| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
The engine does not have to be removed for top end work, nor does it have to be removed for most any repair you'll ever have to make on your Blast. It will need to be lowered, which means you'll need a floor jack. Its not hard. | ||
| Jetlee |
I just loosen the two isolator bolts down to slightly past the nylon locks on the nuts. That's enough lowering for me to remove the rocker box with very little to no issues. | ||
| Limelight |
OK odd ride today. Rode for 3.5 hours on a straight back roads run at 65 yesterday. Ran perfect except for a sneeze and stumble at one high rpm. Ride into Houston today (75 miles), about 45 out, pick up new 175 jet from dealership that took week to get here and they ask me about the bike, if it's refused to start on me again while out of town. HAHA, drive off, about 15 miles to next "city" to run gig. Leave gig, it's about 38 out, ride thought city with buddy, he peels off, I head home on the freeway, runs perfect. Stop for soda, made fun of by clerk with his hog out front. Runs Perfect. Stop at walmart 15 miles down the road, pick up some 20-50 cause I knew I was low. Bottom of stick while hot, add 1/4 quart, over the top, lol. Always. Get back on her, runs great, get off freeway and on back road doing 65. I get with in seeing the lights of the town of 2k people I live another 5 miles past and the bike just dies. No sneeze, no cough, nothing. I pull the clutch, give a little gas, let clutch out, nothing. Do that twice, nothing. Again but hit the starter this time. Nothing but starter did engage.. Pull off and try to start her again, nothing. Check fuel line is still attached, turned on, spark plug wire attached. Try to start her 7-8 times and can see my head light getting dimmer. $%#@!, times 3. It's about 32 out at this point and midnight. Take the gloves off to break out the cell phone, try one last time and she starts right up and then dies. I try one more time, fires right up, throw on the gloves and haul ass down the road hoping whatever is "breaking" lasts the next 8 miles. Ran a little rough and stumbled a few times but then cleared right up and got me home. I'm going to take her out tomorrow and check a few things but any ideas? Stand switch? I'm also installing the new 175 jet after that. Was hoping powertube and spring would be here but maybe monday. Just means I get 3 times the work but get to feel exactly what each upgraded part does. I plan on videoing it all. | ||
| Johneblast |
It may be the ignition module. It sounds like the symptoms. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Concur. Take the timing/points cover off so the next time it happens you can check for spark. The LED flashes every time it sparks. No flash, no spark (be sure to check this when the bike is running and starting so you know what you are looking at). Leave it off until you find the problem. If its not flashing then you dont have spark which could mean a bad safety switch (including the BAS) or a bad ignition module (or a loose/broken wire which is more uncommon unless your Blast is a serious beater). Remember, if the BAS shuts your bike down it probably wont restart until you turn off all power (turn the key off). Have you disabled any safety switches yet? Unfortunately, if it is the ignition module it might drive you crazy as symptoms are often inconsistent. TAKE OFF THE POINTS/IGNITION COVER NOW! If you'd already done this you'd have been way ahead diagnostically. Ignition modules dont usually fail completely. They will usually run when it and the bike cools down a little. (Ignition coils will also do the same thing, but its rarely the coil on a Blast. Find the headlight plug. Its about 6" down the wire coming out of the headlight bucket. If you have any kind of a problem, unplug it to save your battery. When the battery runs down its very common that the headlight and starter will draw the power away from the ignition module causing even harder starting. (yes, you can pull the headlight fuse, but they are not sturdy, so you'd better have an extra if you do! It also seems a whole lot more work to pull it) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
You also might want to wait before doing any more mods. If you do a mod and then have a problem, you wont really know if the problem is new or old. Though I'm betting the problem is not in your carb, but....... | ||
| Limelight |
Good call on the head light disconnect Gearheaderiko. I'm doubtfull it's the ignition module since the bike has been running perfectly, in 70-80 degree weather, for hours, with me trying to break the engine. Not to mention it was 30 degrees F out and I didn't sit long enough for the bike to cool down any. | ||
| Jetlee |
