Cuts out, loss of power between 4k-5k only?? Please help

[clzay]

Hey guys I have an 09XB12scg with around 11,000 miles. I have a hesitation or cutting out like the bike isn't getting fuel only between 4k-5krpms. Its getting very frustrating and wanted to see if you guys had some insite on where to begin? I have the race EMC with D&D exhaust, haven't done any 10k maintance but did just replace my battery with a genuine HD battery.... feel free to comment, or any ideas would be great. Thanks

[squidbuellie]

reset your tps.

[07Bolt]

Check ur battery connections. If they are loose, high speed vibration will make them wiggle real fast and sometimes lose contact with the battery terminal. Also the headlight will flicker when they wiggle a lot. If not, u could have a intake leak at higher speeds maybe. Or could be ur regulator shorting out at high rpms.

[thewanmanrules]

I had the same issue with the bike almost dying, and it was the battery connections. They were loose...

[clzay]

I've tried resetting TPS an haven't had anyluck with that. Battery connections are tight, the headlights do not flicker an doesnt appear to be shorting out anywhere. it starts an idles fine... Its just intermediate cut out in power between 4k-5k in every gear at any speed. Its enough for me to not want to ride the bike sometimes. How can i go about checking the regulator or intake leaks??

[GAXB9R]

Does your ecm say race use only? I'm assuming this is how you know. Did you install the ECM? How long ago?

[clzay]

yes it does say RACE on it... The EMC was installed about a year ago when the bike had around 6kmiles, before i had purhased the bike.

[clzay]

I want to say in the begining the cutting out between 4k-5k was not all the time, but I definitly have been noticing it a lot more now... if that helps?

[iRide]

how about the ground

[clzay]

thanks... Check the ground, tight fresh looks like new

[iRide]

i would get service manual and go through the trouble shooting steps

[clzay]

I'll try whatever but havent had much luck so fair an i'm not to machanically inclined to be trouble shooting such a intermediate problem :(

[iRide]

You can check the intake leaks by spraying the throttle body seals w WD40 or a propane torch (unlit obviously) if there is a leak the idle should jump up. I fixed a leak around my TPS sensor yesterday using the WD40 to discover. Its a bit messy. I'm going to test again w propane.

[anrkizm95]

warm up the bike reset the tps and ride it hard for 15-20 miles.

[XRorXB]

Hi clzay, what about above 5K RPMs? Does power return to normal?
If it were my bike, I would be first suspecting a coil issue - weak spark (assuming it's not just a flat spot in the power at 4-5K). If it returns to normal above 5K, I would be data logging a ride session.

[clzay]

yes power pulls hard an smooth after the glichy 4k area. Is there a way to test the coil or weak spark issue? And i'm not sure how to go about logging a ride session?

[ngreeley]

I read in the archives mid range power loss maybe due to grounding and people found the solution when running a spare ground from the battery to a coil bolt with a 10 GA. wire. Search for it. Something to try.

[XRorXB]

yes power pulls hard an smooth after the glichy 4k area. Is there a way to test the coil or weak spark issue? And i'm not sure how to go about logging a ride session?
Because it recovers to normal power above 5K, I would no longer suspect the coil. A glitchy TPS might cause it! There are procedures in the service manual for checking for a smooth voltage output from the TPS.


I want to say in the begining the cutting out between 4k-5k was not all the time, but I definitly have been noticing it a lot more now... if that helps?
Has it always done this, since you owned the bike? Or did it just start one day?

I would check for any historic codes in the ECM.

Datalogging would be revealing, but without some tuning background, you'll just be looking at a bunch of numbers and graphs. Search the forum - there are many threads on datalogging and tuning in general!

[clzay]

"Little update"

Decided to pull my plugs over the weekend, an found the bike had NGK DCPR7EIX gapped about .040... not sure why the previous owner had put these in? Anyways I replaced them with NGK DCPR8E gapped to .035, an the bikes pulls harder out of the hole (bottom RPM's) and seems to have lessened the gitchy "loss of power" between the 4-5k area. Is that possible, the gitchyness is still there but not all the time... So now I'm more confused more than ever. Happy the bike is running a little better, but has got me thinking about going to a colder NGK DCPR9E. So maybe my problem has something to do with a weak ground or arching?? I don't know... but thanks for the help boys its keeping me motivated to solve the issue

[clzay]

Has it always done this, since you owned the bike? Or did it just start one day?

I would check for any historic codes in the ECM.

Datalogging would be revealing, but without some tuning background, you'll just be looking at a bunch of numbers and graphs. Search the forum - there are many threads on datalogging and tuning in general!

To answer this... since i got the bike it has been very finicky, but I want to say it just had a flat-spot between the 4-5k rpm area. I has since seemed to be getting worst, untill the change of the plugs that helped but the problem still persist [sad]

[clzay]

Hey guys could you check this post out again... I just noticed that the bike does not do this right after start up like the first couple minutes while still warming up, it runs perfect/smooth through the whole RPM. So what does that mean? Please help i love this thing and what to figure it out thanks.

[iBex]

I have a 2009 Xb12Ss with D&D, K&N filter, and EBR race ECM - 7,000 miles.
This issue has came up just recently since I bought the bike used a couple weeks ago it started having the same issue you're describing (hesitation exactly between 4k-5k, all gears)

I peformed a TPS reset and took a good 30 minute ride at about 3500 rpm and slowly increase crusing rpm up through 5k. The hesitation has improved and is only noticed slightly in the 4000 - 4500 rpm range. I have also been getting check engine light, which i checked the error code for being #13 o2 sensor.

clzay, are you getting the check engine light?

[iBex]

Had my bike in the HD shop, they found a leak in the intake gaskets and had them replaced. Although it pulls harder than ever during acceleration, the hesitation in the 4k - 4.5k rpm range is still present. I'm still getting an O2 sensor error code. I'll be taking the bike back to the shop...

[xtreme]

Ensure plug wires are completely seated on the plug. That was my issue the forward cylinder is a pain.

[Lando]

Hey Clzay, i just posted about a similar problem to what you were having, did you ever resolve it?

My problem:
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Troubleshooting/Help-with-a-wierd-electrical-problem-...

Thanks,
Lando

[clzay]

no i never resolved the issue, kinda just learned to live with it... I do really like this bike its so fun to ride

[pixelronin]

I had similar issues, even with 3 different HD telling me my charging system was fine. Eventually it went down. Voltage Regulator went dead, and replaced the stator for the sake of changing it (had money at the time). And the #77 Connector was toast (connects the battery to voltage regulator). This could be a possible electrical issue...you can get a new one for $24 bucks.

But I still had a loss in power when decelerating, but then noticed I had oil leaking from my push rod tower. When I had that changed, they saw that my head gaskets were toast. Leading to compression problems.

I've only had a chance to ride her for half a day, but she seemed to be rocking. I will know more this weekend after I get a nice long ride in.

Good Luck