| Author | Message | ||
     Burton_briggs |
Sunday I brought home my new Uly and after unloading the bike from the trailer, proceeded to fire it up like I would the BMW-tickle the throttle when you hit the starter. Well it fired right up but ran rough, skipping, backfiring, and bucking like a mustang with a burr under its saddle. I could hardly get from the driveway to the barn. Needless to say, I was ‘not a happy camper’ and went to bed is less than a joyful mood. Next morning I got up and rode the BMW to work, figuring, some angel would make it all better by the time I got home. That evening tried the Uly again, this time it was worse. Now it would die at idle and then would not even start. Given the rapidity of the down hill course, and the council from this BBS, I decided to pull the front plug. After removing the left side air scoop, I located the front spark plug, up behind the frame and managed to extract it. Yup-covered with carbon-(now I’ve done it). Thanks to all of your advice re the T-27 torx bit, I was able to dissect the air filter cover, and base plate without stripping any screw heads or threads. Finally, I spied the object of my search (rear plug) through a crack that I could just get my fingers, but could not get anything else in to disconnect the plug wire and extract the plug. Went to NAPA, and secured a 3/8” drive, 5/8” spark plug socket and a pair of long curved needle nose pliers, and 2 new plugs from the next door motorcycle shop and returned to the fray. I managed to get the 2 new plugs seated and not cross threaded, spark plug wires firmly attached, and everything buttoned up. Now, time to try the starter button again. I stood back, kept my hand off the throttle, crossed my fingers, crossed by toes, and crossed my legs (I needed to pee by now), and hit the starter button. She fired right up, and sat there shaking with pure joy and happiness, like a puppy who has just found his master’s sock drawer. Thanks again to all of you good folk. Can’t wait to go to work now. | ||
| 12x_infatuation |
Didn't your dealership start it up before selling it to you? I'd be checking to make sure the wheels are attached to the forks/swingarm securely before going for a spin!! | ||
| Stevenknapp |
It's not a dealer prep issue, but might be a dealer education issue. Ya, don't touch the throttle. I did the same thing just out of habit (DaveS did warn me) fouled only the front plug. It's not a BMW. :-D | ||
| Rubberdown |
Funny on my XB's sometimes I had to tickle the throttle a little. Never fouled a plug either. On my HP2 I never touch the throttle when starting. Funny things, these machines. | ||
| Marc |
My selling dealer was Dillon Brothers HD/Buell in Omaha, NE. They gave me a 20 minute education on my Uly (DEC 06) before they let me take it out the door. The mechanic who set up the bike for me dialed in the suspension to my weight. The Mechanic had a checklist of items to show me to make sure I didn't screw my Uly, and knew the basics of operating and adjusting it's suspension. Now that was service and it kept me from doing the same thing you did. I would recommend that others who are buying new bikes ask for this "bike familiarization session" if your dealer doesn't offer it right away. All it takes is a few minutes with one of the mechanics who really knows the bike to get you off on the right foot with the bike. I had a carburated bike before the Uly and had to unlearn the same starting throttle tickle memory now that I'm fuel injected. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
when I went to the Buell demo rides, I learned that day that you DON"T try starting it until the light goes off because it sets the gas and air mixture! Then you don't touch the throttle until the motorcycle is running. I havn't had any problem with mine ever since and I know your going to love your Uly! It's the best motorcycle I've ever owned! | ||
| Burton_briggs |
Cyclonedon: Thanks for the tips re letting the lights go off etc. This was a private sale and not dealer related, so I cannot blame the dealer. I have told my daughters, education is sometimes expensive but once you have learned, you get more confidence. Took the bike for a 30 mile run on some roads which really made it show its character-love it. | ||
| Michael1 |
I have also foudn out.. the Uly loves the following: Start Up. Turn Key and wait for needle sweep to complete. Flip Kill Switch. Once Check Engine light goes off...fire it up. No throttle. Let it idle. Shut Down: Use Kill Switch. Turn off Key. Other than that... I foul a plug. But.. I have no pinging or any other issue. SO I'll keep doing it this way. This is how my harley riding friends recommend I do it. It is also how my dealer recommends it along with how the Buell Demo team did things this year as well. Now it's just habit. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
That been my startup and shut down procedure on every bike I have owned. Carbed or FI. It has always worked without glitch. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I think the main thing to remember is to not blip the throttle like you have a carbed bike. I find myself doing this blipping anyway but apparently not enough to cause a problem. | ||
| Lovehamr |
I don't think that I've ever touched my kill switch except by accident. I also "blip" the throttle on almost all down shifts. No related problems thus far. Steve | ||
| Burton_briggs |
Lovehamr, I think the reference is to 'blipping' the throttle when the bike is just being started and COLD. The sparkies can't handle all of that fuel load and carbon up. | ||
| Burton_briggs |
Lovehamr--I think the reference is o 'blipping' the throttle when starting the bike and everything is COLD. The sparkies just can't handle all of that fuel and carbon up. | ||
| Buellish |
If you do foul the rear plug,access is easier with a wobble extention. To reinstall the plug,use a small amount of anti-seize on the threads.Then cut a length of 5/16" rubber fuel line. Use the fuel line to start the plug,so there is no chance of cross threading. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
This is probably the best post listed for all of the new (including myself) Uly owners. I haven't been in the Burton_Briggs situation, thankfully, but I have managed to get that tiny little choke/cough while starting, probably from a little twist of "rarin'-to-go"!!! My main lesson learned from this topic is to be patient and be gentle. Coming from a Yamaha FZ6, I've learned to wait for the FI "wind-up" to stop, and then it'll fire right up. This post should be a registrational pre-requisite to Uly-noobs like me.  Hang tight, my brothers of Ulyssiness. |
