Misfire

[wmic228922]

I have a 2009 xb12s lightning. At 2500RPM it seems to have a slight miss. Every once in a while it will miss and act for a second like its going to die at 65MPH. Why? I wired the exhaust butterfly wide open. I had read that someone else on here had done the same thing, could that be the problem? I got the bike with a broken exhaust header,what are the chances that I have a burnt valve?
One other separate item. Can someone please tell me how to keep the damn mirrors were I put them? After about 5 minutes at 50MPH the mirrors push inward.
Thanks for the help,
Walter

 

[rchuff]

I wouldn't recommend wiring the butterfly wide open unless you have done other mods ( air filter, race maps, mode exhaust) that could be your problem. Bet there is a stored code in ECM. You should get ecmspy or ecmdroid to check . Then do appropriate up grades. After upgrades you can go into spy or droid and shut actuator off.

 

[user_deleted]

Every once in a while it will miss and act for a second like its going to die at 65MPH. Why?

your inadequate info precludes anything more than a "parts chase" but possibilities are plugs....plug wires....need of a dedicated engine ground as mentioned on here 100X.


I got the bike with a broken exhaust header,what are the chances that I have a burnt valve?

who knows? an accurate compression test done by an experienced wrench will reveal if you do or don't.


Can someone please tell me how to keep the damn mirrors were I put them? After about 5 minutes at 50MPH the mirrors push inward.

do the mirror heads only move inward or does the entire mirror assembly pivot on the mount? if heads pivot it's a tough fix short of replacement. if entire assemblies pivot then remove from handlebar mounts....lock mount bolt into a vice.....loosen adjustment nut.....you'll find both the shaft and collar very rusty.....clean up....lube up....reassemble.....reinstall. your adjustment nut is not only frozen up but now loose allowing mirror to pivot. do the above to remedy.

 

[wmic228922]

Thanks for the help I can't get the cable for it for now. That green stuff called money is tight right now. I can pick up a new cable for $25.00 or $30.00. Now that you have said something about the ECM the "Check Engine" idiot light has come on in the past. But, after a few minutes it goes out or if I shut the bike off then re start it the light goes out.
I would like to get the ecmspy or the........ Damn I cant think of the other cable that you could get(Maybe the same cable just with a different name) for the bike I have seen it on Amazon.com. As far as air filter,race maps, mode exhaust; I am not sure if that work was done. I do know that it has a K&N air filter in it. However I don't think that is what your talking about for "Extras" type of work.
Thanks for the help rchuff.
Walter

 

[wmic228922]

The mirrors are factory new. I mean that I had to order them. The mirror(s) it self is tight to the handle bars. The heads pivot when I ride.
Update: After a handle bar adjustment the mirrors do move still but I think that they move still; but less than before. I think that engine issues are causing the mirrors to move/rear view difficult as well. I am having miss fires and other problems that I am currently work on to resolve.
Thanks for the help,
Walter

 

[Silverrider]

Lots of good advice given from the above guys, If your cable has been removed you will be challenged by rerouting a new one correctly in place. Don't Ask Me How I Know

As far as the mirrors just tighten the base up a little, should hold them in place.

 

[wmic228922]

Thanks for all the help guys. Now I have a different problem. I got the cable a few days ago and, put it on the same day. I took the bike out for the first time today it still misses and the( I will assume this) check engine light is on then off. it seems like the RPM'S are just a couple of hundred low.
As far as the interactive exhaust cable goes I did install it the same way it came off. Everything as far as I can see is working with it is just fine. The servo cycles(I guess) like it should.
Thanks for the help again. When this thing starts to run right I will not now what to do with my self. LOL

 

[tokinbuller]

Sounds like the same problem. RPM Couple of hundred low? On idle or?
Does your “miss” feel like a hesitation or a stutter? And when this occurs is this when you CEL comes on?
Lunatic gave sound advice for the info you’ve provided. Check your grounds first since they are easier. If they are all securely tightened down and no corrosion or fraying then check your plugs.
Your best bet is to get the codes for your CEL, that is your bike telling you what the issue is.

 

[wmic228922]

One other thought that just came to my mind. Why does the speedometer say that I am going 65mph but I am getting passed like I am just sitting there? Is there a known problem with the speedometers on these bikes? Because I picked-up the pace to 70 in a 55mph zone. I was keeping up with the other cars but not sure how bad I was speeding. I am a firefighter here locally. The last thing that I want to see and hear is"Walter; buddy, do know why I stopped you?"
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wmic228922]

tokinbuller,
The plugs are new(maybe 300 miles)?. I need to get the equipment to check what the CEL is all about. As soon as I get the time to figure out were the engine grounds are and check them, I will. I am not sure how old the plug wires are.
Thoughts:
What about the TPS?
What about the idea that all miles that I ran it "Wrong" are still working there way out.
After all those thoughts; oh darn I will need to take it out and do more test riding(Man that suck's)! LMAO

 

[tokinbuller]

You can download your service manual at buellmods.com. There are ground locations on each side of the battery under the seat. You battery terminals and under the base plate under your intake filter. It’s s Big gauge wire that pretty much sits on top of your rear cylinder. Can’t miss it. A tps reset wouldn’t hurt but I don’t suspect it’s your issue. You have an 09 so resetting your TPS takes like 5 seconds lol. You know how?

