| Author | Message | ||
     Skifastbadly |
I've read several people here state that they won't go too far from home on the Uly because they don't trust the thing. I can relate, after all mine stranded me in Montana for a few days. And I've had a number of issues including blown VR & stator, etc. I've recently been getting CE codes which are caused by the exhaust valve actuator failing to ... actuate the exhaust valve. The replacement part was supposed to arrive on Friday, but UPS screwed the pooch and so it won't be here until today. Yesterday was a great day though, sunny and warm, so I fiddled with the existing actuator, took it apart, made sure everything was lubed and turning, lubed the cable, sprayed a bunch of lube on the valve and whaddya know the CE light went out. I went for a ride. I got about 80 miles north of home when my fuel light came on, no surprise, I knew it would. I pulled into a gas station and filled it. Got back on the bike, pressed the starter..nothing. Oh shit, not now! I hit it several times, tried bump starting, nothing. Damn this bike! Stranded in Stanwood WA on a Sunday. Stupid electronics. Stupid engineers. Stupid UPS. And it was about then I noticed that I hadn't turned the kill switch back on.  D'oh! Fired right up and had a wonderful ride home. Just because you're on a Buell doesn't mean it's always the bike's fault. | ||
| Uly_man |
Why were you using the kill switch in the first place? | ||
| Ramman4x4 |
There's a recent thread around here where someone else had the same problem...cleaned/lubed the actuator and the CE went away. Why were you using the kill switch in the first place? How do you kill the engine on your bike? My left hand is holding the clutch in because the bike is in gear. The key switch is a bit uncomfortable to reach with my right hand. I just go for the kill switch. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Why were you using the kill switch in the first place?. While I don't do it very often, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches people to do that so that if they have to kill the engine in an emergency, it's second nature to use the kill switch. | ||
| Woodnbow |
That may be but I've never had any kind of emergency that required a kill switch. I can't really think of a situation that would require it... YMMV.. Every time I have used the kill switch, I forget that I have and sit there pushing the damn button for a minute or two until I have my D'oh! moment... Hate that! | ||
| Uly_man |
Kill switch.  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Why were you using the kill switch in the first place?" MSF recommends it so you don't have to take your hands off the handgrip, which is important for a new rider who is just developing muscle memory. One added bonus, as mentioned above, is in a panic situation, muscle memory kicks in and you automatically will reach for the engine cut off switch. An additional bonus of using "thumb/key" for shutdown is, if you dump the bike, on the left side, and lets say it is set up like a Uly so the ignition switch is on the left side, you most likely can still get at the engine cutoff switch on the handgrip. | ||
| Froggy |
I can't see how you can safely shut off a Uly without the kill switch. The key is in a position that is not easily accessible while sitting on the bike, so you would have to hop off the bike while it is running and hope it doesn't idle off the kickstand while you get to it. Other option is to hold the brake, and release the clutch to stall. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I can't see how you can safely shut off a Uly without the kill switch". Is this some sort of JOKE? | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I just learned that way. It's second nature to me. When I pull want to shut off the bike, I hit the switch, then I can reach over or get off the bike and turn the key. I have three bikes, I don't have to think about how to turn each off. @Ramman: That was probably me, I've been fiddling with this problem for a few weeks, finally pulled the trigger on a new actuator hopefully that will resolve the issue. While I noticed that there was some resistance on the cable which went away after lubrication, the actuator sometimes hung up even when not connected to the cable...I think what happens is too much resistance causes the gears to jam then you have to take the damned thing apart to get them unjammed. Hopefully the new actuator will resolve this. I'll let you all know. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Unless I am missing something here, Fltwistygirl and Froggy have it correct. Pull to a stop, clutch in, toggle kill switch to engine off, kickstand down, clutch out, push/pull bike to make sure it is steady, turn key to off and get off bike. Just SOP. No disrespect Uly man, that is just how I do it. How do you shut off the bike when you stop? (Message edited by big island rider on March 24, 2014) | ||
| Teeps |
