| Author | Message | ||
     Marcodesade |
So I finally got the Erik Buell Racing ECM for my 08 R with a Jardine RT-5 pipe.It runs a LOT better --- seems to pull better throughout the powerband and the popping is completely gone. However, it also apparently runs the fans a lot more too. And, after riding around town a little (including a couple stops), I got a SYSTEM VOLTAGE error, and then the battery died. This is pretty well documented, here for example: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/597712.html. I do realize that it's a race product; still, I am going to be using it on the street (where, so far, I do all my riding). But I do need to ensure against frequent and random strandings. So I'm curious about what others with the Erik Buell Racing ECM on 08 bikes do. Of course, the later models have stronger stators, so solutions for those bikes are less relevant here. The solutions I've identified are: 1. Send the ECM back for a reflash to reduce or eliminate the extra fan operation. The obvious solution, this one is cheap and would solve the battery drain, but would negate the cooler operating temperature (no small matter here in the So Cal summer). Erik Buell Racing has told me they're ready for me. 2. Get the stator rewound by a third party. A little scary for me --- I don't know who to ask, what exactly to ask for, or how to make sure it gets done correctly. Also, I'm pretty sure it would void the remaining two years of my extended warranty if/when it gets discovered. And Erik Buell Racing reminds me that the additional heat of a more powerful stator is what caused much of the problems of the later models. 3. "Upgrade" to the 09/10 stator and harness. Prohibitively expensive. I only include option as theoretically possible so it can be crossed off the list immediately. So, if you have an 08 and an Erik Buell Racing ECM, how do you manage the power drain? And, just out of curiosity, has anyone actually done the stator rewind that I'm reading about? or is that still in the realm of the theoretical at this point? | ||
| Littlebutquick |
RUN THE Erik Buell Racing ECM FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS ON MY 08 NO PROBLEMS FANS RUN FOR LESS BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA FUEL GOING IN AND MINE HAS SET TO HAVE NO OVER RUN ON THEM .YOU CAN HAVE THEM TO PROGRAM THE FANS TOO DO ANY THING YOU WANT  | ||
| Zac4mac |
Mark I would NOT entertain the idea of 09/10 charging system in your 08. Keep it on a Tender when you're not riding. I like the idea of having the fan use reduced in the ECM. I have an early generic open exhaust ECM and I have seen the battery light only once. I made a tail-box for Loretta and rode her a few days last week, no issues. She sits a lot now that I have the Uly, it's much better at commuting. She starts everytime tho and has always gotten me home. Zack | ||
| Pgh_biker |
I have an 08 with the Erik Buell Racing ECM and stock exhaust. My fans run all the time even with the CT down in the 160's. I haven't had any problems with the charging system. Does any one know what point the fans need to come on at? Seems a waste to have the fans come on at that low a temperature. That was when I was riding when it was 40 to 50 degrees out. | ||
| Stevek1125r |
Have you considered the possiblity that your battery is just getting weak.. | ||
| Aeholton |
Have you considered the possiblity that your battery is just getting weak.. My first thought too. I have an 08 and run the Erik Buell Racingecm. Most of my riding is in town commuting. Never had a low voltage problem. Also, being in FL my fans run constantly. I see 210+ coolant temperatures at traffic lights most of the time. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Marcodesade - That sys voltage error has happened to me a few times. I hate it. I asked Erik Buell Racing for oem Voltage Regulator management on last reflash and it didn't happen. I wrote e b r 2x about this charging issue. After 2 months with no answer I gave up and sold it. before I sold it I alternated between the oem and the ebr ecm 4 times. Every time I put the oem ECM back in and the battery stays up. Erik Buell Racing should segment the race module market to race (oem or better VR support) and full race (the way it is). let us know how this works out. I'll buy another Erik Buell Racing ECM in a heartbeat if it can be proven that Erik Buell Racing has dealt with this major streetability issue successfully. | ||
| Marcodesade |
Zac: I agree, the stator "upgrade" isn't really an option, but I listed it just so no one else would launch into an extended discussion on that line. It really isn't on the list, for price if no other reason. SteveK and AEH: I suppose it's possible that the battery is getting weak, but I'm suspicious of the fact that it just died with less than an hour on the road with the new ECM. Combine that with the facts: (1) others (MANY others; check the thread above) have similar problems, and (2) Erik Buell Racing also diagnoses increased fan operation as a problem for the weaker 08 stator; and I'm inclined to suspect that's the problem. Still, I suppose a battery test wouldn't hurt. But has anyone actually DONE the 3rd-party stator rewind I've seen discussed? | ||
| Pmjolly |
I have the exact same setup on my 08R. Race ECM, and Jardine exhaust. The fans do run more with the race ECM, but it has not caused me any problems. I put my battery on a trickle charger every so often, and always let it charge a while just before I ride. I never have any problems whether I ride short commutes or ride for several hours. I did put a new battery in it last spring. I was still running the OEM ECM at that time. It got hard to start, and the battery light would stay on until I kept the revs up for a few minutes. The new battery fixed it. I bought the bike used, and the previous owner let it sit too long without riding. | ||
| Aeholton |
Marcodesade: By looking at your profile, it appears you have had other electrical problems: Dead battery 100 miles (Replaced battery). Ongoing low battery light (even after installation of 09 Cluster). Chronic clutch weep which resulted in failure at 4500 miles and 3 additional reworks of the piston/sleeve by 7000 miles. Ignition switch failure at 6500 miles. 3 bad turn signals within 6500 miles. Not sure if the race ecm isn't amplifying some other condition you may have. I don't have an 09 cluster and not sure what is different between the two. I'm running stock exhaust with race ecm and longer velocity stacks. Everything else is stock. I have been using a widder heated vest during the recent cold snap and also have the accessory Uly power adapter powering my cellphone. The only time I see the battery light is at start up and it quickly goes out. I ride almost daily, that may be helping keep my battery up. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Danny, I've emailed EB R a few times and I'll usually get a prompt reply to my first email, but my follow up email asking for more detail will get ignored. I'm not sure what the deal is, unless I'm just asking questions that they can't or won't answer and rather than saying that, they just ignore me.  | ||
| Marcodesade |
AEH: Yes, my bike suffered its share of woes early on. However, with the exception of yet another, more recent, clutch weep (!) not yet represented in my profile, it's been really pretty trouble-free for quite a while (I have over 18K on the bike now). However, one continuing annoyance has been the poor charging. I do prefer to run with the high beams, and given that, the voltage rarely ventures above 13V or so, even on the freeway. The idea of adding accessories (heated gear, HID's, etc.) is a fantasy for me. Nothing I'd like more than to keep the "extra fans" option. But I can't take a chance on getting stranded in a canyon that has no cell service (most of my favorite rides don't) or at work (my bike is a daily commuter). | ||
| Blk09r |
"I asked Erik Buell Racing for oem Voltage Regulator management" Danny - They may not have answered because the ECU doesn't control the voltage regulator. It's a stand alone system. The ECU only controls the third leg of the stator. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Mark You are running with hi-beams a lot. There's your problem That's a LOT of power being used. Change your lo-beams to HID, leave the hi-beams OEM and JUST use them to flash potential "left-turn-in-front-of-you" bastards. That will cut your power consumption almost in half while INCREASING your forward visibility. Z | ||
| Marcodesade |
Really? HID use less power? I just assumed it was more, what with the ballast and all . . . | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
Hid's use less power to operate, but more power when they first turn on, they light up the road alot better then the stock bulbs. I got low beam hid's for my cr. If you want them check out ddm tuning. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I changed Loretta's lo-beams to HID over 2 years ago after getting back from Homecoming 2008. I haven't had a left-turner, been cut off or had anyone pull out too close in front since I did that. The hi-beams add virtually nothing to my ability to see ahead but the contrasting yellow of the halogens next to the HIDs is very "attention getting". BTW, I got 35W 6k so they are a tad on the blue side of white. Very good upgrade IMO, one change is good for more visibility and less power use. Z | ||
| Pmjolly |
Guys, I have to say, these HID lights do not use less power. This is a misconception. I have put a meter on mine to prove it. I have the DDM Tuning HID's on my 08R. They draw much more power when they first turn on (nearly double), then nearly the same as stock halogens when warmed up. There is no power savings realized. What you DO get is MUCH brighter light with nearly the same current draw. If Marcodesade were to install HID's on his low beams, and leave the high beams off, this would save power over both high and low with stock lamps while providing plenty of light. As soon as he turns on the high beams, it is nearly the same current draw as what he has now,but brighter. | ||
| Zac4mac |
The reason I say it saves power, is running 2 lo-beams(HID) consumes less than 2 lo-beams AND 2 hi-beams(Halogen). 35W(halogen) = 35W(HID) : Watts is a measure of power(electrical in this case) not light intensity. For someone who normally runs lo-beams only, the improvement is visibility alone. Someone who runs hi-beams regularly will save power by running lo-beams at half the draw. This only works on the R model, but there were no 2008 CRs. IMO, the 2 HID lo-beams are brighter than 4 OEM halogens. No proof tho, my observation. Happy New Year Z (Message edited by zac4mac on January 01, 2011) | ||
| Pmjolly |
ZAC, I believe we agree on this subject. Happy New Year. Pat | ||
| Mountainstorm |
20k miles plus now. Same battery. Installed the Erik Buell Racing ECM at around 7K miles. No problems ever. Quite to the contrary, my bike is running perfectly. Cold weather, hot weather, rain, stored outside under a cover. No complaints. | ||
| Smit3833 |
I ride an 08 1125R with the Erik Buell Racing ECM and an aftermarket pipe. I've had the low voltage light come on a few times after riding on the freeway then sitting in traffic. I turn my brights off (to reduce electrical load) and it has always perked back up once I get moving. I would say load test your battery. Cold temperatures and not using it very often will kill capacity. |
