| Author | Message | ||
     Fst_tyms |
Is there an easy way to reset the TPS, without going to the dealer. The shop I have been taking it to, don't have the Harley software. Is the software available somewhere? I would really like to reset it myself. Can anyone help? | ||
| Mikej |
worm, can, open.... The whole TPS fiasco has been discussed and cussed at length and in depth including attempted and ongoing workarounds and alternatives. Try to find another dealership that does have the required factory authorized tools and equipment. If they don't have the tool and software then they may not be the best choice for working on your bike, IMHO. Modesto is about 300 miles north of you. I believe there are a couple of decent shops a bit closer but the folks more local to you will have to speak up on that issue. | ||
| Bomber |
here's a sales incentive for ya -- 4 free TPS resets, on demand, within normal business hours, for the purchaser of each new XB series Buell . . . . . | ||
| M1combat |
They can't do that Bomber. That would require that they actually tell you that there is something that you absolutely MUST bring the bike into the dealership for. | ||
| Fst_tyms |
There HAS to be a way to get the software they use! Any of you guys that work in a dealership....How can I get a copy of the TPS software???? | ||
| Fst_tyms |
So I called customer service for Buell. The lady informed me that you have to be an authorized dealer to get the software. Can't this be considered some sort of monopoly. I bet we could all get together and form a class action law suit to make Buell make this technology available to the public!!!! | ||
| M1combat |
It's not software. It's firmware as I recall. I believe it's burned into a replaceable chip that slides into a "Digital Technician". There has been a LOT of discussion on this subject already. Maybe do a search for TPS and reset. You'll have plenty to read and if after that you have any suggestions please feel free to make them (or feel free to make them now, it makes no difference to me), but we have been over this a few times. I still think the best solution is to record a conversation between a DT and an ECM using a laptop and annalize that to come up with exactly what is said back and forth, then create a simple program that will emulate a DT. Also, it would be nice if Buell would sell a "blackbox" for a hundred bucks that would allow you to reset a TPS on your own. The TPS should only need to be set once PER ECM. The only thing that should happen after that is the throttle body wears out a little and it will need another calibration (or "reset"  but that "should" take a while. The service manual indicates that when the voltage reported by the TPS is out of spec with the throttle closed it is time for a new throttle body. I'm SURE I'm missing a lot, so do a search and you will find a LOT more. | ||
| M1combat |
Why would I want to sue the manufacturer of the coolest motorcycles made? There will be a third party tool for TPS resets at some point. | ||
| Daves |
I guess I just don't understand why some people get so upset about having to take the bike to the dealership for a TPS reset. It's not like you have to do it once a month. You change out to the race ecm,have it reset and you're done. What is the big deal? Not saying this to get flamed on, I just really don't understand.  I've sold lots of XBs and X1s in the past 5 years and none of my customers had to have the TPS reset more than 1 or 2 times in up to 5 years. Heck, I'd throw in free TPS resets for the life of the bike if the customer was that concerned. It might cost me about 60.00 in labor for the life of the bike. The X1 that I rode for 2 1/2 years only had the TPS reset once that I know of. That was when we put the race kit on it. I later changed to a Force pipe and didn't have to have it done, that, I know cause I did the work myself. Ride to the edge! Don't sweat having your TPS reset!It's not that big of a deal. Dave daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| Doof |
Go to www.technoresearch.com. Click on "Products". Click on "VDST-PDA". See note 3/4 down on the page, right above "PRODUCT INTERFACE".  | ||
| Mikej |
Daves, In this case go up and re-read what he said: The shop I have been taking it to, don't have the Harley software. I believe the big deal is the principle of the thing. Sort of like some auto parts supply shop not wanting to sell me a catalytic converter to install at home when it's just basically the same as installing a muffler. If they want the old one back then fine, but you'd think the guy thought I was looking to commit a federal felony by simply asking for a replacement cat. to replace the plugged up one on the car I had at the time. Anyway, it's more the principle of "having" to take it back, and couple that with the general non-Daves-type-of dealership and it then becomes a big deal. Oh well, back to counting rain drops outside. | ||