Not Buell/Ulysses related, but if it makes you feel any better, Skifastbadly. I just spent about 6 hours trying to get this computer back on line... only to find I had switched off all internet traffic. Within the Comodo firewall... Now that's a DOH!!!!!! | ||
| Etennuly |
I always use the kill switch also. It shuts the engine down when I want it to without all of that long arm reaching. I turn off the key when I get off from the bike. Froggy probably does it for a similar reason, he is not of a tall stature.....me, I eat too much!  When I get on it I always listen for the fuel pump when I turn the kill switch back on. My routine is insert key, turn on key, mount bike, pull in clutch, pop it in neutral, turn on kill switch, hit starter, pop in gear, twist throttle, slam clutch, ride like I stole it!  | ||
| Ratbuell |
I guess I worked at a dealer too long...I NEVER park in gear unless I'm on an extreme slope. And I always park facing uphill. Park, stand down, Neutral light on, turn key off. Haven't had one roll off the stand yet (INCLUDING my S2!), haven't had one leave town because I started it in gear. Yes, I know where the switch is for emergency use (and so does my muscle memory). Yes, I always look for the neutral light before hitting the start button - I had co-workers who used to try and catch me on that one. Real funny. It stopped when I glued the A-tech's toolbox shut with gorilla glue in the key cylinder and on every drawer slider. | ||
| Teeps |
Greasing the pull rails is much better than gluing the key cylinder. Unless you really hate the guy. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'll join in. I park in neutral, level ground or facing up hill. Turn off the key. If I really thought that I would need an emergency shutoff or kill switch, I'd use a kill key like on a jet ski that straps to my wrist or front of my jacket. Fall off the bike and it pulls the pin that lets the switch shut down the machine. Unless you really hate the guy. It has nothing to do with hate. It is a teaching moment. If someone put my bike in gear as a joke, I would teach them not to do that. I use epoxy. | ||
| Ulyful |
I'm with Ratbuell..... I never park in gear unless I have nowhere else to park but on a steep slope and I don't want my bike rolling anywhere. I never attempt to start my bike while it's in gear either. A clutch cable could have slipped or gave way while the bike was parked, which will give people quite a little surprise when they engage the starter. Whenever I've started it in gear (by accident), I've had it lurch forward and stall a few times when I let out the clutch lever (I always pull in the clutch lever as well when I hit the start button as a double-safety measure). I do use the kill switch though to turn the engine off (after putting it in neutral). I try to remember to turn it right back on so I don't forget to when I start it the next time--don't always remember, but it's the first thing I look for when it doesn't start. I put the bike in neutral with the engine running. It's easier to get the tranny in neutral with the engine still running. The inserting/removing the key from the ignition thing is always the first (starting) and last (shutting off) thing I do. The best way is whatever's comfortable and easily repeatable for each individual. There are certainly "safe" and "more safe" ways of doing it, but as long as you develop a routine and don't forget any of the steps, it's all good. | ||
| Woodnbow |
I'm with Ratbuell. Put the bike in Neutral, stand down, and then turn off the key. | ||
| Griffmeister |
"Why were you using the kill switch in the first place?" I don't know if it was different for other years, but for 08 it is written in the owners manual that came with the bike. Use the kill switch to shut off the engine. Okay, I know, who reads the manual? As far as reasons, I can possibly see a connection with the electronics although this is only a guess. By using the kill switch, you are keeping the ECM and instrument cluster "live" until the engine has come to a stop. On heavy equipment there is a load dump relay that keeps power on after key off until the engine stops. On older machines it was just to protect the alternator but now there are multiple controllers that need to stay powered up. IDK, just a thought. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
"I can't see how you can safely shut off a Uly without the kill switch". Is this some sort of JOKE? WHAT HE SAID.. I use the key. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I always use the kill switch. Closer, easier, safer. Makes it easier to switch over to the KDX-200 also (which has no ignition key  ). | ||
| Bikelit |
45 years riding and I never use the kill switch. I guess if you always park on an incline. or have a habit of falling over when you shut off your bike, it's a good idea. | ||
| Teeps |
