2004 XB12R Crank but No Start - long time reader, first time posting

[oceanstatejohnny]

Hello everyone, I’m a long time reader but first time posting. I’ve had a Buell blast for years and tbh love that bike! It wheelies forever . I recently got an XB12R and can’t get it to start anymore. It started when I first bought it but wouldn’t idle.. but now it won’t start at all. I’ve read a ton of posts on here and followed a lot of the members advice to some success. Here’s the story:

2004 XB12R, bone stock but sat for a few years

I got the bike to run for a few minutes off a jump pack but had to feather the throttle to keep it running. The Next day I came to the garage with a battery and it hasn’t started since… fuel pump primes, bike turns over but no start.

Things I’ve done so far:

- drained the tank (frame) and thoroughly cleaned fuel pump, fpr, brand new o rings and seals for the pump housing

- cleaned fuel line, fuel rail and both injectors. Verified their orientation (thanks to this forum) and the pattern is great and in the correct port.

- Fresh set of NGK spark plugs and verified spark

- I found intake leaks on the manifolds on first startup and replaced with James intake seals

- compression test showed 122 & 121 for both cylinders

-I used ecm spy for the first time tonight, i couldn’t get any live data. The tps sensor wouldn’t react either. After testing the TPS with my multi meter I got 0.65 - 3.79 resistance sweeping the throttle so tps is working

- I have a 5v signal coming from harness to TPS

bike will not start… it pops every now and again but will not start with throttle or anything. I’m thoroughly stumped. Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[oceanstatejohnny]

Video of first startup after intake seals. Bike idled perfectly and had great throttle response. Hasn’t started since..

https://youtube.com/shorts/qrcM6r5Eois?feature=shared

 

[Cooter]

98% sure you fouled the plugs from repeated start attempts without riding it. Replace them or clean them VERY well.

The BuellRule is that if you start it, RIDE it. They have a very long, and very rich, cold start cycle. The XB line responds very well to Iridium plugs as well.

 

[oceanstatejohnny]

Thank you, I was driving myself nuts!! I put brand new ngk’s in the other day and they were indeed fouled. I switched those out for iridium’s like you suggested and she fired right up. Took her for a quick spin around the block and the bike feels great! Tons of torque, really fun to turn with! Thank you so much @cooter ������

 

[Barrett]

What you are standing there doing to that thrashed Buell in your vid is one of the most abusive things possible for the motor.

 

[oceanstatejohnny]

Thanks for calling my bike thrashed… I bet yours is showroom condition with zero miles �� we all start somewhere