Typically when the module is going out, it does so when it gets hot, then as it cools down it works again. If it's only 30ºF out, your ignition module is staying pretty cool with the wind rushing past it. As the day/sun warms up, it can let it warm up a little and start its issues. Remember we don't have thermostats, so our engines rely solely on air temperature for cooling. As the day warms up, the engine runs warmer; as it runs longer, it runs warmer. It doesn't go out everytime it gets warm, which is why it's hard to diagnose a bad ignition without just replacing it and eliminating it. Take the cover off and next time it quits, watch the light to see if it's flashing. (Message edited by Jet-Lee on February 12, 2012) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"I'm doubtfull it's the ignition module since the bike has been running perfectly, in 70-80 degree weather, for hours, with me trying to break the engine. Not to mention it was 30 degrees F out and I didn't sit long enough for the bike to cool down any." Yes....thats just what it wants you to think HaHaHaHa!!! The symptoms will vary with each bad module and it might not do anything but shut down at random without any other symptoms. Thats not to say it is the module, you just cant rely on a specific set of symptoms for a bad module. Did you pull the timing/points cover off yet? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
.....or concur with Jetlee! | ||
| Jetlee |
When my module went out, the bike would just randomly die. By randomly, I mean 100% randomly...at idle at a light, while warming up in the driveway, while cruising the freeway, while WOT, during decel down a hill...RANDOMLY. I would turn the key off then back on (while still rolling) and tap the starter and it'd fire right back up. There were ZERO other symptoms. Then one day it just didn't start. Looked down and no flashing light. New ignition and I've had zero ignition issues since (aside from my own experimentations). Do as Erik says: Take that cover off and take note of the flashing light while it's running right, then what it does after it dies/sputters. (Message edited by Jet-Lee on February 12, 2012) | ||
| Limelight |
well changed out my carb emulsion tube, high speed jet, and spring. Taped it all, but camera stopped after 1 min and didn't get any of it, lol. Had a good comparison of the springs and emulsion tubes. Oh well, I'll do it all again for video once the cold weather passes. Got hail today. Always a cold front when I plan to work on this beast. Took her around the hood. WOW. New bike, that spring and emulsion made all the difference. You can really feel the pickup in throttle response with the spring and power with the tube. Taped the before and after, bike died again on the before. Same thing, just died, took 2 tries and started right up, did smell a bit of gas. Next time I'll pull the timing cover off and check light. Luckily last owner laid bike down and chipped just barely the edge of the timing cover case so it's easy to pop off. Well, decide to make the run outside the hood, talk shit on video about buddy who only breaks with the front break. EVER. Come around a corner into an S curve, one I take at 75 ALL THE TIME, loose it, and go straight for the ditch. Tires were still cold, rode was cold, little hail, I just couldn't get her through that turn. 2 Foot drop off into a ditch, fence on the way at me, ride her perfectly down the ditch till I hit the soft dirt/clay. The soil around here is like ant piles loose. Why my rv is stuck in the mud with 1k in new tires sitting next to it. Front tire digs right in, bike goes sideways and I'm down. No injuries, soft landing in the soft dirt. Bike instantly dies. Thank you roll over switch and tank valve. Turn her off, check myself, all good. At this point I'm 90 to the road, 2 feet down, in a ditch with the bike on top of my right leg. Thank god for telfon pants and boots, no burn or heat. Then realize at the angle I'm at and the soft dirt, I can't get the bike off my leg. Start to panic a little, pull off helmet. try, try, try, fail fail fail. All I did was dig the bike in deeper so now the entire weight is right on my ankle bone. No major pain but uncomfortable. Lay there a few mins thinking about how I just talked trash on buddy, then crash, on video and flash back to a video I watched of a kid who couldn't get his bike up while vblogging. Wasn't totally panic'd cause I was not even a mile from home and had cell phone on me. Could have called my little sister to help pull the bike off me but I knew I'd never hear the end of it, lol. Push her up a few times with my arms as far as I can and then use other leg on the frame to push her off me. Nothing broken, mirror spun but that was it. Yay soft dirt. Took more time to get her out of the ditch than anything, kept spinning on the clay. Finaly rocked her good while working the throttle and clutch and got out. Took a once over, not a scratch on her. Starts right up and drove her home. Checked again and nothing looks broken. Hailing again of course. Time for the diablos and no more talking shit while vblogging on the bike. lol. | ||
