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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through March 18, 2008 » Uly Timing Adjust - Whoa.... « Previous Next »

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Michael1
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 08:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So my Uly started to PING really bad late last year. I thought it was bad gas and the heat. Then it would do it under moderate load and cool outside temps (below 50F). Not good.

So I replaced my plugs. The front was RUSTED bad. Can't find a spot of silver metal anywhere...Couldn't even get a 5/8 wrench to fit it. The electrode is black on half, tan on half. Not bad. The rear plug is a grey color on the electrode. Hmmm....

So I replaced with a set of NGK iriduims. Not bad...but my dealer wouldn't sell them to me as the screw on tips aren't good for a Buell or Harley. Too much noise and they might come loose causing interminent spark. So I used them anyways.

Now onto my timing adjustment. I spent WAY to much time trying to get my timing mark to line up in the window. While listening for the fuel pump to cycle and get the line in the window for the front cylinder... was a bitch... Reason why... I was pretty darn advanced. As the line came in to the window and the fuel pump cycled...the line was still behind the left side. So I retarded the timing to make the line just past the middle of the window, almost straight up but not quite.

Okay... Button the bike up and time to start 'er up... Okay...time to not button it up. I lost my 10-32 screws I bought. Grrr... time to run out and get some more SS button heads...tomorrow, as all the stores that have them are closed. Okay, key on (still on...). Kill switch on. Chug..chuuuuuuuuuuuuug..... click..click..click...click...click...

SHIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!! WHAT DID I JUST DO? Did I EF it up???? What the f...............

Dummy me... I just killed my battery. WIth me taking around 2 hours or so to get it just right (checking to see if the front cylinder was at top dead center. Then I forgot to put it back on the charger after I reset my TPS yesterday and with having the key on, I seem to killed the battery. My trickle charger wouldn't even charge it. It was giving me a fault.

So onto the actual battery charger. Well, it's charging now.


Lesson Learned:

Don't take your time to get it right. you'll drain your battery... Kidding....

I'll have to wait til tomorrow to test ride it now...

Also as a note, my Ulysses timing cover was loose. It was rattling around due to the rivets weren't tight. Now my timing cover has shiney marks where the rivets are. Damn it... Guess it's time for something cool now.

What a deal. The only redeeming factor...I spent most of the evening in the garage working on my sweetheart.}
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Bosh
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 09:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You can try pulling the headlight fuse next time to buy yourself some extra battery life.
But I think it'll go much faster the next time you check
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Michael1
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 10:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Next time I'll be much more efficient for sure....

After some time on the charger (6amp) it's back to normal. Fired up quickly. Not sure if that was due to some residue fuel in the cylinders or the Iridum plugs and timing change. Either way I'm excited for a test ride tomorrow.

Now I just have to change all my fluids and spoon on the distanzias I have before I leave for MBV.
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Buelldyno_guy
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 04:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just a word of caution XB's are timed to Zero Deg and the ECM takes care of individual timing for the F & R cylinders inside their timing tables. Off setting the basic timing skews the entire value the ECM needs as a basic zero (0) starting point. ... I have found that the pining is a result of some strange values in a few of the cells? I am sure Buell had a reason for them, but correcting those cells and then retarding the rear to be between 2-4 behind the front has corrected every bike I have done so far..... Terry
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Teeps
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Illogical fuel or ignition mapping, is likely the result of passing certification for emissions regulations.

Same goes for weird (illogical) transmission ratios.

Last year my '06 Ulysses had pinging issues too. I tried retarding the timing, per (anecdotal info gleaned from posts on BadWeb.) Retarded timing fixed the ping, but at the cost of engine performance.
The bike was sluggish (by seat of pants dyno) and the engine "seemed" to run much hotter (fan came on sooner, never shut off) even when ambient temps were <80F.

I returned the timing to factory zero setting and tried more fuel, by way of the Dobeck TFI. The accelerator pump and main "jet" settings were made richer. While leaving the idle and cruise settings at Dobeck's base setting.
So far this has worked with minimal affect to the fuel mileage when ridden hard.

(Message edited by teeps on March 15, 2008)
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Natexlh1000
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So it was more of a lean running condition that was the cause of the ping?
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Michael1
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 12:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I don't know if it was lean running or not. I don't have my ECMSpy stuff just yet.

But I know, the timing set at the factory was pretty advanced. The mark was at the left edge of the window. I know a few others on here who have had the same issue. And some actually have retarded so the timing mark is at the right edge of the window.

After a test ride today, I'll know for sure how it is running. As when I rode a few weeks ago when it was 30F out, it was pinging like a mule. So time will tell....
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