| Author | Message | ||
     Fltwistygirl |
"Nothing in the world bugs me more than my bike not running right and the Uly has bugged me more than any bike I have ever had. The problem for me is that nothing else did IT for me. Or at least not for the price." Anything not running right drives me mad. I've been gifted with extra patience in some areas (dealing with new riders for one and training others on new software and compensation management in my previous corporate life) but shorted on patience for things not running properly. Bikes, cars, computers all come to mind. When the Uly is properly dialed in, there is no other bike I've been on that is so much fun and so practical...at least for the price. And no waking up in a cold sweat during the middle of the night over valve adjustments. I like your advice of looking it over more often. As long as I know what to look for, (at least I'm proficient with T-CLOCS) and have all of you BWB-ers as resources, I'm good. By the way, I flogged the snot out of it this afternoon. One half hour of brutal stop and go traffic, followed by a half hour of highway speeds (flirting with 80 degrees here today) and 15 more minutes of stop and go traffic. I stopped to get some novus at our HD dealer and shut the bike down for about 10 minutes while I chatted with a service guy who has a 99 tuber. When I started it up at idle it jumped up to near 2K rpm. Ran high for maybe 20 or 30 seconds, then brought itself back down. That seemed a little unusual, but no other misses or anything like that. Thoughts? | ||
| Uly_man |
Well it sound like it is running ok again. From what I hear the IAC can need a clean every now and then. "When I started it up at idle it jumped up to near 2K rpm. Ran high for maybe 20 or 30 seconds, then brought itself back down. That seemed a little unusual, but no other misses or anything like that. Thoughts?" My 2010 bike does the same every now and then. It made me wonder as well but it could just be the control system re adjusting itself. The IAC is a motor controlled "air bleed system" and it is possible that the valve is sticking slightly, at some point in the body. I have had it on cars before and it tends to be carbon and/or oil gum. At this point in time I would not worry. Just keep an eye on it. "Advice of looking it over more often. As long as I know what to look for." My tip is to monitor how the bike runs/feels over time/miles. As the components of the bike wear people adjust to it. Yes I know it sounds strange but it is a fact and rubber wear is a prime example. With the XB I would remove the front and rear wheels every 10k to check the bearings even if they seem ok on the bike. Pull the air box cover and base at 5k to check for oil leaks and any cable chaffing of HT and other wires. Flush through the front brake fluid at 10k and "exercise" caliper pistons as well. Check the front engine isolator. The gap should be about 10mm but it will get smaller as the mount rips and then break. This is a good one to fix early on as a breaking mount will put stress on other parts of the bike. Change the engine oil lots, rubber pressures, rubber flints, sharp edges from stones on the pulley, battery post tightness, engine/frame bolt tightness etc. Also a clean bike makes these things easier to see so clean it. Most of this is easy and cheap to do. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks for your input Uly man, it is appreciated. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, here's what we found when it started missing, running poorly and generally being ornery today:   What say you, badwebbers? Those of you who said ecm from the get go may have earned yourselves a cookie. | ||
| Motorbike |
Where was your ECM mounted when that happened? Have you already done the ECM relocation that these bikes require? Can you swap it with the ECM on your husbands bike when he's not looking? Thanks. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
The ecm was in the new (relocated) position when symptoms started happening but we rode the bike for almost 2 years with it in the original spot before the relo. Hubby has this ecm in the X and is riding it around the lake right now. As soon as he put the ecm in the X, the XT's symptoms surfaced. When he put the X ecm in the XT, she ran just fine. We just placed an order for an ebr ecm. | ||
| Argentcorvid |
if it didn't get stuffed down far enough, there could have been some weight sitting on the end of the casing trying to bend the whole ECM in half, which could cause that. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"if it didn't get stuffed down far enough, there could have been some weight sitting on the end of the casing trying to bend the whole ECM in half, which could cause that." Could be. Or it could have started to crack when it was in the original location. The XT was the primary 2 up bike for over a year until we got the X. The stress of being in the original location may have started the cracking, and it may have just gotten worse due to the vibration that is inherent in a v-twin, and worse at slow speeds. We may never know. I'm just waiting for the confirming e-mail that the EBR ecm is on its way, we are having issues with the ignition switch on the beemer right now too. Not a happy week motorcycle wise in our house  . What are the odds that 2 of 3 bikes would be sick at the same time? Sheesh. | ||
| Ulyranger |
While under the seat i'd throw an ohm meter on the ground circuit...... Hope the new ecm works out for ya.  | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Yay! I get a cookie! | ||
| Sharkguy |
