| Author | Message | ||
     Brimfldboy |
Seems to be one of the few times I cant find a thread that fixes everything, so here it goes... My 2000 X1 with race ecm has always been known to foul plugs a few times a year, but now it is getting rediculous. I recently changed from a wileyco carbon pipe (front bracket failed) to a new V&H ssr2 stainless. I noticed a nice difference in openness and sound right off the bat and rode the bike for a while (~2 weeks mostly around town) before I noticed the normal signs of her really needing a new set of plugs. I changed them out and immediately went on a long ride to St. Louis where I noticed they kind of started getting fouled again after about 1.5 hours on the road. If I keep her ripping down the road she still seems to burn through it, but she even wouldnt idle around town when I got home. Ugly black coated plugs. Lots of choking sounds and slow response...bad for wheelietimes  Trouble shooting showed no exhaust leaks, air filter clean, no codes thrown. I read that the o2 sensor might go before it codes, so i replaced that and threw in a new set of plugs (I have been running the screamin' eagle 10r6 equivalent for two years...they actually use this in the v-rod i think) ...she learned, and ran well for maybe 20 miles, but then fouled out again as bad as before...so not the o2 sensor. I dont have any idea of what to do now, besides maybe go to the dealer. It seems like it needs a remap or something to make it not run so rich? I can equate it to the new pipe time wise, but I thought that the race ecms were designed to handle a more open system? it also seemed to run fine right after I put the pipe on...definitely way longer than I can ride it now before she fouls up. Any advice would be awesome...you guys seem to always have some good tips and I am a poor graduate student who doesnt like my hour drive to the nearest buell dealer! | ||
| Jmkybf |
Are they carbon fouling or wet fouling?Make sure the resistance in the spark plug wires is still in spec. If not there might be a bad crimp or a short in them. | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Definitely carbon fouling, havent checked or replace the wires in a while though and will, but youd think that would only cause one plug to foul if that was the problem right? | ||
| Jmkybf |
On my bike, I was having the rear plug carbon foul, and gradually the front one started to foul also. I jetted the carb lean and then rich and it was still fouling plugs. The only thing when it was lean, it was coughing out the carb, but the plugs were still black. You might also want to check the coil. | ||
| Buellisticx1 |
Have you checked lately the oil consumption?.... has gone up?.... | ||
| Yo_barry |
Head temp sensor needs replacing. Mine didn't throw a code. 2001 S3T w/race ECM, gutted airbox, and supertrapp exhaust. | ||
| Brimfldboy |
No oil consumption, and I just had the HT sensor replaced less than two years ago...so I am doubting thats the problem this time...am going to test intake seals tomorrow | ||
| Jstfrfun |
Maybe step up to a hotter plug. | ||
| Brimfldboy |
I was thinking along the contrary and possibly trying a 6r12, as I dont believe they recommend much hotter than the 10s...Ive run these exact kinds of plugs for a while with great results though, so leads me to believe its not the plug type... | ||
| Creature_x1 |
the 10r12 is the recommended plug by buell. The 6r12 IS a hotter plug, which is why buell got away from it. Probably won't make a difference, but at $6.00 its worth a shot. | ||
| Firemanjim |
When in doubt,change the sensor--words of wisdom from Al Lighton. You need to get it on a dyno to see if it is running rich. We have re-mapped a bunch of X-1's recently, got 3 in right now.Too bad you are so far away. | ||
| Buellisticx1 |
Have you ever gotten your AFV read?.... It will show you the mixture air/fuel condition, whether rich or lean, it will give you some clue. | ||
| Kalali |
I would use the ECMSPY to look at the fuel maps and see what they look like. In fact, you could probably get a copy of a Race ECM maps (from someone here) and compare with your current maps. A quick glance at the maps may be all you need to figure out the root cause. Besides, you can run diagnostics on the coils and the injectors as well. It may end up being your ECM which is causing the problem. But just throwing parts at the problem could get real expensive real quick. | ||
| Jstfrfun |
I'm with Jim on this, it needs to run on a dyno. Nothing like a good pull with a sniffer up the pipe! | ||
| Yo_barry |
No oil consumption, and I just had the HT sensor replaced less than two years ago...so I am doubting thats the problem this time...am going to test intake seals tomorrow} Intake seals would make it run lean, wouldn't foul the plugs. My temp sensor was telling the ECM that the engine was hot, so the ECM makes the mix richer to save the engine. Fouls the plugs.} | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Thanks for the input guys...well it is not the intake seals so I'm leaning more towards maybe the temp sensor. Would the intake sensor cause this kind of problem without a code? It would really suck if my HT sensor is bad being so new...and I have to drive an hour to the nearest dealer to have them use their special socket thingy to install it But if worse comes to worst I may have to do that and just have them run diagnostics... Seems like all my dealer does is replace parts till it runs ok though, and I dont get too much respect around there for havin a buell haha | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You can test those things you know. The book has instructions on how to do it. Do you have a DVM and a service manual? Don't trial and error it! That costs money. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Temp sensors can go awry without a code,and you can make a socket by grinding a slot in a deep well one for the wire,cheap. | ||
| Brimfldboy |
Well...I dont know what was going on but I got some new plugs yesterday and took her out for a nice long cruise at 2500-3000 rpm and now seems to be running ok and not fouling out very bad. The only thing I can equate this to would be that I replaced the o2 sensor and maybe she was just so fouled up at the time that the ECM didnt quite learn it. Still seems to be running a little coughy and rich sounding around town, but she screams down the highway...these buells are interesting characters for sure! I dont know if the race ecm and v&h are just so tuned that the bike doesnt like shorter rides, but it would be nice to be able to cruise around town without having to rip her hard occasionally to clear her up. Would it be worth the money to take this bike in and maybe put it on a dyno and tune it? I only paid 3000 bucks for it, but then again I've been through over a grand in tires... | ||
| Kalali |
The set up on my bike is similar to yours (V&H, Race ECM) with the exception of a high flow air filter. After riding it now for over a year or so I feel that the bike NEEDS an occasional high RPM ride. May be its psychological but the bike does to seem to run better after a good hard ride. I have never had plug fouling problem but I then again I have never ridden the bike just around town for a long period. Depending on your riding style you may want to consider hotter plugs. | ||
| Preybird1 |
I wish the o2 and the head temp sensors where a dual wire pick up! 1 is not quick enough to be really efficient and the o2 read is so dam slow! |
