tomorrow or it's something else and I fly home and return at a later date to pick it up. The guys at Montana Harley Davidson / Buell seem quite helpful. Thanks for all the good wishes. Mtdan, I appreciate your offer of assistance but unless you've got a spare 08 ECM laying around, I don't think there's much you can do. Thanks. | ||
| Steveford |
If they install it in the stock position, unbolt it, wrap it in bubble wrap or something like that and shove it as far down as you can get it. We really need a proper ECM relo kit. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Hey Skifastbadly Sorry to hear about your plight. Since you're suck there with internet access, any chance you can load some pics so we can see what's goin' on in Missoula. Might be cool. | ||
| Nose2wind |
ECM, You don't have to relocate, just bend the mounting tab a little this will angle the connector away from the seat. Take a utility knife and enlarge the hole so if the connector contacts the seat it will be against foam. Takes about 5 minutes. I can't believe their are riders on this list waiting for this well documented problem to occur before addressing the fix. Sorry for your problems, I have been there twice, before learning of this easy to fix problem. What amazes me is the dealers don't care. They will just keep replacing ECM's and not address the cause (even if you show them). I couldn't wait to get home and pull the seat to get at the problem before it happened a third time. | ||
| Mtdan |
SFB, no '08 ECM, but do have a truck with trailer....if it comes to that, gas money would be all I'd want, might be cheaper/quicker than leaving the bike and then returning....hopefully the ECM does the trick and you'll ride home....truck is a Tacoma so gas would not be all that bad. I am assuming you live in the Northwest? good luck. | ||
| Nipsey |
That just plain sucks! I love Missoula though - if I am not mistaken there is a great brewery right down the street (depending upon which Holiday inn you are at) http://www.bigskybrew.com/ Good luck and i hope to hear positive news... | ||
| Kenm123t |
DR Greg how are you? Healing up well? Ride safe! | ||
| Nobuell |
The ECM on my 08XT was damaged from seat contact at around 5K miles. At the time, I was not aware of the problem. I did not have any noticeable electrical issues, but it ran lousy, idled high, bucked, seamed like it was running on 1 cylinder and sometimes ran fine. I removed mine from the bracket and mounted it below the bracket support on a bed of silicone foam rubber. | ||
| Debueller |
Craig, I've got a two spare '08 ECM's if you need them. Let me know if you need them shipped asap because I'm leaving town tomorrow. BTW, one is a stocker and one is an Erik Buell Racing, and they both have seat pan damage but will get you home. I could ship both to you and you could return them to me when you get home. I live in Ravensdale WA, about an hour from Woodinville. Also, there are at least three brewerys in Missoula. Bayren, Big Sky, and Kettelhouse. My girlfrind and I were just rode through there three weeks ago on our way to Glacier NP. Jerry (Message edited by debueller on August 24, 2011) | ||
| Hughlysses |
there are at least three brewerys in Missoula. Bayren, Big Sky, and Kettelhouse Given Craig's mental state regarding his Uly and the fact above, we may not be hearing from him until MUCH later today.   | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Jerry, thanks for the offer, the new ECM is supposed to be in today and with any luck I'm out of here. If not, I may be flying back and returning in a few weeks to pick it up. Much appreciated. Craig | ||
| Ourdee |
The seat pan damage would show on the plug connecting to the ECM. You would see marks on the circle with two bars vent under the seat.  I cut angles into the mounting tabs on my ecm to get more clearance.  I am seeing a pattern to the failures. Has anyone else noticed the high temps that could allow the seat pan to soften up and sag more? | ||
| Dr_greg |
Not to hijack, but... DR Greg how are you? Healing up well? Yes, busted finger isn't bothering me much anymore. Ride safe! I sure hope so! --Doc | ||
| Hughlysses |
Glad to hear you're recovering well Doc. I hope Craig's Uly is fixed and he's back on the road by now, or that he at least posts some photos of the tasty beers available in those 3 breweries... | ||
| Cerk26 |
Here's hoping they got you sorted and back on your way today. Best of luck! | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Bugger all, as the British say. I waited around yesterday because the HD dealer was getting an ECM in today. They installed it, and the fuel pump is still not turning on with the kill switch. I had to get home, so on top of whatever this repair is going to cost me, it was another 300 for the plane ticket. I suppose they'll have it sorted in a few days, but for now there are 470 miles between me and that bike. And somehow, that doesn't seem like quite enough.... | ||
| Paul56 |
Stone the bloody crows! Sorry to hear of your bad luck. Sucks to have a trip turn out like that. Glad there's no physical injury involved. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
That sucks hard. I'm sorry to hear it. | ||
| Nose2wind |
That Sucks! If the fuel pump is shot should you get an error code? Did I tell you about the time I went riding too Colorado from Dallas? 2 days into the trip I starting going blind (detached retina)now that sucked bad! Birddawg |
