Front cylinder dead

[canucklovingbrit]

Major issue just started happening with my '07 XB12R. Starts fine from cold, runs without a hiccup for as long as I keep it running (20 mile ride, no issues.) But when I stop and kill the engine, then fire up a few minutes later (so whilst still hot) the front cylinder is stone dead - apparently no combustion happening there. It doesn't even occasionally spark into life, like it might with an intermittent ignition issue, it's just dead, until the engine is started from cold again, at which point it runs fine on both cylinders until I kill it and restart when hot. I checked the spark plug and it's not fouled, and there is a healthy spark. It started happening yesterday after I washed the bike and also filled up with gas. Had me wondering if either a) I got water into the electrical system somewhere, or b) I got some ****** gas - maybe causing a fuel injection issue? Anybody else suffered this pain in the ass problem. Like finding a needle in a haystack.

 

[07Bolt]

Look 4 trouble codes: this link tells how; Engine Diag. w/o ECMSpy ur ecm is not recognizing the front cylinder after it gets hot. could be a voltage issue with the ignition relay.

Edit: Fixed Link

 

[LeFox]

i would look into condensation somewhere in the wiring too the front cylinder.

 

[speedracingluda]

My front cylinder went out on my 07 12r and there were a couple of issues. First was the front plug wire was wearing through but I dont think that is was arcing out yet. I found a bunch of corrosion between the front plug wire and the igniter. I cleaned it all up, put some dielectic grease in there and I was good to go. That was after being caught in the rain only 1 one time and I usually only was my wheels and just wipe down the rest of the bike.

 

[canucklovingbrit]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I'm a little skeptical, but it seems like it might just have been the spark plug at fault, even though it's only done 3000 miles. I changed it out for a brand new one, and went for a 50 mile blast. Restarted the engine after 20 minutes (still hot) and it fired up on both cylinders, no problem. Fingers crossed the plug was to blame all along! Thanks again for all suggestions.

 

[LeFox]

get some dieletric grease on the sparkcable contact...
it is highly likely water got in between there...

best of all is giving all fairly exposed contacts a good yearly treatment with dielectric grease. better contact, no corrosion.

 

[canucklovingbrit]

get some dieletric grease on the sparkcable contact...
it is highly likely water got in between there...

best of all is giving all fairly exposed contacts a good yearly treatment with dielectric grease. better contact, no corrosion.

I'll do that, for sure. I've also got a new plug lead on order as the existing one has suffered a little from engine heat

 

[midget96]

Just got a 07 XB12R Firebolt with 5200 miles on it a couple weeks ago. Took off this weekend and made it about 75 miles in the rain and lost the front cylinder. The other riders went on and I returned home very slowly. Took everthing apart and found the front spark plug wire was almost worn thru the boot and the end that connects to the coil was a mess. Cleaned up the coil and ordered new plug wires, installed with dielectric grease.
Runs great now. This must be a problem on these bikes after talking to some buell riders.