| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
So fellas, my "new" '06 Uly was just not runnin' quite as well as my old (wrecked) one. The idling and low-speed behavior was a little off. Plus some part-throttle surging, etc. Given all the problems that some have had with the '06s, and how wonderfully my old bike used to run, I was kinda down... Then I remembered, "hey, I have the old ECM!" So I did a swap last night and now the NEW '06 Uly runs just as good as the old one did! Boy am I ever glad I kept the old bike... --Doc | ||
| Hughlysses |
Cool. Was the old ECM stock, or had it been ECMspied? | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I wish I had a parts bike. Given a choice, I would rather not aquire it the way you had to though. Glad to hear she's runnin good! | ||
| Supertoon |
This is interesting, it confirms the low speed problems I am having with my 06 most likely directly relate to the ECM. You should download the settings and sell it to the unwashed masses! Glad you are enjoying your new bike, I have followed your adventure and remain impressed with your tenacity and , of course, always enjoy your trip postings! Good to know there is a parts bike kicking around. Stay safe...  | ||
| Bertotti |
No kidding it would be great to see the difference between the two ecms! | ||
| Ourdee |
Doc, I take it the the voodoo whistles are keepin' the deer demons off of you? | ||
| Jphish |
Good news! Told ya. Wish I had a spare 08. j | ||
| Dick_stilton |
No one likes a smart arse! but..... great thinking. My wife is an MD so I know how smartarsed you Dr's can be. | ||
| Dr_greg |
The old ECM was DEAD STOCK (as is the rest of both bikes). My old bike was the "demo bike" which I purchased with 1,800 miles on it. I suspect it had, um, been "demoed" pretty aggressively, which may have meant the ECM learned well. Of course, after 55,000+ of "Dr. Greg" miles it had learned... EVERYTHING!
It could be the ECM. As I recall, others have modified the airbox; various other things. I was fervently hoping NOT to have to start modifying. Anyway, I still have a little surging at part throttle, but nothing like what was developing before. It seemed to be getting worse; I was beginning to think about changing plugs (the dealer installed new plugs when they bought the bike from the BMW dealer). I did a TPS reset but it didn't help (needless to say, I did a TPS reset after changing ECMs). Also thanks for the kind words; I hope to get some good riding in this spring and summer; I'll share any interesting pictures, etc. Maybe some of the Uly BadWeBers will come visit me here in NM...I know all the good roads! 
Yessir! The whistles are mounted on the front fender...no deer yet!
Uh-oh...a REAL doc. The main Computer Science guy in our robotics research group is an M.D. He got tired of dealing with people so he got an MS in Computer Science and now deals only with machines. Good man! Yes, I was happy that I thought of the old ECM. In a (very real) sense I paid $1,400 for my old Uly so it's nice to get some good out of it. And the best thing...no oil leaks yet!  Obligatory picture...you know you married the right woman when she'll get down on the garage floor and help you change the fork oil (note homemade wooden spring compressor and in Mrs. Greg's left hand my homemade steel "locking device"):  Weather's warmin' up...won't be long now! --Doc | ||
| F_skinner |
Maybe some of the Uly BadWeBers will come visit me here in NM...I know all the good roads! You bet Dr Greg, I hope to be down to NM sooner but I know for sure I will be in Santa Fe in June. My company is having our annual get away down there. Maybe Maximum and Troyz will be up for a weekend trek down South before too long. Ride safe | ||
| Jcbikes |
I need to change my fork oil and would like some better pictures and details on the homemade spring compressor and homemade steel "locking device. | ||
| Maximum |
"Maybe Maximum and Troyz will be up for a weekend trek down South before too long." You bet I will! I have been working too hard on this dang new house (which is coming along great) and I was just thinking that I needed a good motorcycle trip to break things up a bit. | ||
| Jlnance |
Ever since you posted I've been trying to figure out what could be wrong with that ECM. There is a computer in there, but when they break, they usually don't work at all. The analog to digital converters for reading the sensors are probably in there as well. They could fail, giving you a bad reading from one of the sensors. Or the connector could have been faulty, doing the same thing. In any case, I'm glad you have it working. you know you married the right woman when she'll get down on the garage floor and help you change the fork oil I think most guy just buy massage oil when they want to see their ladies glisten. You get bonus points for originality. Maybe some of the Uly BadWeBers will come visit me here in NM Ironically, I've ridden pretty close to the spot where you hit the deer (near I-40 right?) I didn't know where any of the good roads were though, so I saw mostly interstate. I'd love to come back. | ||