Fltwistygirl, here is my how to for the IAC clean out if you want to give it a try. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/634269.html | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"While under the seat i'd throw an ohm meter on the ground circuit......" Definitely something worth looking into. "Fltwistygirl, here is my how to for the IAC clean out if you want to give it a try." Thanks for reposting this link, Sharkguy. This may be an apples to oranges story, but it's a testament to the collective value of the badweb. We met up with one of our friends at our local bike fest last night and got to talking about our v-twin woes. He has a h-d with intermittent electrical gremlins that caused his bike to sometimes start without using the electric start button. He would turn his ignition key and engine cut off switch on, and the bike would sometimes start on its own. It took him six months to troubleshoot the short and he replaced a good deal of wiring in the process. He often became quite frustrated, and several times threatened to trade his bike in for what he was hoping would be a less problematic gold wing. He uses his bike for drill team stuff, and we are generally on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to riding habits, so he was shocked that I was also entertaining the idea of a 'wing as well as a triumph sprint or tiger when I was visiting my "dark place" (where I considered replacing the uly with something else) these past few weeks. Sorry if I am restating the obvious, but intermittent electrical problems really suck. Few other bike issues I've experienced test ones patience to the extent of these types of problems. Our friend was impressed that with the help of this forum, select others, and Greg's own previous experience with a problematic ecm (on our uly X) Greg was able to (fingers crossed) diagnose this in about five weeks. Our friends h-d spent a great deal of time in the shop and ultimately he, not the techs, diagnosed the problem. I felt really bad for him because he works a full-time and a part time job and has a family, so his limited free time is precious and there are surely things he'd rather be doing than tracking electrical gremlins. Rant on/I'm finding this job and one-half thing to be a pretty common scenario here in Florida among us gen x-ers, but don't wanna turn this into a political thread. I'll just leave it as this: our current leadership does not seem to care that certain policies make it really difficult for us working folk to make ends meet and have any sort of quality of life/rant off. I guess one point is any bike can have problems, and we are just grateful that there are people who have the patience and take the time to figure out the problem and then are willing to share their knowledge. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. I hope someone else benefits from our experience at some point and that this bad ecm chapter ultimately has a happy ending. | ||
| Motorbike |
I agree 100%, this is one great forum. I have learned so much from all you people about my one and only Buell. I really doubt there are other forums with such a dedicated bunch. Thanks to all. I also agree about the political thing but that would be more than just a thread. It would be a whole other forum. Thanks. | ||
| Uly_man |
"He has a h-d with intermittent electrical gremlins that caused his bike to sometimes start without using the electric start button. He would turn his ignition key and engine cut off switch on, and the bike would sometimes start on its own. It took him six months to troubleshoot the short and he replaced a good deal of wiring in the process. He often became quite frustrated, and several times threatened to trade his bike in for what he was hoping would be a less problematic gold wing. He uses his bike for drill team stuff, and we are generally on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to riding habits, so he was shocked that I was also entertaining the idea of a 'wing as well as a triumph sprint or tiger when I was visiting my "dark place" (where I considered replacing the uly with something else) these past few weeks." I think there is a point to be noted on the electrical issues with modern bikes. A lot can and do have problems in the same vein as the XB. Do not get the idea that any other one will not have a problem because they might. It is a well known fact that the use of fuel injection on bikes has been a problem to perfect and some bikes are still not right from the factory even today. EFI is great and the way to go but it has its own problems like anything else and bikes are not cars. The first Uly I tried would have put anyone off from buying one. What a heap of crap and it was from a HD dealer with 4K on it. I have seen steam traction engines that run better. But I thought I had seen something special about the bike even then and did not think it was running right anyway. The second test on the private 06 bike I bought proved this. The running problem with the 06 bike also lead me to thoughts of dumping it at one point. Its only the help of others and my "dog with a bone" shear bloody minded attitude to fix a problem (its key to the work I do) that things worked out. It should, of course, not be needed and I do not need it either. | ||
| Britchri10 |
Electrical issues? Buy an "old" BSA, Norton, Triumph, Matchless etc' & then talk about electrical problems! Welcome, Lucas. The Prince of Darkness! Seriously, All bikes tend to be more prone to electrical issues than cars, trucks or vans for several different reasons. Lack of space for the loom, cost cutting/shortest wiring on record issues, vibration, exposure to the environment/elements etc' & so forth. They are always a PITA but they can be overcome! IMHO: It's all part of what makes motorcycling motorcycling (unless you can afford to pay a stealership to figure out the problems) Badweb IS the answer for DIY fixes. I love this site & the great folk who populate it. Chris C | ||
| Uly_man |
Two things are of the "OLD" system? Carbs and points. Both are easy to figure and yes I am of the age to do so. I do not recall a Brough Superior (T.E.Lawrence) or the like to need a ECM update or otherwise. | ||
| Britchri10 |
But it did need lotsa TLC. Improvements lead to additional problems. The more complicated an item becomes, the more there is to go wrong with it. IMHO: simple is best. But too simple is not the right way to go. Everything is a compromise. I remember working on cars. Couldn't do it now as they all seem to have two computers & OBDP's. I would still prefer my 2000 Nissan truck to a 1970's equivalent. Chris C | ||
| Uly_man |
I am with you Sir no problem. But then again I have never found the "G-Spot" either. Is it the second gear of the Transaxle? | ||
