Running a bit rich

[Ginger25]

Okay I've been posting a lot lately because I'm trying to learn about these bikes haha.
Okay, so I've got a 2002 buell x1 lightning. It has a forcewinder intake, race headers and muffler and I think that's it. It runs rich. I just went and grabbed some hoter plugs today because I recently did them and it didn't change much so I thought I would try that. Any other suggestions?

[Cooter]

Why do you think it's running rich? With those mods and a stock carb, it should be running lean.
A 'hotter' spark plug will have no effect on a bike running rich.
If it truly is running rich, I suggest tuning the carb. Get a jet kit and if you want to be really trick, get a wide band o2 sensor set up.

[BuellyBagger]

i think '02 x1 is a fuelly cooter :p.DDFI 1 Generally (at least my bikes) seem quite rich at idle and start up. Fat is happy after all! You changed the plugs Ginger how did they look??? I'm sure you know super sooty to rich, super white to lean and ideally TAN. If it is rich maybe your old ass o2 sensor going down hill?

[user_deleted]

Okay I've been posting a lot lately because I'm trying to learn about these bikes haha.
Okay, so I've got a 2002 buell x1 lightning. It has a forcewinder intake, race headers and muffler and I think that's it. It runs rich. I just went and grabbed some hoter plugs today because I recently did them and it didn't change much so I thought I would try that. Any other suggestions?

several considerations here along with a few comments.....a few of which you won't like:
1-you know very little about your buell. i would NOT throw any more parts at it until you establish a base-line of knowledge and information.
2-your 2002 is an EFI bike. that changes everything.
3-plug heat ranges have no bearing whatsoever on fueling or combustion ignition.
4-your bike has been modded by either you or a PO. chances are excellent that the onboard ecm has also been modded or replaced with something "racier". you don't know which ultimately reinforces my opening comment.
solution: purchase diagnostics hardware and companion gizmos to access your bikes' onboard ecm. check for fault codes, historical codes.....then either seek out a local expert or a tuber model ecm guru on this board, send that individual the visual maps from your ecm....and see if they are stock or modded.
proceeding any further without following the steps i've outlined above for you a practice in futility.

[Ginger25]

several considerations here along with a few comments.....a few of which you won't like:
1-you know very little about your buell. i would NOT throw any more parts at it until you establish a base-line of knowledge and information.
2-your 2002 is an EFI bike. that changes everything.
3-plug heat ranges have no bearing whatsoever on fueling or combustion ignition.
4-your bike has been modded by either you or a PO. chances are excellent that the onboard ecm has also been modded or replaced with something "racier". you don't know which ultimately reinforces my opening comment.
solution: purchase diagnostics hardware and companion gizmos to access your bikes' onboard ecm. check for fault codes, historical codes.....then either seek out a local expert or a tuber model ecm guru on this board, send that individual the visual maps from your ecm....and see if they are stock or modded.
proceeding any further without following the steps i've outlined above for you a practice in futility.

You right....i know hardly anything about this bike. That's why I am asking for help....what "diagnostic hardware" are you meaning. A scan tool? Or an ecm flash tool?
This is why I'm asking for help.

[Ginger25]

i think '02 x1 is a fuelly cooter :p.DDFI 1 Generally (at least my bikes) seem quite rich at idle and start up. Fat is happy after all! You changed the plugs Ginger how did they look??? I'm sure you know super sooty to rich, super white to lean and ideally TAN. If it is rich maybe your old ass o2 sensor going down hill?

Plugs looked a little black but not to bad. My bike only has an o2 sensor or the back cylinder??? Is that normal?? But I can smell fuel as it's running and its not leaking I've checked everywhere. So I just jumped to the assumption that its a bit lean. I've heard bad things about the fuel injection on these bikes so, just trying to learn.

[Ginger25]

Why do you think it's running rich? With those mods and a stock carb, it should be running lean.
A 'hotter' spark plug will have no effect on a bike running rich.
If it truly is running rich, I suggest tuning the carb. Get a jet kit and if you want to be really trick, get a wide band o2 sensor set up.

I can smell fuel while it's running and I know it's not leaking. My bike is fuel injected and has o2 sensor.

[BuellyBagger]

Plugs looked a little black but not to bad. My bike only has an o2 sensor or the back cylinder??? Is that normal?? But I can smell fuel as it's running and its not leaking I've checked everywhere. So I just jumped to the assumption that its a bit lean. I've heard bad things about the fuel injection on these bikes so, just trying to learn.

Yep just 1 o2. If the plugs were only slightly black you're not too rich.
As for the fuel smell, do some research and make sure your vent is routed properly and your cap is sealing right.

