| Author | Message | ||
     Redscuell |
After installing the California canister, it appears I have a serious problem that I assume is a coincidence to the installation, and not related to the canister. At idle, when checking the installation, AND WITH THE AIRBOX AND BASEPLATE REMOVED, smoke is coming from the crankcase breather hose at the rear (where the sponge filter is). No, it's not water vapour. And the smoke doesn't smell like the usual burning oil smell, for those of you who've had old vehicles that burn oil. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS MY POST IS LONG. And I could really use the Board's assistance, as the locals don't exactly inspire confidence when they didn't even know the service schedule for the 09 R ("you're between services at 10,000 km, mate; the intervals are 8,000 and 12,000 kms!"), when the manuals clearly state intervals are 1,000km then 10,000 km then 20,000 km etc. My 09 is has 7,500 km, is denoided, has the xb intake cover, and is minus its airbox. None of the mods s/b relevant to the problem, as all are not functional at idle with the latter two removed anyway. FIRST: nearing my home a few days ago, first the engine light came on. Fairly soon after, the battery light came on, and stayed on at idle after I pulled into my garage. Threw a "system voltage" code and voltage was 11.6, which is nearly flat according to the manuals. No worries, I remembered that 1125 owners have needed battery tenders in the past, so I got one and the voltage topped up to 12.6, which the manuals say is still only 75%. I'll take that up with the dealer under warranty. SECOND: looking through the Official Factory Manual for the 09, under troubleshooting, smoking can be caused by gas ('petrol', here in oz 'gas' is LPG) in the oil. So I remember that gas in the oil can lead to incorrect oil readings (the oil level rises) and I remember that my cold oil check and my hot oil check (again, according to the manuals) are very different. THIRD: so I performed the cold oil check in accordance with the manuals. The oil level just barely appears on the tip of the dipstick. FOURTH: then I performed the hot oil check in accordance with the manuals. The oil level is now substantially overfull. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABOVE FULL on a hot oil check before. I HAVE NOT ADDED OIL SINCE THE BIKE WAS DELIVERED NEW IN DECEMBER. What's happening to my baby?! Can I ride it (I've only ridden it the one time since the smoke, in order to do the hot oil check) or must I park it and have it taken to the dealer? (Message edited by redscuell on March 26, 2009) | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
If you are confident that you have performed the oil checks accurately, I would NOT ride it. Thinned oil, no lube, permanent damage. my 2 cents. | ||
| Redscuell |
Thanks, Carbon, I will do as you say because (1) that's my logic, too and (2) your prior posts have been spot-on. Thank you. NOW: are you saying the two checks should not be different? are you saying that it could be gas in the oil? If so, THEN HOW IS IT HAPPENING? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Dentguy |
Redscuell A few things to keep in mind. The crankcase does have to breath so you could see a little something there. Does it smell like oil? Obviously not burnt oil like you said. Did you ever look at it before when hot? It is possible that it was just breathing as it should. Was it running OK? Sounds like your engine light issue isn't related. Just for comparison, when I had my Uly, while hot with the airbox cover off, it puffed like an old train from the crankcase breather tubes. Doesn't mean you don't have an issue. Just some things to think about. (Message edited by dentguy on March 26, 2009) | ||
| Ron_luning |
The difference between hot and cold checks is the same on my bike. Nothing on the dipstick when cold, then in the center of the acceptable range when hot. The change can't be related to gasoline mixing into the oil, because after such a substantial amount got in there, it wouldn't go away very quickly. In other words, your next cold check would read high as well. I've seen breather tubes on other model bikes puffing away before; never looked at the 1125. | ||
| Kttemplar |
This may be a stupid question, but what are the differences between the California bikes and other bikes? is it just the canister or are there other differences as well. The reason I mention this is because there is a different fuel map for California bikes and adding the canister may require a california fuel map. Mike | ||
| Doerman |
