Breaking up bad

[brock]

So the bike was breaking up a little so I thought this May be a tps problem, so I did the reset as best as I could multiple times, that did not fix the issue. Keep In mind that it would clear up at times and the bike would run mint and pull hard.
So I figure well I would change the plugs and while I'm at it run that ground to the coil. Well I changed the plugs (I bought ngk dcpr8eix. (Should I have gotten the dcpr9iex?) I changed the plugs and before I ran the ground I test rode it to see if that fixed the issue. Well not only did it not work it got fuckin worse. Now the bike won't pull rpm passed 3500 rpm. So then I run the ground wire. Still nothing. Runs like shit. And then I proceeded to try and reset the tps over and over. With the key off and kill switch on, I turn the key to on full throttle and hold for 1sec then fully closed and hold for 1sec the key off for a few seconds and repeat 3 times. I even disconnected the batt for a few min to see if that may have done something. But in the end it still the same shit.

So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Mario.

 

[Red93stang]

What's your fuel pressure like? Does it feel like secondary ignition or does it feel like it's running out of fuel?

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Change the plugs to the 9s to start. Also make sure they are gapped properly to .035in contrary to popular belief they are not pre gapped. Last 2 sets ive recieved a closed gap, .045 .055in

 

[brock]

I think it's a ignition issue. I just gaped the plugs to. 035 from 030 and it got worse. It wouldn't even pull past 2k rpm. And I see glowing from the throttle body because I have the cover off its back firing. I need to get the 9 plugs and see where I'm at.

 

[cb750]

I've had bad gas that made my bike run like absolute dogshit. Swap those plugs, then siphon as much gas as you can out of it and fill with fuel from a different station.

 

[brock]

Well the gap has nothing to do with it this time anyway, gaped it back down and same shit. Yeah I took some fuel out it looked ok but that don't mean shit. I was looking for some water or something. The crazy thing is it is the same tank of fuel that was in it prior to me changing the plugs. It's back firing bad now and still won't get past anything much more then an idle.
I guess I'll change the plugs and fuel and see where I stand.

 

[brock]

This bike is an 05 xb12s just so I know I'm doing it right. Can I reset the tps manually? Without the ECMspy?
Because maybe I'm fucking this all up. I thought I can reset this without software.

 

[Saftie]

Im not that technical but maybe clogged fuel injectors?
Just throwing it in there. Think I read the symptons somewhere and sounded like yours

 

[ztied]

Far guess,but a recent buell I bought acted up like that,and i read about other people having the same problem,caused by the engine temp sensor not plugged in all the way,Easiest way to diagnose it is to hook up ecmspy,and try to make the bike run,and watch the temp guage on the software,if it is jumpy(the numbers jump up and down,instead of smooth) then look there.Might have nothing to do with your problem,just my 37cents.it also had a code 14 short to something or another.good luck

 

[Theycallmecrash]

If its a stock ecm or an older race ecm you can not do it manually.

 

[brock]

well im at a loss. i changed out the fuel pump because it sounded like shit, thought that was deff the issue but i was wrong. i got the cable and downloaded ecmspy and did a tps reset multiple times. i just cant seem to get any progress i ran the tests that the ecmspy has as far as checking front and back injector, fan, fuel pump and everything else on the list. it shows no codes so i began to look for some chaffed wires to see if any of the insulation was rubbed off and touching any metal parts but no luck. (that happed to my SS it caused it to break up and run like shit). i also took the ecu from my 07 xbSS and pluged it in it did run better but its only able to idle. when i reinstalled the original ecu it barly idles. fml man i dont know but i hope i figure it out. thanks for the replys guys any little bit helps.

ecmspy is pritty cool but i need to learn about it some more.

 

[user_deleted]

mario: just out of curiosity...when you were running auxilary ground wire to your coil...did you take a close look at the plug wires? your bike is 8 years old coming up on 9 and those wires are prone to wear and cause ignition problems. also, take a good look at your stock ecm unit. look for arcing or tiny hair-line cracks both underneat and in vicinity where wiring plugs attach to it. then install it, start bike, and try gently wiggling the harness wires at the ecm and see if problem appears. worth a try. post with results please.

 

[WIGGLE2]

I had an issue similar to yours on my '06. The plug wire had rubbed against the cable for idle speed and had rubbed through. Just one more thought/experience.

 

[onespeedpaul]

HAHAH, I opened this thread expecting some allusion to the 'Breaking Bad' finale last night....

ANYWAYS...I do have something useful to add to this thread, I had a similar issue, turned out the lower hex-head pair of intake bolts had vibrated loose to about finger-tight...also needed new intake seals anyways, so swapped those out and it runs like new!

 

[brock]

Ok well I just got I'm from working on it. Ok well I do have to replace the spark plug wires but that's not the issue. Because I took the coil and wires off of my 07SS and the same thing happend.
The sorta good news is that I have an extra set of extra injectors that I swapped out and started it. It ran a lot better and started to rev up the bad news is that it did not last long. Reved up and ran for a few min and the stalled and I'm back to the same shit so I believe it to be a fuel issue instead of a ignition issue.
Now I replaced the fuel pump with the one that was recommended on the site from a v6 mustang and I got to tell you the set up was completely different. The pressure regulator was a part of a plastic assembly that it was incorporated in. So maybe I should look to change the fuel pressure regulator?
I also just saw on the ECM that it say race unit or something to that effect so I guess it's not a factory ECM.

Lunaticfringe, wiggle2, onespeedpaul and everyone else thanks for the advice, I'm coming along hope to make progress by this weekend so I can get some riding in.

 

[WIGGLE2]

No problem Brock! There is a 'sticky' at the top of one of these that has a lot of good info on the fuel pump deal. At least you started with the 'basics'...always a good plan. Your ECM is the Buell 'race' ECM. Not a 'bad' thing. It is SO hard to diagnose without actually 'seeing' it in action. A question/thought to Lunatic and the others out there.....how would a bad ignition pick-up act? The Honda CDI's would act like this when the pick-ups had issues, as well as an MSD in the race V-8 world.

 

[onespeedpaul]

Oh, BTW brock, use a 1/2" half moon wrench to tighten the hex-head intake bolts... if you don't have one, use a mapp or propane torch and heat the middle of a 1/2" wrench and bend into a half-moon shape. the bolts don't have to be SUPER tight, but defo more than finger tight....the upper bolts are 1/4" allen head, if your allen is too long, cut a little of it off...

 

[epion420]

I had very similar issues tried intake manifold seals, spark plugs, wires.... serviced my fuel pump. checked my timing.... was starting to think nothing would fix my problem. then read about someone replacing their cam position sensor tried it to and finally no more problems yet to date

 

[brock]

Epion420, I will look into doing so. I'll probably do that first instead of trying the fuel pressure regulator.
Thanks all for the help. At some point I hope that this tread will help someone else down the line.

 

[user_deleted]

question/thought to Lunatic and the others out there.....how would a bad ignition pick-up act?

mark: 2 entirely different systems. japbike and car CDI systems all had some form of ignition pickup which acted like a timer or set of points of sorts. XB's have none. older sportsters had them and were located behind the cover in the cam housing nose. on XB's that's where the cam position sensor now resides.