| Author | Message | ||
     Juniorkirk |
Alright, i know that my '08 cant keep up with the Erik Buell Racing ECM in her and i need to charge the thing every once in awhile. Live in the barracks so cant really just hook her up to a battery tender every time i get done riding, so i do it once i notice it's struggling to start. Got back from a 2 week field op and went to go start her up and it was HARD to start her. Ended up having to hold half throttle until the second cylinder kicked in. So, after the ride i took the battery out, brought it to my room, and connected it to the charger. Took 5 hours to charge it so i know it was pretty much dead. One thing i noticed AFTER i charged it. When i put it back in and fired her up and went for a nice long ride, she was peppy as hell compared to when it was low. accelerated a lot faster, and there was tons of engine braking. Before i charged the battery, it felt sluggish, almost like it was in a bad mood and didnt want to go for a ride. Could the battery REALLY make that big of a difference? I was just wondering and thinking that next time the battery starts to get low, go dyno it and see what it puts out, then charge it and go back and dyno it again and see if it does make a difference. That's just what's on my mind right now. | ||
| Syonyk |
What cluster do you have and when is the production date on your bike (on the sticker with the VIN, right side, steering neck area)? The early 08s have an issue with the cluster draining the battery while sitting. An updated cluster fixes the issue. And, yes, the battery voltage being low can really screw with the bike. The TPS doesn't put out a good signal, the fuel pressure may be a bit low, etc. It *shouldn't* make a difference after the first few minutes of riding, but I suppose if the battery is really low, voltages can remain low for a while. In my experience, if the displayed voltage (on the 09 cluster - updated to fix the battery drain issue) is below about 12.0v, the bike gets cranky. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
i think my bike was produced in may of 08', but not sure, sticker came off when i washed it one day. I've been waiting for a new cluster for about 5 months now since my tach needle slipped, thank god thats getting replaced under warranty. The battery was starting to go before i went on the op, and i knew 2 weeks would have almost finished it off. almost have 10k miles on her and i've had the ECM on since about 3k so i've learned her pretty good. I can see how things would act weird with low power. My HID actually 'flash' when it's about dead. I put this vid on youtube awhile back showing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QWbJVVRJOU I really hope they get that cluster in soon, i should call them and see if they got it in yet. They havent even called me for about a month and a half now with an update. They updated me before, but its been awhile. *long puase in typing, calling Bigg's now* alright, DP says they still dont have the cluster. He said he would ask the parts guy on monday if they have it, and if not, about how long it will be until they might get it. Great guys over there at Bigg's, HD just keeps screwing them IMO with the Buell guys. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Syonyk, mine is an early '08 (March, I think) and it has the cluster drain, but it's only done it (killed the battery completely in a day or two) a handful of times in the year and a half that I've had the bike (since new). I don't want to leave the bike at the closest Buell dealer for weeks or months waiting for them to reproduce the issue or, worse, tell me they can't reproduce it after having the bike for a long time. Is there any relatively easy way to get the cluster replaced? | ||
| Juniorkirk |
manually take it apart but make it look like you didnt, and move the needle to make it look like it's "slipped". Not right to do, but it will fix an actual problem if they dont like Buell Guys. I would talk to them first and see what their opinion on the matter is first though. | ||
| Rodrob |
The ECM adjusts the fuel delivery to compensate for slow injector response when voltage is low. But if it's really low the fuel delivery will be FUBAR. | ||
| Syonyk |
There's a tech tip - 396, IIRC, that covers this exact issue and says "Order a new cluster to resolve it." Talk to them first, and if they don't want to help, try another dealership. I had one dealership (Thunderbird in Albuquerque) insist my "battery & charging system were fine." I had another (Santa Fe Harley) work with me, take me at my word on it having killed the battery several times over weekends, look at the cluster, determine it was an old one the tech tip applied to, and say, "We'll get one ordered & call you when it's in." Santa Fe Harley rocks.  |