| Razz |
I probably lurked on this site for about 6 months before I bought.By then I was well aware of the potential problems of owning this bike{09 XT}.The wealth of knowledge and people eager to help on this site convinced me to go for it.I love classic bikes but I like the performance and handling of newer bikes.This bike gives me the best of both with its old school V twin with just enough mechanical noise to sound like a classic.I think of it as what a Vincent would have evolved into if they were still in business. | ||
| Britchri10 |
I've no clue! All I do is ride my bike & try to fix issues when they arise! I know just enough to be dangerous around machinery but I am the kinda guy who WILL persevere & find the solution regardless of what it takes. I love Buell 'cause I like machines that work well at what they are supposed to do & constantly surprise me with what they CAN do. If I wanted a "hands off" bike I would buy something that doesn't challenge me periodically. (IF I had the $$$) I derive much pleasure from finding a solution to a problem &, hopefully, improving what I have through my own efforts. At the end of the day, It keeps me interested, involved & engaged with my bike & I am happy with that. Chris C | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
The ebr ecm is installed, and I know I have said this before, but all seems to be well with the little darlin'. I'm finding what was said on the ebr ecm thread to be true. It runs high at idle, then settles in, and seems to just have a smoother power delivery. It truly is different. My goal over the next few days is to just ride and make sure this solves the issues. In this process we've administered a bunch of tlc and I'm looking forward to piling some miles on. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
One more test run successfully completed. Ran it about 45 minutes each way in varying traffic conditions in 90 degree heat including one half hour at 55-65 mph highway speeds. Noticing a bit of a flat spot at about 3K rpms but over all seems to be well and seems to accelerate better at higher speeds than before. Gotta admit, I was just waiting for some kind of hiccup, but nothing happened and I'm relieved. It's going to be interesting to see how the new ECM affects gas mileage. | ||
| Uly_man |
Sounds good. The flat spot seems a little odd though. If its not bad you should be able to ride through it by using another gear or slipping the clutch a touch and adding a few revs. Not telling you how to ride though given what you do. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"If its not bad you should be able to ride through it by using another gear or slipping the clutch a touch and adding a few revs." Yeah, in comparison to how it behaved while having a cracked ecm, the flat spot is totally manageable. I've just gotta get some substantial seat time on it and get comfortable with the feel of the bike with its new ecm. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Ok, good news I think. Hubby rode the XT three hours each way to South FLA and back this week. All kinds of traffic conditions, plenty of stop and go traffic, construction, love bugs, heat, dive bombing pelicans, you name it. 66 miles per gallon on the way down there. I think this is the best gas mileage he has ever gotten on this bike. At least for today, I am one happy camper. I would guess that in a trip like this if there were gonna be other issues, they would likely have surfaced. I will be even happier when I have time to log some miles on it. Quoting Davy Jones, "I'm a believer". | ||
| Buellerxt |
Good to hear, Fltwistygirl. 66mpg!!!!! WOW! What does he weigh; 100 lbs?  Was he staying at 45mph? I NEVER get better than 45 and am usually in the 41-43 range. 66 is UNREAL, as are reports of mid 50's that I sometimes read. Maybe a lot of riders like to ease along at 45-55 mph? What's the deal? | ||
| Uly_man |
Quoting Davy Jones, "I'm a believer". I used to live in the same village as DJ. A place called Lambourn in Berkshire. | ||
| Froggy |
Any people never believe my 75mpg... | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"What does he weigh; 100 lbs?" He's somewhere north of 200 lbs. He manages a restaurant that lives by the "fat equals flavor" premise. We have both gained weight since he got this job but both now have the goal of "less of us to love". My goal is 30 to 40 pounds so I can be healthier and be on the planet longer to hang out with my son and watch him grow into an awesome guy. And as a bonus, with less of me, maybe I'll get as good of mileage as froggy! "I used to live in the same village as DJ. A place called Lambourn in Berkshire." That is groovy, uly man. I loved Davy Jones and was so sad to hear of his passing. Did you ever meet him? "Any people never believe my 75mpg..." I believe you, froggy, especially now. I think the summer blend of petrol, among other things, helps. I'm still leaning towards taking the X up north this summer as I have a BRC 2 to teach and love using that for demos, especially the u turn area. I may put the ebr ecm in it. Besides getting to see my family and friends, the supercool part of this summers trip is I am teaching with another Bueller coach! He has an 1125 and I'd love to introduce him to the badweb and maybe carve up some twisty roads with him and his wife! I am almost to the point of counting down the hours before we leave! | ||
| Uly_man |
"I used to live in the same village as DJ. A place called Lambourn in Berkshire." "That is groovy, uly man. I loved Davy Jones and was so sad to hear of his passing. Did you ever meet him?" No I did not. He moved to the US about 5 years before I moved in. He was a "stable lad" or in training to be a horse jockey. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"He was a "stable lad" or in training to be a horse jockey." I know he was not a tall guy, but I had no idea that he was petite enough to be a jockey. Talk about life taking you in a totally unexpected direction! Pop idol instead of a horse jockey. Oh well, horses are not inexpensive, if he continued having them in his life at least he had a heck of a way to fund that hobby. |