| Pkman |
I'll definitely take you up on the offer to find some good roads out there. I went to NMT in Socorro for a couple years and enjoy New Mexico and Colorado. I haven't been back for a few years so I'm due. We could ride up to ADV West Fest in July - I'll meet you in Albq. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Ever since you posted I've been trying to figure out what could be wrong with that ECM. There is a computer in there, but when they break, they usually don't work at all. The analog to digital converters for reading the sensors are probably in there as well. They could fail, giving you a bad reading from one of the sensors. Or the connector could have been faulty, doing the same thing. Jim- I guess the other possibility is that there are different maps for the 06 ECM, although I don't think I've ever seen that suggested before. I guess the only way to check that out would be to compare them using ECMspy. | ||
| Jlnance |
I assumed they were identical maps as they are both 06 Ulys. I could certainly be mistaken about that. I'm on my second 06 Uly. The second one has much better low speed response and noticeably worse gas mileage. Perhaps they don't all have the same maps? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You KNOW that your old bike wasn't molested. Your new bike may very well have been altered in some way with ECMspy. ...or the ECU may have just been sucky  | ||
| Dr_greg |
You bet. Give me a couple days. I made my first spring compressor from oak (for my Ducati; Showa forks also), but it eventually broke so I made a new one from plywood (hey, I'm a woodworker). The locking device is just a little piece of 1/8" plate with a "U" cut in it. Low tech all the way. Just like the Uly (well...er not really).
Yeah, I teach a course in microcontrollers using the ancient 68HC11 (good learning device, though). Actually the HC11 is the chip in my 2000 Aprilia Mille. I'm sure there's only one A/D in there, multiplexed to 8 or so channels. Anyway, the maps can be incrementally modified by the CPU, right (i.e. "learning")? So that could also cause a slight variation...otherwise one's just like t'other. Unless...as Natexlh1000 point out:
Excellent point! After all, the previous owner of my new '06 installed that homemade dipstick thermometer. Coulda been a misguided DIY'er, just like the rest of us.  Ending GRIPE: Why are those @#$%&* fork caps so dadgum TIGHT from the factory!? There's an O-ring in there to seal; they don't need to be very tight. Sheesh. Managed to loosen 'em w/o rounding, luckily. I know others have not been so fortunate. In fact, the toughest thing about wrenching on the "new" bike is that not many fasteners have been removed yet, so I have to fight the excessive tightness/Loctite battle on about every one. When I reassemble I leave 'em nice 'n loose (well, you know what I mean). Economy be damned...it's gonna be a good summer!  --Doc | ||
| Crusty |
Economy be damned...it's gonna be a good summer! +1  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Why are those @#$%&* fork caps so dadgum TIGHT from the factory!? There's an O-ring in there to seal; they don't need to be very tight. +1 to that. I didn't have any trouble with my Uly, but I had one on my old Honda VT500FT Ascot someone must have installed with a 4' cheater bar. A 12 point socket rounded the corners off. I then bought a slightly undersized 6 point socket that had to be hammered into place and IT rounded the remainder off. I finally ended up removing the fork tube, drilling a ~3/8" hole into the cap, and sawing it into chunks by hand using a hacksaw blade. Believe it or not, the threads in the fork tube were undamaged. I managed to find a couple of replacement caps on ebay for ~$10. I tightened the new one slightly more than finger tight. | ||
| Paul56 |
The first time I did my forks I thought to loosen the caps while still bolted to the trees. Didn't overtighten them and didn't think to loosen them before removal the second time- they were still freaking tight! Bolted 'em back in to make it easier to loosen, then proceeded with service. See if I remember the nex}t time. | ||
| F_skinner |
Dr Greg, can I talk you out of the gas pressure valve from your old Uly. I would really like to try one that works correctly. Frank | ||
| Dr_greg |
Uh, what part would that be again? I know not this "gas pressure valve" of which you speak... --Doc | ||
| Froggy |
Its that valve that leaks gas after you eat beans |
