Crank/fywheel replaced..bike runs bad

[cruzer3405]

I have a 2007 xb12 lightning and long story short I had a shop replace the crank/flywheel assembly. In the process the did the upgrade to the 2008 and newer. I now have the bike back and it runs terrible. The engine itself (internals) sound fine, motor sounds tight, however when I rode the bike home it popped, sputtered, lurched, etc. It would idle fine but when I gave it gas it sputtered, backfired and would die. I went ahead and did the TPS reset which made a huge difference. Idles great, responds fine to throttle. I thought that fixed things and took it out for a ride but it only helped a little. The best way to describe it...feels like the bike is running on 1 cylinder. Zero power, I can crack the throttle wide open at 30mph and it's like a moped. Funny things is...there is no backfiring, lurching, etc...just has no power.
Is there anything that needs to be done electronically during the swap? Timing issues?
The bike has a K&N, breather bypass and a D&D exhaust.

The shop I took it too (come to find out the hard way) had no idea how to work on my bike. It came to the point I actually had to get a lawyer involved. While they did finally admit they got in over their head I really can't/won't take it back there. There solution was to throw a Power Commander on it and that would solve everything...LOL. Typical Harley mechanic.

 

[EricZ]

Unless they machined a timing mark in the new style crank, there is no good way for them to correctly set static timing. It may be a ignition timing issue. You should pull the timing plug between the cylinders and rotate the motor over to check for a timing mark.

 

[buellxb9rs]

The newer '08+ engines use a crank position sensor instead of the old style ignition setup.

 

[konarider94]

The newer '08+ engines use a crank position sensor instead of the old style ignition setup.

Thats true but he still has an 07 with a cam position sensor. Hopefully there is a timing mark like eric said. I agree it sounds like a timing issue.

For example this is an 08 crank with the timing marks added to it. And its actually ericz's picture. He really does know what he is talking about.

 

[EricZ]

Heyyyyyy, I resemble that

 

[cruzer3405]

TIming was my "guess". I assume there is a write up on the forum on how to time the engine? I'll do a search for it. Any tips on the process?

 

[EricZ]

Unless someone marked your 2008+ flyswheel for top dead center, you will not be able to set the timing without a degree wheel mounted to the primary side of the crank and a piston stop mounted in the front spark plug hole. You will need to use those two things to determine where TDC for the front piston and make a TDC mark on the right side of the flywheel. You can then use the TDC mark to "Set static timing" as outlined in an 2003-2007 Buell XB service manual.

 

[cruzer3405]

...so if they DID mark it then I can follow the instructions in the manual, correct?

 

[EricZ]

Correct

 

[cruzer3405]

Thank you. I will give it a look and see what I can come up with. LOL..I'm sure I will have more questions.

 

[user_deleted]

just out of curiousity cruzer....are the spark plugs known to be good and wires on correctly? there's no margin for error with plugs and wires on these bikes.

 

[cruzer3405]

Ya. New coil, plugs and wires. The shop that did the work...long story, never mind. I won't take it back to them to fix. Spoke to another mechanic who wants to look at it..said the cams could be in wrong? He was just brainstorming. Maybe a vac leak or hose not put back? It's weird, it idles and revs fine at idle but not under load.

I'm going to triple check the plugs, etc. I know the coil is new because I bought it and took it to them to install.

 

[buellxb9rs]

It's a timing issue, either they messed with the ecm timing or didn't put the crank in right

 

[EricZ]

Please, jack up the rear wheel, shift it into 5th gear, pull the timing plug and rotate the motor to check for a timing mark. Don't guess at anything else before you do this.

 

[cruzer3405]

Im going to dive into it today and see what I can come up with. I'll keep you posted.