| Josh_ |
Technoresearch also says: Note: Buell Motorbike Coming soon!!!! | ||
| M1combat |
Agreed, it's more the principle. One of the large factors in buying an XB was the fact that I can work on it myself. This "should" only be an issue in say 25 years when I have a failed ECM and I need to go find one. If I find one in a junk yard or whatever I'll need to have the TPS reset for my bike. Will HD still have the software to do it? Will there be third party devices out by then that will do it? Will there be ECM's at that point that have a built in reset button? Say I build a chopper with an XB engine (a plan I would like to carry out), why in the | should I have to take it to HD to reset the TPS? So I can buy a T-Shirt while I'm there? Maybe if they sold Buell T-Shirts at my local dealer. I only mention "local" as I bought the bike from Dave instead of my local dealer. I want to be able to do it myself. | ||
| Mikej |
You might want to revise that 25 year estimate simply by looking at the obsolescence of some of the 'tuber parts. And keep in mind that some Harley dealerships will absolutely not work on clones, so if they deem your custom to be a clone then they won't work on it no matter how hard you try to argue otherwise. Like I said, a can or worms. "Do you want fries with that?" | ||
| Bud |
Technoresearch also says: Note: Buell Motorbike Coming soon!!!! me thinks, me goes shopping for a pda  very soon ( or the must make a smartphone interface ?? ) | ||
| Daves |
Mikej, I saw the "the dealer I've been taking it to" statement. That means, to me, that they are not a HD or Buell dealer? Maybe HD but not Buell? Not sure. I also understand the "I want to do it myself" part. It's just that you don't have to do it but once or twice(OK, maybe 3 times) in the life of the bike. I fully understand "principle" but I think too many people are worrying to much about this one. Last summer I had my first break down on my 99 FLHT. 100 miles from the nearest HD dealer and of course had no way to tell what the hell was wrong. Now "if" it had been my 62 FLH or my 82 FXWG I could've got out my multi tester, went to the local Wal-Mart, and bought what ever was wrong and fixed it in the parking lot of the hotel. Turns out, it was a crankshaft position sensor(Wal-Mart doesn't have these in stock)I got it to the HD shop, they fixed my bike and I was out 1 1/2 days of our vacation. Was I pissed? Nope. Was I pissed because I "Had" to take it to a HD shop? Nope. You want to know why? Well I'll tell you anyway. This was my first breakdown on this bike, at 48,617 miles! Dave miles, not your average HD poser miles. Let's see, my Panhead or Shovelhead, although I could've fixed it on the side of the road, would've been thru at least one complete top end by that many miles, plenty of time cussin by the side of the road and lots more in parts than the 140.00 it cost me to fix the 99. This newfangled stuff is OK by me! Ride to the edge! Dave daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| Mikej |
Well, I wouldn't mind having an FLHT. They come with a carb right? Besides, it sure seems like several folks on the site here have had to have their's reset a few more than once or thrice, but perhaps that's just the condensation on the inside of the monitor affecting my perception due to all you people being inside of it. I still can't figure out how they can put the whole wide world inside a monitor, and yet can only fit a dozen or so people inside an elevator. Oh well, such is life I guess. I think I'll walk backwards to the coffee pot for the rest of the day, and if anyone asks me why I'll just say I'm trying to unwind a little.  | ||
| Daves |
Yeah Mike my 99 has a carb, the only way they made them back then. If I was to get a new one I'd go with the FI, hands down. I agree, I think some have had theirs done more than others. I don't know if that's because the tech didn't do it right,the customer "thinks" it's not right so insist it be done again. I'm just talking averages here and personal history, riding FI Buells for 5 years now, 4 different bikes S3,X1,XB9R and now a XB12R. Ride to the edge! Dave daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| Mikej |
I've just been tainted by a few f.i. cars in the past, and with X1 and S3 issues that some people I know directly have had. Shoot, I'm one of those people that sometimes misses messing with contact points. Hmmm, are they selling any Flatheads up there? Ride up on a Buell, ride home on a rigid with a sprung seat, might not be so bad since I've got two Buells. Hmmmm, more head scratching to do now. | ||
| M1combat |
I like the new fangled stuff too. It's just that I feel I'm competent enough to WORK on the new fangled stuff. Why doesn't Buell/H-D agree with me? I think that they should at least make it an aftermarket accessory is all. Talking about the good old stuff , my father has an '82 FXSB . 1 of 225 I think. I keep telling him that when he sells it I'll pay whatever he wants for it. | ||
