XB9S – running very roughly – tried various fixes – need some expert help!

[CrashBurnFly]

2003 XB9S BUECB “Factory Race ECU” and Factory Race exhaust.
Low miles and well looked after and not messed with - just stock. Was running fine before.
After not riding it for a couple of months when I tried to start it - 20 seconds of churning, then started and ran very roughly and after 10 seconds revs dropped until engine stopped. Same each time I try and runs so badly (cuts out and splutters) than unrideable.
ECMDroid/Buelltooth – shows no error codes.
First I suspected earths. Cleaned all (battery, ecu, frame dogbone and coil back to bare metal and checked with meter – all OK. Then added additional earth cables battery earth to ECU earth, frame dogbone to battery – and coil to battery -. Problem still same.
Fitted new plugs, cleaned air filter – still same.
Fitted new intake seals last year and did leak check again and no leaks.
The AFV value is showing as 147 so if I understand correctly the ECU is receiving info from somewhere that the bike is running lean and is adding more fuel?
So suspected O2 sensor. Used the excellent instructions on Buelltooth to disable O2 sensor, manually set AFV to c100 etc and if anything it ran worse – so seems not the O2 sensor. Then burned back to orig ECU settings.
It is firing on both cylinders and fuel pump runs.
Reading the Forum – a fuel supply issue is a possible cause – but before I spend $ and spend hours pulling it apart – Any way to test this without the special HD tool the workshop manual refers to?
And any other things I should be looking at that I can test with ECMdroid and normal workshop tools?
Your help much appreciated and when I fix it I will explain what it was so that others can benefit.
Thanks
Paul
Midhurst, West Sussex, England.

 

[rchuff]

You can put a fuel pressure gauge on fuel line and see where it is at. It should be around 48 to 50 psi anything less means you need a fuel pump. That's the only way you will know where your pressure is at.

 

[njloco]

Could the fuel have gone bad ?

I just noticed, after reading this again that your in England, do they put ethanol in the fuel there ?
I would start with the battery since you didn't mention above, it could have gone bad while in storage, get it load tested.

 

[jl551c]

A friend of mine's Fatboy was running the way you described your bike is running. I recommended pouring some Seafoam into his tank and it cured it pretty quick. It's a long shot but it can't hurt.

 

[Outlaw]

Seafoam for the win.

 

[Chicknstripn]

Have you tried resetting the TPS(Throttle position sensor)?
I’d give that a shot before anything else.

 

[Carsten]

does it make a nice strong "normal" fuel priming sound when you first start it?

Have you checked the plugs?

 

[Cooter]

It hasn't run long enough to even use the O2 sensor for closed loop operation.

Stick with the basics. Pull those fouled plugs out and replace them or clean them and dry very well.

No telling if the AFV at 147 is because the old gas/ sat for a long time, but the ECM is trying to put 147% more fuel in for a reason. I would look for an intake leak. are the intake seals good? did you have the airbox base off?

 

[BuellyBagger]

check spark (plugs might be fouled again like cooter said with the rich condition, ohm test your wires, check for spark at the coil)compression(while you;ve got the plugs out check compression just for safety sake, you didnt say how many miles are on this motor) air (test seals again, check if the velocity stack is seated right, and reset the TPS CORRECTLY) and fuel (fresh fuel, listen to the pump, and run a fuel pressure check).

air, fuel, spark, and compression...

 

[Silverrider]

Seafoam for the win.

Seafoam has been Rebranded to Teafoam due to volume of usage.

 

[Lusiphur]

Seafoam is pretty awesome.

When I bought my first Buell, the dealer was showing off and started it, didn't let it warm up enough, and then shut it off a couple of times

They fouled the plugs and I had to wait 30 minutes to leave while they replaced them.

LOL

So yea, check the plugs, it's amazing how much they can drag a buell down, when they are fouled

 

[Cooter]

That has to be why the DDFI-3 bikes ('08-up) have a built in spark plug cleaning feature. Thank Lunatic for that heads up:angel:

 

[CrashBurnFly]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and I am working my way through them.
Definitely no air leak (new seals last year and leak test shows all OK)
Plugs are new and OK (but I have ordered new HT leads to try)
Fuel pump comes on as normal at start and makes the same noise as usual.
I dont have access to an HD fuel pressure test kit so ordering up the bits to make one and can then see pressure.
Fuel in the tank is c 3 months old and smells OK.
Battery is newish and tested as healthy and turns the engine over with vigour.
TPS on a fully closed throttle is set at 5.1.
Engine has less than 10k miles and was owned by a 80 year old very well known engineer before me – I have had it 3 years and when it was running it was full of go – so I think engine mechanicals are OK as it was OK when it last run 2 months ago.
Don’t have a compression tester that will fit – will see if any mates have something that will.
If it is a fuel supply issue – what sensor would be picking this up and telling the ECU?
The workshop manual has other tests and will work my way through these.
Best regards Paul.

 

[Cooter]

Theres no sensor for fuel pressure on your bike Need to make the kit.

Do you have ECMDroid, ECMSpy, or TunerPro, to help you diagnose it?
If you seem to have Fuel, air, and spark, how about spark Timing. Check your CPS.

 

[BuellyBagger]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and I am working my way through them.
Definitely no air leak (new seals last year and leak test shows all OK)
Plugs are new and OK (but I have ordered new HT leads to try)
Fuel pump comes on as normal at start and makes the same noise as usual.
I dont have access to an HD fuel pressure test kit so ordering up the bits to make one and can then see pressure.
Fuel in the tank is c 3 months old and smells OK.
Battery is newish and tested as healthy and turns the engine over with vigour.
TPS on a fully closed throttle is set at 5.1.
Engine has less than 10k miles and was owned by a 80 year old very well known engineer before me – I have had it 3 years and when it was running it was full of go – so I think engine mechanicals are OK as it was OK when it last run 2 months ago.
Don’t have a compression tester that will fit – will see if any mates have something that will.
If it is a fuel supply issue – what sensor would be picking this up and telling the ECU?
The workshop manual has other tests and will work my way through these.
Best regards Paul.

Well paul, you sound like you've got your head on straight and are taking it step by step. Good deal. I saw st paul harley had the fuel pressure dealio in the buell parts section. I can't recall how much$ but might save you some hassle, could always resell it on here after you're done lol

 

[Cooter]

You do seem like a capable guy, Paul. Instead of T-ing into the fuel lines temporarily, you can drill and tap the fuel block to 1/8"FPT to add this permanently:
https://www.amazon.com/Control-Devi...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CFZ109ZTKXX2K1T8D8BD


You have to remove the fuel block but you'll need to be in there with either option anyway. Most FI pressure gauges screw right on to the schrader valve:eagerness:

 

[user_deleted]

the mighty Ricky sniffed this out several days ago. let me know when you're ready and i'll tell you what the ailment is. until then everyone else can just................

 

[njloco]

Common, give it up ?

 

[BuellyBagger]

the mighty Ricky sniffed this out several days ago. let me know when you're ready and i'll tell you what the ailment is. until then everyone else can just................
View attachment 11242

Lol, clue us in john.

 

[lancruza]

Like John, I know what it is also. Since John won't tell you...I might as well help you out.

It's the ecabulator. Your welcome.