| Author | Message | ||
     Blackwell12xt |
Basically, ive had the bike (09 uly) put up under a carport for the last month or two and i've been going out to start it and let it run a bit every couple of weeks. I have added Lucas Oil fuel stabilizer. Today, in about 15-20 degree weather, i went to start the bike and the battery had a hard time turning over the motor at first. (i dont have a battery tender yet.. im poor..) It stumbled and died a couple times before i used a bit of throttle and it finally ran, but i immediately noticed it was only running on one cylinder. i let it run a few minutes thinking that it would warm up and fire on both, but it never did. Never exceeded 2000 rpm while it ran. I didn't want to rev it too high or let it run too long in the state it was in. Confirmed it was running on one cyl by feeling the exhaust. Front header was cold, rear was piping hot. so.. did i foul the front plug? if so, was it because of the cold fuel stabilizer? and the bigger question is, if i am storing the bike outside (i dont have much choice currently), should i be starting it periodically like i am or should i be draining the fluids and just waiting til spring? Am i doing more harm than good by starting it in this cold of weather? Sorry if these questions seem like no-brainers to some, but i'm still a fairly new buell owner and any advice is greatly appreciated. | ||
| 1_mike |
Why are you starting it..."every couple of weeks...?" It's hard on - 1. The oil (condensation) 2. The starter (extra work for nothing) 3. The muffler (condensation) 4. The cylinder walls (condensation) 5. The rings (condensation) 6. The spark plugs (condensation and rich fuel condition) You've heard of "Battery Tenders" right...? Mike | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Fouled front plug. Very common for the situation you describe. Either don't start it every couple of weeks or warm it up and ride it when you do. Just starting it up and running it for a minute is hard on the bike several ways, including causing plug fowling. Keep the battery charged during storage too. You don't need a battery tender but you will need some kind of charger that charges at a low rate. 2 amps or less. I use a 10 amp AUTOMATIC charger (will not overcharge) and leave it on overnight every month or so if one of my bikes has to sit that long. A battery tender is only needed if you want to hook it up and ignore it. | ||
| Gunut75 |
Am i doing more harm than good by starting it in this cold of weather? Yes. Unless you are using synthetic oil, that freezing start is probably the highest level of wear subjected to the motor. Especially if your starting it, letting it run for a few minutes, then shutting it down. should i be starting it periodically like i am or should i be draining the fluids and just waiting til spring? Do not start it periodically. Do not drain the fluids either. When you put her to bed for the winter, all you need to do is change the oil. I leave a full gas tank with stabilizer if the bike is to be stored outside. Make sure you run the stabilizer through the system by going for a little ride before you put the bike up. Pull the battery, take it inside, and put it on a battery tender. If the bike is going to be put up for the few months of winter, I put a cover over it. Roll it to a different spot on the tires now and then to prevent flat spotting them. This is one of those situations where less is a little better. Hope this helps. | ||
| Sifo |
It's hard on - 1. The oil (condensation) 2. The starter (extra work for nothing) 3. The muffler (condensation) 4. The cylinder walls (condensation) 5. The rings (condensation) 6. The spark plugs (condensation and rich fuel condition) 7. The battery (get drained and doesn't have time to recharge) | ||
| Teeps |
All good advice above. To add; when I start the Uly it gets ridden for at least 10 miles. When it's parked the Battery Tender Jr. is always connected. | ||
| Buellblastrider |
I have a similar issue since new with my 09 bolt. With battery tender (never hard start without it but if I dont ride it for a few weeks it is sluggish where my 04 never had a problem) When I start it in colder weather, bike will start for a second then die, on restart it come on then drop a cylinder. Eventually it will pick up the other cylinder and be fine. I pulled both plugs and cleaned them last year. Then at the beginning of riding season I replaced them. I have expeerienced this problem with stock can and drummer, no filter change or ecm change. I figured an updated download would fix it but live hrs away from and dealer and will just hold off until I get a Erik Buell Racing ecm. | ||
| Blackwell12xt |
Thanks everyone for the advice. 1_mike, as i stated in my first post, i do not have a battery tender. I've been meaning to get one but i just cant afford one at the moment. I know they're cheap. panhead_dan, i would ride it if i could. There's still practically an inch thick sheet of ice on the roads in some places and black ice is ubiquitous. It's almost always at or below freezing here. I'm going stir crazy NOT being able to ride it. Well, i guess i'm the idiot. i wont start it anymore until another month or two when it warms up a bit and i can flush and change the oil and replace or clean the bad plug. in my defense, i live in a very dry climate (desert) where the humidity is usually very low, so i didnt even think of condensation in the oil. Before i put it up, i did ride it a bit to get the fuel stabilizer into the FI system. Also, I'll get a battery tender as soon as i can. now if you'll excuse me, i need to get my dunce hat and sit in the corner. |