| Jetlee |
Glad to hear you're ok. Never take turns fast with cold tires. EVER! What emulsion tube and spring did you put in? Why didn't you check the ignition module this time when it wasn't starting? The longer you plan to do it "next time", the longer your problem may persist. -Edit- What tires do you have? (Message edited by Jet-Lee on February 12, 2012) | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
AAAARGHTAKE THE POINTS/TIMING COVER OFF NOW!!! I thought I'd said that? I'm glad you're okay, but 75mph, its cold, and hailing, and you went down? I'm shocked to say the least. Ride the Blast long enough and you'll learn the rear brake is not your friend. The harder, faster you ride, the less you'll want to use it. | ||
| Limelight |
I know I know. I knew better but was pushing the bike a little to test the carb mods. CVP emulsion tube and spring. LOL. I heard ya I heard ya. The next time it dies I promise to take the cover off and check. lol. I'm starting to agree on the back brake on the blast. Bike is just too light for it to be any use. I hit the rear and front brake right as I rolled over an arrow painted on the road and instantly slid yesterday when car in front of me locked his up to avoid a rear ending. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Yeah, it locks up real easy, especially with the Dunlops. You can leave the timing cover off all the time until you find the problem. I'd only worry in the rain or very dusty conditions. Again, I'm glad you werent hurt. | ||
| Limelight |
I'm in rain and dusty every day. Promise next time I'll pop the cover off. Like I said I can pop it out with my finger. | ||
| Limelight |
wow. Rained like crazy today. If I had crashed today instead of yesterday I would have drowned being trapped under the bike in that same ditch. wow. | ||
| Limelight |
Just found this. Figured I'd post it as I hadnt seen this bike or story here. Buell Blast sets speed record for class. http://www.hotbikeweb.com/hotnews/0901_hbkp_klock_ werks_beat_the_clock/index.html | ||
| Jetlee |
I believe the current record for a naked Blast is 118mph by Terry Parsley, and 135mph full fairing by the same. | ||
| Jetlee |
http://www.jtsperformance.com/jtscssabout.html | ||
| Ezblast |
Get Pirelli! Only thing that Blast was ever good for because of its long wheelbase. The Clocke family have made good use of it - still have not blown it up! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Jet - thats because Terry is a fricken genius! EZ | ||
| Ezblast |
Jet - Terry's current records - he's competing with the 650cc group, and plans on taking on the 750cc with his own magnum - lol EZ | ||
| Wild_card |
can i take the chrome pushrod covers off a sportster and put them right on my blast or do i need any special parts? if someone has done this before please tell me how. thanks. | ||
| Jetlee |
Ah ok. 750cc...that's a 45 incher! Doable with half of Revolution Performance's 90 inch kit and a 1200 crank. That combo is actually 737cc's, but ya. Oooh, if I had a shop and that kinda money... Wait a minute...I think I can top 110mph on mine with one minor exhaust modification and adding a flyscreen back on. My speedo has read over 105mph several times... | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Limelight, I spent an agonizing 35 minutes with my left ankle pinned down by the footpeg mount on my 100cc two smoke back in the seventies... probably the longest ten hours of my life. Sandy whoop-d-doos at fifty (with a generous 4" of suspension travel) seemed like a bright idea at the time! No way to move the bike, and my boots conspired against me with the buckles, ankle plate and sole catching in all directions. Thank goodness the only other rider ( an adult on a YZ390), the one I was chasing after, said to himself "Where did that kid who was chasin' me go to" and made another loop of the trail. I'd still be there! | ||
| Kmbuell |
"That" Blast was an awful lot of fun on Battletrax. "That" Blast did a lot of fun stuff, and handled VERY well. It did well even with a flat front tire one day. It would only fall over when the rim hit the pavement! Try hitting that 105 on salt with a 30% plus slip rate. It's a lot of work, if it was easy we'd all be doing it! Ride safe! | ||
| Limelight |
Tilt, I'm just glad I always wear my work boots and work pants since it was the exhaust on my ankle. Saw a firebolt in town today, pulled over and let him catch up and made friends. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Wild card-no on the pushrod covers. They sell kits (its basically half an XB kit). Zippers and check Revolution Performance.http://www.revperf.com/ |
