| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
Yesterday I had one of the best rides of my life. It was only 210 miles but took about 9 hours. Drove up though the Tonto National Forest on AZ Highway 88 (the Apache Trail) from Apache Junction up to Roosevelt Damn. Lots of twisty road and hair pin turns. There are more turns on that one road than in all of Florida. North of Tortilla Flats was 22 miles of hard packed dirt road. The views were spectacular. Tall mountains on either side and marvelous views the entire way. Then it was north on 188 to 87 and dinner in Payson, AZ. Then south on 87 back to Phoenix. The only down side was I hit some very rough dirt and about 15 later my Check Engine light came on. It stayed on most of the day but did go out once when I shifted my weight on the seat. Once I made it back to town I also noticed it now is not idling nice like it normally does. I'm only guessing since I haven't been to the dealer yet but to me it sounds like I've damaged the ECM. Sound realistic? | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
yep, your butt may have flexed the seat and damaged the ECM or plugs to it. has your ECM been relocated yet? this recent thread has similar discussion. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/756688.html?1423491848 do you trust your dealer? | ||
| Zane |
I've recently moved from the west to east side of Phoenix so I don't have a Buell dealer close at all. Arrow Head HD was ok, guess I could use them again. I haven't really trusted a dealership since I was in Florida and used Fletcher HD in Clearwater. Fletcher HD was VERY Buell friendly, with 2 of the sales guys riding them. Miss that dealership. I understand that after old man Fletcher passed, HD pulled their franchise. What does an ECM go for these days? | ||
| Mark_weiss |
All the way 'round via the Apache Trail is a ride that I really like. If you try Chandler HD, let me know how things are there. I have not been in for a few years. | ||
| Nobuell |
My XT did the same thing. Hit a bump and the bike stalled. The check engine light would come and go. I then it started high idling. I removed mine from the bracket and placed it under the bracket in a home made foam pocket. No problems with ecms since. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I'll be out of town until 22 Feb. I am usually in Chandler and have an ECU cable and a copy of ECM spy that I am learning to use. If you wait that long, we could at least download an error code. I think. | ||
| Zane |
Kind offer Mark but the issue is resolved. Took it to Arrowhead HD today. They put in on the computer and the EMC checked out ok. Turns out the positive battery cable was a bit loose and wasn't making good contact. That was enough to trip the CEL for a charging system warning. Instead of having to buy a new ECM, they charged me 1/2 hour of labor and sent me home. I put about 50 miles on it today without any issue. Talk about walking away clean... | ||
| Desert_bird |
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects" .... and be able to tighten a loose battery terminal? ..Sorry. Just had to go to there.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Many of us here have been stymied by something similarly simple (loose terminal, dirty terminal, bad 77 connector, etc). Nothing wrong with somebody else finding the problem. Fixed is fixed. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
http://www.elise.com/quotes/heinlein_-_specializat ion_is_for_insects I usually look at a problem. Research it. Ask for advice from knowledgeable folks. Think on it, sleep on it, and fret on it and then do it myself. I also learned some time ago that the upfront costs of a service manual is negligible and most certainly necessary. Also I try to do the simple no-brainer stuff first and then see if that makes the problem go away. Sometimes yes and other times no. | ||
| Djohnk |
Awesome quote. Most Uly riders are inherently like that, otherwise they would own a different bike. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Djohnk, I absolutely agree. That Uly is a bike that is best enjoyed by those that are self sufficient. Most bikes today are so darned complicated in their design and the ULY is pretty uncomplicated when it comes to working on it. Could even be better in that regard but most certainly better than most. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
In the 90s when the internet was new and these sorts of sites were just getting started, I was deeply into homebrewing. What I learned was that a large percentage of brewers were engineers. They just liked tinkering with stuff. I get the same feeling about Uly riders. | ||
| Zane |
What can I say. I still love this bike. | ||
| Tootal |
That's a good point Ski. I've been home brewing for many years and that hobby sort of equates to motorcycles. A local micro brewery uses the terms Reverence and Revolution to describe their beers. Reverence is making a beer to style guidelines, sort of respecting history etc. Revolution is making a beer off the beaten path that nobody else is doing. In motorcycles the Reverence is keeping the bike stock, as it was originally engineered. Revolution is the same as customizing, making it your own, like nobody else's. Seems like there are quite a few home brewing riders out there. Might be because of the similarities in art of tinkering! Wow, that must have been some good coffee for me to be so philosophical this morning. That and I'm bored because it's snowing outside!   |