Reds... Just throwing out my opinion here. I do not believe there's a worry of fine mist coming out of the breather. It is indeed venting from the crankcase. I saw it on a racebike this weekend when taking the airbox cover off after the race. None of your mods are affecting this. The difference you observe in cold and hotcheck is what I see on mine as well. I have 3 quarts (2.87L) and the two check methods show exactly the same as you see. Barely touching the tip of the dipstick on coldcheck and at the full mark on hotcheck. I would have the sudden loss of battery charge looked at by a dealer. You either have a short (while ignition is on), a poor ground, or a defective instrument pod. These bikes are losing charge rapidly with ignition on; as in when you are messing around with the DIAGmode. Fifteen or so minutes of that will drain a good chunk of the battery (DAMHIK). But your battery drain happened while riding so there's something else going on. The above is free advice and worth just as much.  Ktemplar: CA bikes have: - Charcoal canister to filter fuel evaporation from the tank and reduce VOC emission - A miniature catalytic converter built into the front of the muffler - A different ECM program to deal with the CAT and more stringent emission regulations in the state of CA - They are faster  (Message edited by doerman on March 27, 2009) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I only do the cold check as the hot check is just too complicated. It's easy to do the cold check on any given morning. I have not really trusted the factory oil check anyway, so after 3-4 oil changes, adding the proper amount of oil & subsequently noting the the cold oil level I can concur that the cold oil level should be from the tip of the stick to the "low" or "add" line (can't remember exactly what the stick says at the bottom.) Just got my bike bank and the service guy even mentioned that according to their "procedure" my bike is low on oil. I know it's not and that's all that counts. | ||
| Bikejunky |
My Question is why would you add the california evaporative canister to a bike? The only thing it does is capture the fumes from the fuel tank so they don't vent to the atmosphere... | ||
| Kttemplar |
Doerman, Thanks for the info. Mike | ||
| Redscuell |
"The difference between hot and cold checks is the same on my bike. Nothing on the dipstick when cold, then in the center of the acceptable range when hot" "Barely touching the tip of the dipstick on coldcheck and at the full mark on hotcheck." Thank you so much, chaps, that's genuinely helpful and reassuring. On the phone the service chap told me that smoking from the breather meant the oil level was too high. Now that I've sent it up by van to be checked out, and to have its 10,000 km service early (7,700 km on the clock) while it's up there, let's see what the dealer has to say. Bikejunky, the reasoning behind installing the ca canister is to stop the petrol smell, which is quite strong in my garage and she-who-thinks-she's-boss complains. THE CANISTER WORKED: NO MORE ODOUR. I did remove and plug the hoses and it didn't stop the smoking. No, it had never smoked before, with the baseplate off. The bike is/was running quite well, including idle; and the mileage (37 mpg average) is unchanged. The possibility of petrol in the oil was raised by the Buell manual, under troubleshooting/engine smoking; so I wasn't looking for trouble per se. Thanks again, I'll admit it had me freaked until your reassurances. | ||
| Geforce |
Redscuell, get a box fan or wire cage fan and set it in front of your bike when you pull it in. I have mine out all the time in the summer to help cool the engine down and circulate air through the garage after I pull the bike in. It does help get rid of the fume smell. That is, if this canister is proving to be a PITA. | ||
| Redscuell |
Dealer advise that indeed a wire had rubbed through, as doerman expected (thanks) and had wiped out the charging system. They will replace parts under warranty, though they advise it'll be weeks for parts to arrive. They state also that the "oil is only oil", that is, no petrol; and that the oil level was simply overfull. They've done the servicing to date, so we won't try to figure out what's happened there. And that the overfull condition has caused the smoking, and was cured by an oil change (bike was due for its 10,000 km service). So, 'serendipity': if I hadn't fitted the california canister, I'd not have noticed the smoking from the breather; and as for the charging, I would not have sent the bike in to the dealer because, from other posts on this Board, I would've assumed that the 1125s simply suffered from insufficient charging (this one was 75% from day one). Thanks again, all. |
