| Author | Message | ||
     B1rdman |
Just bought a 2000 X1 Lightning and rode it to Columbia from Charlotte with no issues. Rode it the other day with no issues. Rode it yesterday and at one point while in the city it started to have a rough idle. Parked it for a while for a college class and it was back to normal after. Today coming downtown for school in some light traffic and lots of lights, it suddenly resorted to a rough idle again. Normal idle was a steady 1100 rpm. The rough idle has it jump between 1200-1400rpms. It "seems" to accelerate fine...but at idle it goes back to being sporadic and rough. It has a stock filter as far as I know, and stock exhaust, as far as I know. Previous owner had aftermarket ones on it but returned it to stock. It DOES have a "Race Only" ECM though! Could that be my culprit? TPS reset needed? Is it overheating? | ||
| Hootowl |
The race ECM simply has a different fuel map. The changes won't affect idle. It sounds to me like you've got a leak in your intake seals. Perhaps a very small one that doen't leak all the time, but manifests itself during various heat and vibration conditions. | ||
| B1rdman |
That's not good...are there any How To's for replacing those? | ||
| Harleyelf |
Cut a 3/16" Allan wrench down to make it fit in the tight clearance between cylinders. You will need a chop saw or grinder: the metal is too hard for a hacksaw. Just leave 1/4" of the short side after the curved part. I prefer blue silicone seals from James Gasket. You do have a service manual? If not, get one. It is a vital textbook for Buell Maintenance 101. | ||
| Kc_zombie |
You can also get the tool at asb. http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/5029.html (Message edited by kc_zombie on April 10, 2013) | ||
| B1rdman |
Could it be a rear head temp sensor or O2 going bad? I've got the manual on PDF. I guess I should start by reading that. | ||
| Psykick_machanik |
I'd would go with a TPS reset, and then the easy stuff. New plugs, injector cleaner, super duper grade gas. I agree with a possible intake leak. get her up to operating temp and do a leak check of the intake manifold. | ||
| B1rdman |
I'll have to buy that cable to do the TPS reset..unless someone is local that could help. I already changed plugs, ran seafoam in the tank, and been running 93. It mainly (so far) only happens when stuck in traffic.. | ||
| Two_seasons |
When you check for leaks at the intake seals, use either Mapp gas or Propane, unlit of course. Very little volume out of the tip. If the engine speeds up, that is a problem and the intake seals need to be changed. Another possible issue would be an exhaust leak causing the O2 sensor to tell the ECM that the engine needs more fuel, thereby too much fuel and spark plugs start fouling. | ||
| B1rdman |
When I checked the exhaust the other day, the muffler and connecting pipe were completely loose. I tightened them down. Additionally, another biker checked my bike out for any weird valvetrain sounds and said it was good. He did say that one of the header gaskets might be bad because he felt a leak from it. Could that be the source? I have to figure out how to tighten the drivers side bolt (rear cylinder) because my tools are too bulky. So the possibly more aggressively mapped "race" ECM is probably fine and not telling the engine to give it more fuel? The bike used to have an intake and exhaust. Or does the computer adjust its air fuel automatically? | ||
| 01x1buell |
if the exhaust is leaking that will effect it big time, what i use is a wrench ground down slightly all around and bent in the middle to fit better. | ||
| B1rdman |
Then I'll try to tighten it up before I go crazy with the other things. However...wouldn't it tend to seal up once heated up? Or I guess the gasket could be bad.. | ||
| 01x1buell |
gasket could be bad, or just loose but if loose it could of damaged the gasket | ||
| Alfau |
Set the idle to 900-1000 rpm. 1100 is too high and the idle will probably hang before settling. When the X1 overheats the ECM automatically adds fuel to cool the motor down,this is a protection to the motor. This overheating can happen with prolonged idle such as at traffic lights and such.It will cool down when the air is flowing again or pull over and let it cool. The rear cylinder exhaust is monitored by the O2 sensor.If it is leaking the ECM will adjust fuel to compensate. Very important to have a perfect seal on the rear header gasket. Grind a 1/2" spanner down to fit the rear header nut. | ||