Well since we're here, I have 3 procedures for turning the bike off. 1. stop in gear and let the clutch out to stall the engine, then turn off the key. parking on incline. 2. stop in gear, use engine stop (kill) switch, then shift to neutral. parking on flat. 3. stop in neutral, turn off Ig switch. parking in garage at end of the day's ride. Starting the bike is always the same procedure. a) turn Ig switch to run b) make sure trans is in neutral and the neutral indicator is on. c) wait for check engine sequence to complete and the indicator to go off. d) press the electric foot switch. | ||
| Buewulf |
"Well since we're here, I have 3 procedures for turning the bike off. " I've hit the kill switch mid-air before during an unintended, slow motion, mid-flight dismount, you know, because that is what one thinks to do as his or her life flashes before them. I suspect most people who started out on dirt are very apt kill switchers. 1. Realize bike's trajectory is not quite the same as your own. 2. Hit kill switch, 'cause really, it is the only thing left in your control to do. 3. Impact. 4. Take pride in the fact that your bike isn't revving away like a banshee as you cry and moan in your impact crater like the squid you are. | ||
| Buewulf |
By the way, funny post Skifast. | ||
| Sagehawk |
what is an incline? don't see such here on gulf coast. well maybe the damon mound! | ||
| General_ulysses |
When I was a kid on a weekend snowmobile outing (many moons ago), I jumped on a snowmobile that had been parked outside the front door of our cabin. Unbeknownst to me, the last guy to ride it experienced a stuck throttle set to wide open. He had left the key in the ignition all ready to go. So I pulled the starter on it and it roared to life first yank. Off I went into an open field with it running wide open (this particular snowmobile was a Polaris Colt 340, capable of about ~70 mph). Although I knew the kill switch was there and what it did, the event took me completely by surprise. I wasn't expecting it and it scared the hell out of me as I tried to control the sled's speed with the brake and to steer it towards an opening in the field's ring of barbwire fencing. The brake slowed it down some but the engine was more powerful than the brake. I was alternating between grabbing as much brake as my 13 year hand could muster to momentarily taking my hand off the grip/brake to try and reach down to the key in the lower center console to turn the damned thing off. But everytime I did that, the machine lunged forward with a huge rush of speed and acceleration, making it hard to hang on to, forcing me to abandon my attempt for the key and to put both hands on the bars again to regain some semblance of control. In just a few seconds I was nearing the edge of the property with the barbwire fence. Fortunately, I had at least maneuvered successfully to an opening in the fenceline, but beyond that were saplings and heavy brush. I could see I was heading for a good size sapling, so after braking as hard as I could, I bailed at the last second. The sled took off, impacted the sapling and then climbed partway up the tree before overturning and landing on its side running at full power. I was unhurt and ran over to the machine to turn it off (using the key). The sled had pranged sheet metal under its front belly, but otherwise wasn't significantly damaged. The first question out of the astonished adult audience was "Are you ok???" The second one was "We could see you reaching for the key, but why didn't you just hit the kill switch??" In my sheer panic and surprise (which pretty much defines an emergency situation), I completely forgot about the kill button sitting right there on the handlebar. All it would have taken is a simple bump of my hand or finger to turn the machine off. I know it sounds stupid, but I simply did not have the presence of mind to use it because I had always used the key up until that point (and so did the guy that parked it there before I jumped on it). Today when I ride my Uly I use both the kill button and the key. When I first start my Uly and after letting it warm up, I get on the bike and then turn the motor off using the kill switch. The reason I do this is because I don't like putting it in first gear at the beginning of my ride with the engine running. It makes a horrible clunk sound that I know lightly damages the gears as they "cold-clash" engage while the clutch discs are still cold and sticky. After I put it in 1st (with the engine killed) I turn the kill button back on, restart the motorcycle and take off. After the bike warms up during my ride, the gear oil + clutch discs heat up and the cold clashing gear thing is much less severe. But by doing this it helps to reduce wear on my transmission. It also helps to imprint on my "reptilian panic brain" where that kill button is. That way if I ever need it when I'm panicked or deeply surprised during an emergency situation, I have a better chance of using it successfully than I did on that ill fated snowmobile trip so many years ago. | ||
| Reepicheep |
That made me smile this morning... | ||
| Woodnbow |
Some of you guys lead very exciting lives...  | ||
| Pnw_uly |
And here I was thinking that this was an "oil " thread. . . ? ? ? (Message edited by PNW ULY on March 26, 2014) |
