| Author |
Message |
    
Zektiv
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 01:34 am: | 
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Evening, all!
So I've gotten my hands on an 03 XB9R that had a blown front spark plug. I like trying to fix things (did okay with a Honda and a Ducati), and I've always wanted a Buell, so it looks like the perfect project!
I rotated the motor, jammed a time-cert into the hole, busted at least one knuckle open, replaced the back plug to make sure they matched (using the 9x iridium plugs, as recommended by everyone in every forum ever), rotated the motor back up, reattached everything, and plugged it all back in. I haven't reattached the belt-drive yet because I want to be sure everything starts up okay and I'm working on doing the belt conversion to 06+. Anyway, the starting up part is where I'm running into trouble.
I went to fire it up tonight after all that fuss, and she's having real problems. Everything's connected, airbox base is on (not the full airbox), exhaust is off. I flip the key and the fuel pump sounds like a banshee giving birth. I hit the starter: She'll start up after a few coughs and giving it some throttle, but she'll only stay on if I give it throttle. If I leave it at idle the motor just sputters and dies. It also sounds like it's running on one cyclinder... instead of the potato-potato sound I keep reading about it's more like blop-blop-blop. If I keep it running for a few seconds with the throttle open the fuel pump kicks in for more banshee wailing noises.
Also: the first few times I started it up there was smoke coming from the exhaust header and from the velocity stack/rubber tube thingie (remember, I don't have the full exhaust attached at this point). White, a bit like dry ice or a puffing smoker in consistency. I figure this is unburnt fuel, residue, oil, or possibly the grease burning off from when I did the time-sert? At first there was a lot of smoke, but subsequent attempts to start and run and now there's not much smoke at all - what little there is usually stays in the throttle body, and none of it coming out of the exhaust anymore. Again, I attribute this to junk burning off, perhaps grease from the installation (I used plenty of it, per the instructions, plus some oil for the last part).
Is it possible that the spark plug wire was damaged when the spark plug blew out originally? What can I do to diagnose this and get it running? Any advice or help is very much appreciated!
I'll try to get video of it in operation tomorrow at some point, maybe that'll help.
(Message edited by zektiv on December 23, 2015) |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 10:47 am: |
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Don't panic. 
Cover the basics first. You replaced the plugs, now drain what you can and get some fresh gas in there, and let it run long enough to burn off the (perhaps literal) cobwebs. Unless it sounds like metal is clanking on metal, or it is oil starved, keep it running for a few heat cycles to burn off gunk.
Then do a TPS reset, making sure you follow the instructions on the idle screw.
Then clean the plugs again, or try a cheap new set, just in case the "fouled bike fouling good plugs while burning off gunk".
Now start seeing if there is an actual problem. If the "running on one cylinder" thing continues, that is likely pretty simple, like perhaps a coil, or a wire.
Check the static timing.
There can also be "whacked out" symptoms if there is a short or a break in the wiring harness somewhere. Common problem areas are around the steering head, or around the ECM bundle. Bad grounds (or disconnected grounds) can do odd things as well).
Check for compression problems as well, to make sure the spark plug wasn't the tip of the iceburg when it was parked.
If it backfires after stalling and coming back, start looking at the cam position sensor.
It's a pretty simple bike, stick with it and you should track it down pretty quickly. |
Andersonhdj
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 02:39 pm: |
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As per Reep comments but do a compression test first thing.
Dry - wet at WOT , to get meaningful values.
It seems like some hamfistedness was involved with the spark plug thread and may be a symptom / result of a regularly fouled plug which may point to something amiss in that jug.
If all is good , as per Reeps post , get some miles on it , usually cleans out the cobwebs.
(Message edited by andersonhdj on December 23, 2015) |
Zektiv
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 05:09 pm: |
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Okay, so today I started it up successfully and took some video. It also held idle. Here are links to the vids...
Startup and holds idle: https://youtu.be/r7EjWxAaG6I
At idle: https://youtu.be/_ZJu48OvhNk
Warmed up a little, then I move the camera so you can hear the fuel pump: https://youtu.be/9r5jjVr8IYw
A short vid looking into the throttle body: https://youtu.be/59z3bPd-PdM
I mean, I know it's going to be rough as heck without the exhaust mounted and with the open airbox but is this how v-twins are supposed to sound? Also, that fuel pump sound is loud enough to be heard over the motor - that can't be good.
Appreciate all the help! |
Zektiv
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 05:31 pm: |
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One last video I took when I started up for my buddy. Seemed to sound a little better? I'll let the pros decide...
https://youtu.be/KSuBEGZ6CMw |
Brother_in_buells
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 - 06:47 pm: |
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The fuel pump sounds pretty normal for a early xb.
I have a 12s from march 04 that makes the same sounds.
And yes if you put the airbox and exhaust back on it's probably going to run better.
The smoke in the manifold is there because after turning off the engine a intake valve stays open so the smoke escapes past the intake valve into the manifold.
It's normal that a halve stays open ,it's
the working cyclus of the engine. |
Zektiv
| | Posted on Monday, December 28, 2015 - 10:13 pm: |
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I finally got everything together and running and rode it for a little bit. Putting the airbox and exhaust on certainly helped a lot.
I put in a couple of gallons of high-test just to make sure I had plenty of gas in it and rode it in the neighborhood for a few minutes. The good news is that the fuel pump sound has lowered significantly. It's still 'there' but it's not screeching like before. Also, as mentioned, putting a few miles on it really helped - I think it's running a lot smoother for the most part. The less good news is that riding it has brought up a whole new set of questions... which I've put in a separate post.
Thanks for the advice and support!!! |
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