| Bomber |
Daves-- valid points, all true . . .. I think, however that what's getting some folk's goat is the "you can only get it done here, make a reservation a month in advance, but please don't mistake a reservation for an intent to actually work on your bike and you can have it back in a week" song and dance . . . . I've heard the same thing (clearly, not TPS, but other service issues) from a couple of joints . . .. I don't go back there . .. . . TPS would be such a big deal if it was the only one, I'm thinking . . . . . . . . compare all this rigamarole with the ride to work, work to ride site, where they (used to anyways) rate shops that would fix your sccot first if you were down . . . .as in, treating as if it was a transportation device (I know, I'm preaching to the choir, in your case) | ||
| Yeahcmon |
Personally for me it's being able to work on MY machine. I don't like being a helpless mouse when it comes to my badazz bike. The manual says that the DT is looking for like 5.2 to 5.6 degrees of throttle opening. It's all about voltage. If you can find out what voltage the tps sensor is putting out at 5.2 and 5.6 degrees you can make some jumper wires and use a voltmeter to set the darn thing. Maybe find out who makes the DT and give them a call. I just like the confidence and satisfaction of knowing I FIXED something. MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEME | ||
| Glitch |
It's not that I mind so much going to the dealer. It's that I have to go to the dealer. It's not just TPS either. I don't want to have to make an appointment, and give up my bike for a couple of days just to check the AFV. I just want to be able to do it at MY conveniance. I hate to call up the severice dept of the three dealerships I trust, just to find out they don't have time for me, when it would only take me 15 min. or so. How would you feel if they had a special tool that you don't have access to do something as simple as check your timing. Oh wait they do. This is the only thing I'm sore about with Buell. | ||
| Davefl |
There is more than one reason to have the TPS reset. I for one have had a failure of my TPS. From the systems I had my guess was the TPS. I took it to the shop and the put the D.T. on it and told me it was the O2 sensor and that they did not have one in stock. I got the crossover for the O2 sensor from the K.V. replaced it and no help. I made another appointment to have them look at my bike. Dropped off the bike and told them that I had just changed the O2 sensor and that I thought it was the TPS. Got a call a week later that my bike was fixed and that I could come pick it up. I arrived at the dealership and talked to the service writer and he said that they had replaced the O2 sensor. I took the bike for a short ride before I loaded it up and the problem was still there so I rode it right back to the service bay. Another week later I received another call that my bike was done and that I could come pick it up. What did they fix? You guessed it they replaced the TPS, problem solved. If I could have replaced and reset it myself I would have had a good two weeks that my bike would not have been sitting at the shop. I would have not had to make three trips to the dealer with the trailer. That alone would be worth it to me to be able to do it myself. edited by davefl on May 10, 2004 | ||
| Fullpower |
its made by OTC. and no, they will not sell you one. | ||
| Fst_tyms |
My TPs seems to go out of whack kinda often. I have had it reset 3 times in about a year, and I am in need again. My biggest problem is I shouldn't be tying up prescious dealer service time, when it could take 10 minutes of my own time to sort it out, instead of going all the way to a dealer who tells me it will take a week or 2 till they can even look at it. Damn, they aren't even open Monday! Does the TPS get messed up from hitting the rev limiter? Different quality gas? I think it was from busting the belt last weekend. Does anyone know what might make it be messed up? We already know Harley / Buell doesn't want us to be able to fix it, but maybe we can avoid messing it up in the first place? | ||
| Davefl |
Once the TPS is set correctly it should not change unless it is disturbed (taken off the throttle body) or if the ECU is changed. Hitting the rev limiter or breaking the belt will not change the TPS setting. Either the TPS on your bike has never been set correctly or you have a different problem. What systems are you having? | ||
| Fst_tyms |
my bike is sputtering in the bottom end. Less acceleration than normal, and wheelies have become difficult. I had this problems before...reset the TPS and all was happy again | ||
| M1combat |
Is it warmed up when it's sputtering? | ||
| Fst_tyms |
fully warmed. lowend low throttle. sputter. Also poor response when I turn on the throttle. |
