Worse performance after breather re-route? (09 Ss, CA-model)

[RedShift42]

-EDIT- Sorry, I misposted this-- meant to put it in the Troubleshooting forum. Mods, please move, I can't nuke the post


I'm hoping someone can provide me w/ a little more insight on this...

Today I did the breather re-route and also removed the smog canister on my '09 XB12Ss CA-model. The bike's ridability improved somewhat, but now the off-idle stumble is much more pronounced-- to the point where now the bike wants to stall unless I deliberately give it extra gas and time releasing the clutch a little later, once I'm past the stumble and revs are increasing. Occasionally I get what sounds like a backfire coming up into the airbox too.

Is there something unique about the CA-model bikes? Did I miss a step in the process?
Removal of the CA smog canister seems very straightforward-- plug the throttle body line, vent out the tank-breather line, discard the can.

I'm mechanically adept and pretty conscientious when I do projects, so this has me frustrated. It's actually tempting to put it all back together like it was and live w/ the lousy factory performance.

Thanks,


-Eric.

 

[GatorBuell]

Make sure the hoses are not pinched and you did not pinch the fuel vent line. I had the same issue after I did mine, turned out that the hose for the rear cylinder was pinched not allowing it to vent.

 

[Mike Van V]

While the breather "reroute" is the cool thing to do, it does little to nothing on a good running engine.
I hope you didn't spend too much money or time on this change..

As noted, it should have no effect on the way the engine runs as long as nothing else was moved, displaced, unplugged, or left loose.
Knock a plug wire loose from the coil ?

You did plug the OEM breather holes in the airbox base, correct ?

On the canister (another nonperformance change), you did leave the tank breather tube open, correct ?
The tank needs to breath, the same as the crankcase.

Mike

 

[RedShift42]

I'm quite confidant everything was hooked back up correctly and no tubes were pinched. I capped the throttle body nipple and left the tank vent open and routed down the back.

This bike definitely didn't run well below 3k originally, though it didn't have this off-idle stumble until after the mods.
That's why I'm so stumped. It made me wonder if the CA models had a unique fuel map that planned for all the plumbing.

Looks like I'm cracking back into it this morning for another look.


-Eric.
(In Santa Barbara & Santa Clarita for the summer)

 

[Stevenc150]

[Thread moved per Request]

 

[RedShift42]

Nope, still running lousy.

Why is is so hard to get a nice, expensive, practically new bike to right??


-Eric.

 

[Tork]

Redshift,

Check to make sure your IAT sensor is properly connected. It's common to temporarily disconnect it to make removal of the airbox base easier during the breather re-route process. If not reconnected, the bike will run like poop. No clue as to the canister mod or what could have gone wrong there. You might try and re-trace your steps and put it back to the stock configuration and see if your symptoms go away.

Was your bike running properly before you attempted the mods?

 

[1sexynucca]

I have had problems ever since my reroute and have spent $1,200 at the Dealers trying to diagnose the problem with no luck. I have given up because I am spent out and dont know what to do, I removed the reroute and put it back to stock but still have no luck, still runs crappy when the bikes gets to normal operating temperatures... [down] [sad] havent ridden since march because of this

 

[brightbuell]

I have a voodoo pipe and my brearher rerought did a lot of good to ballance the high flow. Do you have a stock or modded or after market pipe?

Dont listen to someone who has not done this them selves. There stock grandpas out there that luv the ****** sounding stock pipe that will try to turn you off from modding you buell they need to retire or shut up.

 

[kkjc63]

First let me say Ive got nothing against modifying your bikes exhaust. However in the world of motorcycle exhaust the key is volume and location. Repeated tests and comparison with aftermarket exhaust validate the Buells exhaust. I think Eric and his designers knew what they were doing ! You know the old saying "If it aint broke, dont fix it!"

 

[redrider]

Hey I am a grandpa and proud of it! I own a 2010 buell and the I first thing did was a new pipe and 11% gear reduction. I ride bikes that are fast handle well and sound good this is not my first rodeo. I did not do a reroute and bikes runs GREAT! I do believe Erik was up aginst it with EPA and had to do alot of stuff he would not have if it were up to him. do one mod at a time then test its results.

 

[RedShift42]

I have been back in several times, double-checked my breather re-route job, verified the temp sensor is plugged in, and I'm left w/ the same problem-- the bike runs rough, almost unpleasantly, below 3k. After experimenting w/ a CA-canister & breather mod reversal I can say the breather re-route procedure really doesn't make it run worse, just changes the nature of the rough running somewhat.

I think I'm in the same place as 1SexyBuell, the bike's inexplicable low-speed roughness is affecting my joy of ownership. Open road, running hard, or getting on the power, this thing is more fun than any other bike I've owned. But around town, trying to behave like a good citizen, it's ornery.

I'm sure there's a relatively simple fix, I just want to learn what it is.


-Eric.

 

[Stevenc150]

Have you tried a TPS Reset yet?

 

[captain13ron]

I would back up, and start diagnosis from the begining. this motorcycle was developed by man, and can be repaired by one. be sure to test your electrical system completley, a bad stater may yield a weak spark, an air leak on the intake or exhaust may be another item to check. never asume or guess. be systematic, thorugh, and objective. there is an absolute reason for the failure. when you find it i would walk back into the dealership and have a discusion with them on how a certified highly trained technition could not diagnose the issue. just my 2 cents

 

[crux]

i'm no rocket surgeon with bikes, but do you think maybe your plugs got fouled in the process? changed mine, and it's an entirely different animal.

.02

 

[RedShift42]

Might someone please clarify the '08+ TPS reset steps-- as it's written in various posts there's some room for misinterpretation. I've been trying to to get my '09 XB12Ss to run smoothly and thus far my TPS-reset attempts have been completely ineffective.

Specifically:
-How many times does one perform the throttle-on/throttle-off cycle, 3 or 4 times total?
-Does the the Throttle-on/throttle-off cycle also include the key-on/run switch-on step each time, or just the first time?

Thanks!

-Eric.

 

[RedShift42]

Great Googleymoogley!

As I had hoped, it seems there *was* a simple fix.

After some procedure clarification from fellow forum members I redid the TPS reset this morning.
It's a different motorcycle! I actually enjoyed some slower speed puttering around in town below 3k.

It's gonna be a real challenge to not fly the front end at every traffic light.

Thanks all!

-Eric.