Author |
Message |
Ulynerd
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 09:31 am: |
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I need some guidance on where to look and how to solve a small issue Ive been having lately: History: Bought the uly used at 700 miles a few years ago and I have ridden it to 5k mi now. I have changed the motor oil and clutch oil with synthetics as recommended each season. I treat it well but I ride it hard (thats what motorcycles are for right... and by hard I mean lots of hard acceleration). It always gets warmed up properly (engine feels warm) before riding and I try not to take short trips too often. I never really ride in the rain either, only a few times. Just within the last few hundred miles I have noticed an add thing. once in a while the throttle blips for no reason. By blip I mean if I am accelerating it feels like the motor will miss a beat or a spark as if I had momentarily let off the throttle then back on it. It was only happening randomly every once in a while. It seems to happen weather I am accelerating or decelerating and once it even happened at idle at a stoplight and it killed the engine. it started right back up but wtf! Now I was riding in today to work and it happened again but this time it missed several "beats" and the engine seemingly died for a second or two before coming back to life (I was on the highway)... Its really starting to irk me. I dont have the means to bring it to the dealer and pay them a bunch of $$ to fix it so what is my next step? Should I change the plugs? Wires? I thought they were iridium tipped from the factory and able to run for 10k or so, no? I have checked the air filter and its clean as hell. What else can / should I look at or do. I dont want my baby to die... plz help. tia -Scott |
Ourdee
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 10:34 am: |
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I thought they were iridium tipped from the factory Factory plugs are not iridium tipped. I'd be looking at a wire shorting out. or a ground breaking. Random can be a bear to find. I would also wait for someone else to pipe up because I don't have the experience some of these guys do. My question though: 5k - 700 = 4300 in a few years, I've got 4300 in 8 months in northern Illinois, Why aren't you riding it? |
Electraglider_1997
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 10:42 am: |
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Might check the fuel pump wires, grounds, wire loom and triple clamp. |
Oddsc
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 10:50 am: |
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This was also a problem on my bike for the first 10000 miles or so. I kept complaining about it & eventually the dealer stumbled on the right combination of factors to eliminate it. The problem got especially annoying when it happened while turning left & the bike stalled in front of on-coming traffic. I don't think the dealer ever really knew what it was, I just kept complaining about it & after the 10000 mi service it stopped. I think it was an ecm tuning or timing issue. In my experience it is not a plug or plug wire problem as I changed those myself & the problem persisted. If I were you I would try adjusting the timing. |
Oddsc
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 10:55 am: |
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More recently I had chaffed wire issues & it's quite different from the problems you describe. Chaffed wire / bad 77 lead to very frequent stumbles. What I think you're describing, if I understand correctly, is more random? |
Ulynerd
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 11:30 am: |
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SO maybe It wouldnt hurt to change the plugs anyhow... Ourdee - I have 12 mile commute to work and that usually all the riding I can ge t in on a weekday. If only I could figure out how to mount an infant car seat on the uly... then I would have alot more time on two wheels . I hope to hell its not a short, I really dont know anything about the elsectrics on this bike and dont feel like messing with that. Hmmm, ill have to check all the wires though for chaffing. |
Wademan
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 11:35 am: |
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Might I suggest letting the bike idle and wiggling all of the areas of wiring you can find, grounds, etc. in order to hopefully recreate the problem and help you get an idea where to look. I would also guess a short or weak ground. |
Electraglider_1997
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 01:33 pm: |
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I remember my Electraglide having that problem and it turned out to be a vacuum leak around the throttle body seals. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 01:54 pm: |
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A TPS reset is a common ailment that can also cause that problem. A few minutes with someone having an ECM Spy could fix that. It seems most of the '06's required a reset around that mileage. I now have 37,000 miles on my '06, and there has been no further adjustment needed. If you have wire issues they are usually caused by chaffing or pulling. The steering head wires were pulling too tight because of the little 90 degree loom bracket on the steering head. It was upgraded in '07. About a $7.00 part. I have fixed several places that have rubbed through. A little wrap of tape, some zip ties, and a bit of patience looking and running your fingers over the harness can remedy a lot of little potential ailments. |
Ourdee
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 02:59 pm: |
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Infant= good and bad. Good thing is baby will grow up, bad thing is baby will grow up. Enjoy the baby while you can. |
4_pete_sake
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 06:38 pm: |
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Ulynerd- I have recently been having the exact same thing happen I believe... just last week... I am interested in the results... I had the dealer check for history codes on the computer but none came up and the only thing they caught really quick was a loose battery cable... was not it though because it happened again on the way home... oh it was "really quick" because I dropped in randomly at 04:00 and then left with it happening, turned around and they checked it "really quick" at 04:30... mechanics leave at 04:30 most days... they stayed late for little old me and no charge... but problem not fixed either... but customer service ... 2 thumbs up.... BUMPUS COLLIERVILLE..TN... I might try to get them to flash the ecm next time I am there... I will keep watching here too... |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 07:03 pm: |
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Find the wires coming out of the fuel pump. Follow then up to the first connector on the left side behind the subframe. Start the bike and let it idle while jiggling and lightly pulling on the wires and connector. |
Nobuell
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 07:28 pm: |
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I had a similar issue that turned out to be a slightly loose battery terminal. I verified the screw was not bottomed out and torqued to spec. Never had it happen again. Easy thing to check. |
Okc99
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 07:49 pm: |
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Why would a negative battery ground cause the engine to blip??? It wouldn't do it on a car? I ask because this blipping is what I have on my 08! It's driving me crazy. Sometimes it will come out of a stutter and almost pop a wheely because I'll have the thjrottle so far advanced. |
Panhead_dan
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 07:51 pm: |
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yer spark is cutting out and yer fuel is constant. |
Okc99
| Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 - 08:00 pm: |
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Don't these things run on alternators to power everything? Can someone take a photo of how to make a better ground? Just use a cell phone camera, I just want to see... |
Ulynerd
| Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 01:25 pm: |
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Update - the issue has been fixed. I brought it to the local dealer (Brunswick Harley) they are pretty good. They replaced the timing sensor ($130) with labor and tax it came out to about $250 and its running like new again. Not too bad. |