How is your idle?

Google works great for searching things like ground locations. Just type “buell xb12s” then your issue; ex ground locations for pictures.

Also where is your header damaged at?
Riding it won’t help diagnose your issues lol

 

[Cooter]

To test for an accurate speedo, there are lots of GPS based speedo apps, have someone pace you in a car, find a radar sign on the street, or at 60 MPH you travel one mile in exactly one minute.

 

[wmic228922]

Hey all, I was going to buy the Buelltooth but I found what might be a couple of problems. For one thing it does not work with my model(XB12S long lightning). Second, it does not work with my Iphone. If it all will work with my bike and cell phone please let me know, I would like use it. Amazon has an ECM Programming Spy cable TPS reset ecmspy cable for sale. I know that it has to be connected to my laptop and that is fine.
I am headed out of town. I will look for the ground wires when I get back and get a chance. The idle is about 1000RPM. I read some were that it should be about 1200 or so. The header is fine I have a complete header pipe on it now and have had one since I started to ride it. I got the header right after I got the bike. Food for thought; when I put the header on I found that someone had drilled and taped new stud holes on the front cylinder. The old header was broken right at the 'Y' were the front and back cylinder come together.
So, which one should I get? Thanks for all the help.

 

[Cooter]

The Buelltooth will work on any Buell, it is simply a wireless communicator between ECMDroid and the stock ECM. Bluetooth dongles (like Buelltooth) don't care if the bike is an Ss or not.

ECMDroid is the program that modifies the Buell ECM. It doesn't work on Apple unless you use a Windows emulator. Get a cheap Android burner phone (maybe free from your service provider), or a Android tablet ($35 eBay). Make sure it has bluetooth and wifi (or a SD card) so you can get programs on it. WELL worth that minimal investment.

OR

Buy the cable. It communicates with the ECM using the cable... Between the program ECMSpy (and others) and your ECM. It will work with any format computer.

ECMDroid is MUCH easier to use and has built in safety's to stop you from making a mistake and ruining your ECM, unless you are familiar with tuning these bikes, I'd go that way or the next post you write is "HELP!! I didn't search anything and don't know what to DOOOOOO!!!" LOTS of posts on here like that

Buell XB idle spec is 1150rpm.

Don't worry about the header, If it was fixed right, then it was fixed right:up:

 

[tokinbuller]

You have a 2009, you don’t need that stuff to reset your tps sensor. Just for diagnostics of CEL codes.
The 08+ Buells are equipped with Idle Air Control logic, and the idle air and speed is under ECM control. The fully closed butterfly position is set by a stop that is cast into the throttle body, and there is no external throttle position stop screw.
To reset an 08+ Buell, do the following:
1. Turn on the key.
2. Set the kill switch to the run position.
3. Don’t start the engine. Rotate the throttle from fully closed (gently forced closed) to fully open (gently held open), and then back again to closed (gently forced closed).
4. Repeat 3 times. Hold each position (fully open, fully closed) for 1 full second.
5. Turn the key off and on.

 

[Cooter]

Jeez Tokin, I missed that. 2009...:upset:

I was just answering the last of his questions. Thanks for seeing the bigger picture

You can get the CEL codes by jumping the diagnostic plug, no computer needed.

TPS re-set takes 10 seconds and is just as Tokinbuller described it.

If it's an '08-up and still idling too low I would look for an intake seal leak or a airhorn gasket thats out of place on the airbox bottom plate. Easily searched and youtubed...

 

[njloco]

Does one also do numbers 1 and 2 above, along with 3, 4, & 5 above 3 times each ?

 

[tokinbuller]

Hey Cooter, your info is spot on. Personally this is must have item for any Bueller imo. Everyone is bound to have a cel, or want to check/reset AFV or to just be more in the know of how your bike is performing. I have no idea what his intentions are lol, I just noticed he said ‘TPS reset ecm Spy cable’ and he never answered when I asked if he knew how to reset it so I just posted as a FYI.
NJ, I am not 100% sure (have an 07) but I would believe the step being repeated three times is step #3. But, hopefully someone with an 08+ can chime in, or take a peak at an 08+ manual.

 

[Cooter]

Key on, run switch on, bike not running, throttle from closed to open three times, pausing briefly, key off, done.