Odd no-start

[blitzkrieg69]

I originally posted this in a thread I had going in the parts section about identifying my muffler mod, but seems like this would be the more appropriate section.

On the way home today, I ran out of fuel. Yeah, since the fuel warning light stays on all the time, and I neglected to reset my tripometer when I fueled, I ran out 3 miles from home. While standing there waiting for the neighbor to bring me fuel, I noticed this:
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad55/brytauruss/pipe_zps3a81996d.jpg

After putting in fuel, she started up fine and I rode home, although a little louder than before. So I just went to the hardware store, got some nuts and washers, put it all back together, and she won't start. She cranks just fine, but no start. I smell fuel when cranking, of course. If I give it some throttle when cranking, it will sound like it almost wants to start, but then I get a big backfire, and no start. Any suggestions? I don't get how tightening the headers back up could change how she starts. She was running perfectly, although a little loud, when I parked it. Any insight?

[Theycallmecrash]

Smell fuell prob fouled. Pull the plugs and clean try again. Or hold wide open while cranking see if you can dry it with some fresh air. Report back

[blitzkrieg69]

Will do. Just out of curiousity, why would it run fine on the way home, then only present this issue once the header was tightened back up?

[blitzkrieg69]

A little closer, but still no start. The battery is starting to get a bit weaker now, so I'm going to let it sit overnight and try starting again in the morning. Damn, I enjoyed riding her so much today, I really wanted to spend my weekend riding not trying to get it to start. Grrr.

[RamAirZ]

Pull your airbox and move the harness plug that goes into the ignition coil. I had this happen to me, it was weird. Ran fine, walked into store, came out and was firing on one cylinder then 2 then next time I shut off wouldn't start. It's something easy to check. I got it running on one cylinder, pushed on the harness connector slightly and bam purring. Unplugged it and put it back on and been fine ever since

[blitzkrieg69]

Ok, so if the coil is the little black box to the left of the intake "snorkel", then I've checked it, wiggled it, etc. Seems to be solid, and didn't make a difference. While disassembled I did notice that the little sensor that protrudes into the airbox itself seems to be fouled, and there's a light coating of oily substance on covering the inside of the snorkel. Is this normal? From the backfires and fuel maybe?

[Theycallmecrash]

Its normal if the breather re route hasnt happened, are there 2 breather house near it.

[RamAirZ]

It's the black box under the airbox "floor" that the spark plug wires connect to. You'd have to pull it all up and off the snorkel (disconnecting the IAT sensor-that oily one your talking about)

[blitzkrieg69]

Yeah, that's the one I checked. Seems fine, and messing with it doesn't affect the lack of starting.

[Theycallmecrash]

Throwing it out there, if you smell fuel its not burning, so spark is missing or too much fuel. Possible TPS has gone out of wack and needs a reset.

Pull all that eletronic fuel crap off put a carb and points ignition in the bit**!!!!

[blitzkrieg69]

I pulled the plugs and they're fouled. The question is, WHY are they fouled? I'll pick some up tomorrow and put them back in, but I would hate to have to pull them again if I foul them trying to start it if that's not the root issue. Suggestions?

[netty2424]

Here is a good link from the forum on fouling plugs. There is also another link in this thread posted by EricZ.

It's a general consensus that ngk plugs are best suited for Buells. There's a picture and a part number in the thread as well.

Fouling Spark Plugs Link (http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Spark-plugs-fouling)

[blitzkrieg69]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, there's 2 different plugs mentioned there and 2 different opinions on which one to use. I'm in Arizona where it does get pretty hot in the summer, but this time of year it's pretty cold. I don't think I want to change out those damn plugs twice a year, lol.

[netty2424]

I've got the dcpr9's in mine. Same one as the picture. I live in Texas. Similar heat.

[netty2424]

And you won't have to change them out with temp changes. EricZ is running a turbo charged motor so his specs will require differences.

[blitzkrieg69]

Thanks. After doing some more reading, I think at least part of my problem is that I've given it throttle while trying to start. I guess I'll need a tps reset. Luckily one of the people who stopped while I was out of gas was an off-duty border patrol agent who has 2 xb's, and he gave me the number for a local guy who works at a dealership but does side work out of his garage on the weekends. I'll try to give him a call so I can get the tps reset done before I try to fire it up again witht he new plugs.

[blitzkrieg69]

Local guy that has a shop in his garage and also works for a dealership came by, he was recommended locally. Basically he put new plugs in it that I'd picked up, I put everything back together, and he got it started after tons of cranking, but running like crap, sputtering and popping as if it had just been severely flooded. It wouldn't idle well when at all, but stayed running fine on the throttle. He took it for a ride, and when he was on the gas it ran, but threatened to die and ran horrible at idle. Still backfiring some too. Anyway, his prognosis was bad gas, or something in the gas can, and sticking injector or valves. Let's just say I'm not supremely confident in his actual knowledge or ability with Buells He recommends throwing some fresh fuel and seafoam at it, and running that through. I'm going to try that tomorrow as it couldn't hurt, but still looking for ideas here. Or more likely, referral to a good local tech that doesn't just work on Buells when he HAS to. Quite sad here, one good day on the bike, run her out of gas, and now she sits.

[netty2424]

Did your gas light come on?

[blitzkrieg69]

No, that's why I ran out of gas, I hadn't figured out my range yet and the light has been on solid since I bought it, even though I filled it once. I think I forgot to reset the tripometer before I got home, so it ran out before I thought it would by few miles. I'm really hoping some fresh fuel and seafoam do the trick tomorrow.

[blitzkrieg69]

Drained the old gas, put in 2 gallons of fresh premium with a little over 2 oz. of seafoam.

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKQYIutVM_U&feature=youtu.be)

Still a tiny bit rough, but runs and idles now. Still has considerable pop and sputter on decelleration, but it did before the incident anyway. Took her for a short ride, once my neighbor is home for backup I'll give it a more thorough ride, but seems to be fine now. I'll be throwing away my old 2 race gas cans with the trash this week for sure.