| Alfau |
Whoops (Message edited by alfau on April 10, 2013) | ||
| B1rdman |
Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate the input! For some reason I'd normally think that the exhaust would leak when cold, not when hot..however it seems that when the bike is in stop and go traffic for a while, then that's when it starts acting up. I can also feel some pretty intense heat from that rear cylinder but from my reading that seems normal... | ||
| Two_seasons |
You can check for exhaust leaks using your bare hand. Or is you smoke, or have something that will give off smoke like a candle that you just snuffed out. Better to replace the exhaust gaskets rather than re-using them. Careful with the header studs, many here have broken them off. PB Blaster or such overnight, then carefully remove. | ||
| B1rdman |
Good stuff A1fau! I didn't know that was too high. And yes, it does usually hang before settling down. I'll try tightening it up today or tomorrow. | ||
| B1rdman |
I had a Buell/Harley friend confirm the other day with his hand that it had a leak at the flange. | ||
| Alfau |
Try to tighten it yourself. CAUTION, don't snap the stud off.check specs in the manual for correct tension. Incorrect timing will cause overheating too. Get it checked if you can't do it yourself. Keep the air flowing over the motor. This is why bikers sneak between cars at traffic lights. | ||
| Alfau |
Something for a rainy day. http://www.buellx1-li.ch/index34.html | ||
| Kalali |
If it only happens during stop and go traffic its probably the skip-spark mode. I personally have never experienced it even on 100 degree days with stop and go traffic but I know others have. Not sure why. You may want to check your inlet air and head temp sensors as well. Faulty, obstructed or dirty sensors can cause wrong information to be sent by the ECM and trigger the skip-spark mode. I doubt if the Race fuel maps are causing this condition. If anything they would make the bike run richer if intake/exhaust are stock. | ||
| B1rdman |
Could the over-richness cause the plugs to foul and create those symptoms? I tightened up the header bolts some today...they all moved probably 1/4 turn. That skip-spark mode thing is interesting...I'll go search some info on it. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Fire, fire, fire, skip. Fire, fire, fire, skip. This is called "skip spark" and HD put this in the ECM software. If your ETS sees your rear cylinder temp at a pre-set value, then every fourth compression stroke will see fuel but no spark. I know when my ETS failed on my 2000 X1, my ride would consist of smooth with little throttle, but choppy with a hard roll-on throttle, then smooth when I'd back off the throttle to about +20% above idle. At that time I also replaced my O2 sensor because it was cheap and controls the closed loop mpg. | ||
| B1rdman |
I don't think it's skip spark then.. Just idles rough at a slightly higher rpm after being in traffic for a while. However since I lowered the idle speed to 1000 instead of 1100, I haven't ran into the problem again. It does like to cough or hiccup on occasion when Im just idling and give it a slight throttle flick (neutral or clutch in). The header bolts were loose a little though. | ||
| Two_seasons |
FI bikes do not like it when their throttle is rolled quickly. | ||
| B1rdman |
This may sound stupid and reckless or whatever...but shouldn't this thing have enough torque to power-wheelie a 130lb rider from say, second gear? If I'm just doing say 30mph and peg the throttle, it picks up and goes but doesn't lift the tire. The main reason I ask is not because I want to do a wheelie, but because I'm wondering if I'm down on power for some reason. Probably should go get it dynoed and tuned. | ||
| 01x1buell |
my x1 is picky about lifting wheels it will float the front wheel up a bit when under full throttle, but as seasons said it does not like being held wide open in an instant but i can do a wheeelie if i choose to but do not want to i have had some bad experiences with those in prior years. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Yeah, I regularly lift the front tire a couple of inches off the line. But that's about as exciting as I get these days... | ||
| 01x1buell |
off the line if i hammer it i can almost stand it up in to second without trying, but at a slow roll then it only comes up a little. all in all i love it i dont need to be doing wheelies all over |