[Cooter]

Ahh, injected in 2002... learned something new today! Thanks Buelly:up:
I don't know much about the tubers specifically, but I do know the basics, and I can diagnose anything:applause:. Do what Lunatic said. Those are the starting steps to proper diagnosis. If you just jump around asking broad questions and throw parts at it, even getting lucky won't teach you how to fix the next inevitable problem.

Didn't we go over this before?

Do you actually have a problem? You didn't mention it running poorly, or starting poorly? This is an old bike with a early gen FI system, not a car with a catalytic convertor, It may just smell like that especially with a 'Race map' in the ECM.
You did say you smell gas BUT over rich running and raw fuel leaking/venting smell completely different. Is the pipe really sooty?

A slightly black plug is ok. An O2 sensor in only the rear exhaust header is the same as the XB's.

[Ginger25]

Ahh, injected in 2002... learned something new today! Thanks Buelly:up:
I don't know much about the tubers specifically, but I do know the basics, and I can diagnose anything:applause:. Do what Lunatic said. Those are the starting steps to proper diagnosis. If you just jump around asking broad questions and throw parts at it, even getting lucky won't teach you how to fix the next inevitable problem.

Didn't we go over this before?

Do you actually have a problem? You didn't mention it running poorly, or starting poorly? This is an old bike with a early gen FI system, not a car with a catalytic convertor, It may just smell like that especially with a 'Race map' in the ECM.
You did say you smell gas BUT over rich running and raw fuel leaking/venting smell completely different. Is the pipe really sooty?

A slightly black plug is ok. An O2 sensor in only the rear exhaust header is the same as the XB's.

Okay. Got a plan then.
It runs fine, I'm probably just being paranoid.
I just ordered a buelltooth dongle thing so I can find out if the p.o. did any kind of tuning.
Oh...and ps, gotta love how you say "havnt we been over this before"����
Should I load a race tune on the bike?

[BuellyBagger]

Okay. Got a plan then.
It runs fine, I'm probably just being paranoid.
I just ordered a buelltooth dongle thing so I can find out if the p.o. did any kind of tuning.
Oh...and ps, gotta love how you say "havnt we been over this before"����
Should I load a race tune on the bike?

Random "race"tunes aren't always a great plan. Honestly best to leave well enough alone if you're not going to do a mod specific tune.

[Cooter]

I'm with this guy^^^

It already "smells rich" enough to you to start a thread about it, what do think will happen if you 'Race tune" it?

You should spend some time polishing shiny stuff on it for now:) I get it man, it's a cool new toy you want to play with. Try cleaning it really, really well (no joke) it will get you familiar with the parts and places. Try basic maintenance first before you start disabling a good running bike. Have you done the fork oil and seals yet? Thats a fairly universal (Non-Buell specific) procedure to do.

[BuellyBagger]

I'm with this guy^^^

It already "smells rich" enough to you to start a thread about it, what do think will happen if you 'Race tune" it?

You should spend some time polishing shiny stuff on it for now:) I get it man, it's a cool new toy you want to play with. Try cleaning it really, really well (no joke) it will get you familiar with the parts and places. Try basic maintenance first before you start disabling a good running bike. Have you done the fork oil and seals yet? Thats a fairly universal (Non-Buell specific) procedure to do.

That's actually great advice! I'm a neat freak and usually run across things that need fixing when doing fine tooth detailing. Hopes are you don't find anything, but a clean bike is a happy bike!

[Cooter]

"Actually" good advise? You sound surprised! Har har smartypants:sorrow:

I wash all my vehicles for just those reasons too!

[Ginger25]

I'm with this guy^^^

It already "smells rich" enough to you to start a thread about it, what do think will happen if you 'Race tune" it?

You should spend some time polishing shiny stuff on it for now:) I get it man, it's a cool new toy you want to play with. Try cleaning it really, really well (no joke) it will get you familiar with the parts and places. Try basic maintenance first before you start disabling a good running bike. Have you done the fork oil and seals yet? Thats a fairly universal (Non-Buell specific) procedure to do.

I actually did do fork seals!! The right fork had no oil in it...
But ya I wasn't really worried about it running rich I was just curious if that was a normal thing and if not how to fix it. I've done all the general stuff I can think of and it's running good. Just stinks the shop up when you first start it. But I do have to do rocker cover gaskets... that'll be fun.

[BuellyBagger]

"Actually" good advise? You sound surprised! Har har smartypants:sorrow:

I wash all my vehicles for just those reasons too!

I think you might have read too much into my "actually" cooter. Are you ManStruating?LOL

[Cooter]

That explains where this blood is coming from:upset:

:angel: