| Author | Message | ||
     Two_seasons |
The bike would randomly "cough", some highway, some around-town riding. Problem was loose battery cables, mostly the ground. Apparently, this is common on Harley bikes. Guy at work said out of all the Harley break-downs he comes across, 90% of them are loose battery cables. UPDATE: Well so much for my troubleshooting skills. Had one "cough" this evening while on the highway. Seems to loose power for about 1/2 second, then runs like nothing is wrong. I've been getting the "harley puke" (condensation mixed with oil mist) that looks like white litium grease coming out of the Forcewinder intake area and dripping onto the headers. Could this momentary loss of power be related to ingestion of this puke? (Message edited by two_seasons on November 17, 2010) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I tried and failed to fix my 2000 X1 cough. Certain things REDUCE the cough but nothing I have found completely removes it. Mine really only does it on the highway cruising at the same speed at lower throttle settings. Feels like it gets bored! Things that I've done that reduce the cough: make sure your exhaust is on there tight and make sure your O2 sensor's wire hasn't rubbed through somewhere. Battery terminals (You know that one!) TPS reset when bike is warmed up . I tried having H-D fix it under warranty and they failed. 85,000 miles later, it's still there. Still pulls like a train! Oh well  | ||
| Kdstang |
I get mine once about 5-7 mins into my ride, although upgraded ignition components have helped lately. I have also experienced this on some cars, I wonder if the computer moving to closed loop might have something to do with it. | ||
| Kalali |
Based on what I have read and seen so far it seems like this so called coughing is common enough to be considered "normal". I too spent a great deal of time when I got the bike to determine the root cause and get rid off it. The only things I have not done is datalogging using ECMSPY and try to pinpoint when it happens on the logs and run the bike without the O2 sensor to rule out the theory of open loop to closed loop transition. For now I learned to live with it since it only happens once or twice during a long hiway ride. | ||
| X1_rider |
I had horrible coughing with major leaning of the tune (AFV down to the 60's) accompanied by white spark plugs. I used ECM Spy to shut the O2 sensor input off and disable the O2 sensor related CEL, no more coughing and the plugs are fine, a bit on the rich side even. | ||
| Buellistic |
IMHO, if you map the fuel for 13.7 to 1 ratio your engine will run better !!! | ||
| Kalali |
13.7:1 is only good for closed loop cruising though. The rest of the map is usually more like 14.7:1 if I understand this stuff correctly. (Message edited by kalali on November 17, 2010) | ||
| Buellistic |
IMHO, 13.7 every where period or WATER COOL THE ENGINE ... | ||
| Preybird1 |
ECM is shorting out. Mine did this at the same amount time and temperature of the ride. I changed the O2 sensor and the ECM and have had no problems since. I also put in a new rear head temp sensor also. This may sound weird but.....Pull the ecm out and smell it??? My O2 sensor had vibrated loose and it shorted out the pins on the O2 sensor side of the ECM and you could smell burnt plastic on the plug pins. The O2 sensor grounds through the header and ECM. This cough seems to happen at a steady speed and when the engine reaches a certain temperature. It is almost when the bike goes from closed loop to open. I happen to have 3 ECM's and have verified my fix by testing it with a known to be good ECM. I would swap the O2 sensor and the head temp sensor and ECM out. And then go from there. | ||
| Serialk |
Hate to say it. but did you check your intake seals? mine was suckin in air through blown intake seals and had a "cough" spit and sputter once i got up to 30-40km.Replaced them and runs like a champ | ||
| Buellistic |
Serialk: You are 100% right on intake seals as they are good for about 2 years or 24,000 miles and with a fan 4 years or 48,000 miles ... Engine(air cooled)HEAT really cooks these seals at 14.7 fuel/air ratio ... (Message edited by buellistic on November 17, 2010) | ||
| Two_seasons |
Good info that you are posting. I've been reading all archived threads and noted that the o2 sensor can give "coughs" if they are shorting out. If you remove the o2 sensor, does the bike then run in closed loop mode like a car does? I'm going to check my grounds and ignition switch/connector area as I've read these cause problems too. Some of the archives suggest that this is a harley thing, the cough, and just get used to it. Can be a bit unnerving when into a good sweeper and this happens! And it seems to happen at constant throttle too. Yesterday, I rode it hard and had zero issues, but when cruising is when I get it. Any chance that the puke is being ingested and maybe causing this cough? There is a 4-pin connector that I could use to flash any ecm codes if two of the pins are shorted. Where is this connector and which pins get shorted? I'm almost ready to put the bike away for the winter, but can't stop riding it. Definately more fun on the X1 than on the 1125r. Thanks for all the help. I'm glad to be a part of BWB. | ||
| Buellistic |
Two_seasons: Head breathers should be run into a catch container as it pollutes the intake charge(not good) ... Tye wrap your wiring so that it does not do the WIGGLE TEST while you are riding ... For winter storage put in some gas Sta-Bil(buy at Wal-Mart)per directions ... At the end of winter put in some OCTANE BOOSTER per directions to bring your OCTANE back up ... The COUGH can be tuned out as "i" did on my CARBURETE'ed 1997 S3T as the same applies to fuel injection models by mapping them correctly ... | ||
| Two_seasons |
Intake seals were changed a while back by Cwitt, the previous owner. Probably should do the propane test to make sure that isn't the problem. Thanks. | ||
| Two_seasons |
The "cough" happened, kind-of, again today. By the way, it's 34 degress out right now. Was turning approx 3,400 rpm. Is this the common flat spot between 3,000-4,000 rpm that I read about with the XB bikes? I appreciate all of your comments. | ||
| Kdstang |
You must be enjoying the bike! I'm close by in north Iowa and its 34 here also, but my X1 is laid up for the winter. They're addictive, aren't they! | ||
| Two_seasons |
You got that right about being addicted to this X1. It feels exactly like it knows my next move. Was riding around today in 34 degree weather and this evening in 29 degrees. A couple of snowflakes aren't slowing me down. | ||
| Lager |
Two _Seasons,might want to reconsider riding @ below freezing temps. I hit some black ice last year in the middle of a curve, slid nice as can be over into the other lane quicker then I can type this. Luckily the tires bit in the other lane and there wasn't a car coming the other way.If there was, I probably wouldn't be typing this message. I USED to be an all weather biker, 30 years, thats all it took to stop me from doing it again. I know your not going to listen to me, I didnt either. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Read it and old enough to understand your concern. Looks like snow is coming and will be winding it down in the next couple of days. |
