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Swimmonkey
| | Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 08:42 am: | 
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I had a noise that sounded like a little rattle / ping in the motor. I also just figured it was a normal "Harley" noise. Well, it turned out to be a bad rod bearing and next thing I know; I have a broken wrist pin, a piston lodged in the top of the head and now Buell is giving me a new motor. The noise (that was not really that bad) was apparently rod play that was a result of the worn bearing. (I posted this story a couple weeks ago and nobody had experienced this catastrophic failure, so in your case, this is probably unlikely.) I just wanted to inform you of my heartbreak. |
Nipsey
| | Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 05:20 pm: |
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I was thinking about this post while out and about today - sounds like valve noise. Kind a tapping or fluttering, not pinging - stops immediately when you get off the throttle and you don't hear it at higher revs.
Part of the Buell unique-osity... |
Doylejj
| | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 07:22 pm: |
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Well, there you have it. The noise is either part of the Buell unique-osity (Nipsey) or a preview of impending catastrophe (Swimmonkey). Do I get to pick? |
Paul56
| | Posted on Sunday, June 07, 2009 - 08:22 pm: |
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Re: Balky cranking. Mine has been this way since new (64k mi since 01/06). OEM battery died last week. Replaced with a Westco battery from ebatterytogo.com (74.95, no shipping charges using UPS ground- had it in 2 days). Installed a 10 gauge ground wire from the negative post to a clutch cover bolt. Cranks faster, but still has the initial hesitation. Probably ignition related, as I run my timing a little advanced. I take care of the pinging with octane booster and judicious use of the throttle. |
Tocramed
| | Posted on Friday, June 12, 2009 - 10:34 am: |
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Doylejj,
I have been suffering from the same problem you are having (from what it sounds like reading your posts)...DETONATION. I have had a few others here tell me that these engines are just noisy or it will go away after the first few thousand miles. Well, I am over 6K and it has been happening since I bought it, brand new. After several trips to one dealer, I was told there is no problem because it couldn't be replicated. Finally went to Hal's yesterday and it took them about 5 min to confirm the detonation. They followed that confirmation by saying it is the worst that they have ever heard.
So, if you what you have been describing is accurate, coupled with the pinging getting worse as the bike heats up (such as in stop and go traffic), you have a detonation problem and should seek assistance.
I will let you know what Hal's determines the problem to be. The initial assumptions are engine temp sensor, intake air temp sensor, timing, or a problem in the fuel maps. Most of which has been checked already, but will be reviewed.
As far as the starter hesitation, mine has been done the same thing since new as well...no problems yet.
Tony |
Doylejj
| | Posted on Monday, June 15, 2009 - 05:18 pm: |
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Tocramed: Tony, thanks for the info. Please do keep us up to date with developments. |
Sanchez
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 10:44 am: |
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Pinging is a common problem on the 2006 models. I fixed it by retarding my static timing. I moved it back one tick, which I later found out was 5 degrees. As an added bonus, it runs on 87 octane now too.
Here's a step-by-step with pictures:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/315389.html |
Doylejj
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 11:05 am: |
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Sanchez: thanks for posting this. Is changing the timing with the ecmspy as Bud suggested in the thread an alternative to doing this mechanically? Unfortunately, I'm inexperienced at mechanical things, so drilling out the rivets stops me in my tracks without someone talking me through that.
(Message edited by doylejj on June 16, 2009)
(Message edited by doylejj on June 16, 2009) |
Sanchez
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 11:51 am: |
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Good question. I haven't looked at the timing maps in ECMSpy. Seems like that would work, though. You could dial out some timing in the map area that corresponds to open throttle/low rpm. The only limitation is that you can't retard timing below the minimum physical setting. You can just remove the advance the computer adds. If setting the advance to zero in ECMSpy still isn't enough, then you'll have to rotate the CPS. |
Tocramed
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 12:33 pm: |
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Keep in mind that doing just about anything with ECMSpy will void any warranty that you have...if you happen to have an extended warranty.
As Sanchez stated, retarding the timing may clear up your problem. This was tried on my bike with no luck.
I still haven't heard back from Hal's as to what is causing the detonation; I will fill you in when I do.
Tony |
Tocramed
| | Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 02:08 pm: |
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Just picked up my bike from Hal's this morning. It turns out that I had a bad ECM from day one. They tried a couple different ECMs, none of which caused detonation. So, they replaced it under warranty. All sensors are working fine and the timing is good.
After I left the dealership, I put about 100 miles on, mostly country roads and small towns. After a quick jaunt through a small town I gave it in second gear once the speed limit increased and of course...just my luck, it started detonating. Now, it is in the 80s today, the bike was quite hot, and it didn't do it nearly as bad as before, but its upsetting none the less. I guess we'll see how things go once I put a few more miles on in the next couple weeks. |
Doylejj
| | Posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 10:08 pm: |
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Thanks, Tony. Keep us informed.
I spent several months zeroing in on a balky 04 VStrom which was finally fixed with replacement ECM which Suzuki had reprogrammed with a richer mix. I suspect they couldn't do that openly or for the whole fleet because of emission certification requirements. I'm having that same feelling about this problem--not every bike has it, but it's obvious on those that do. Buell hasn't/can't faced up to it (publicly) without jeapordizing its manufacturer's emission certification. |
Tocramed
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 - 09:42 am: |
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Well, it has been a month since the new ECM and I now have a new engine. Buell approved the replacement in hopes that the problem would then be resolved as well as replacing a damaged motor.
So far, everything seems to be running good but the motor is still breaking in so I have been taking it easy. WOW...I forgot how hot these bikes get for the first couple thousand miles! Anyway, once I hit the 500 mile range, I will make sure the rings are seated and see if I can replicate the detonation.
I have to say it would have been nice to know exactly what was causing the problem. The replacement of the ECM probably took care of the detonation and what I was hearing after that was some play in the wrist pins from the added stress of the detonation...it sounds very similar...so I am told.
Just keeping you up to date; I will report back once I have had a chance to put the new motor through its paces. |
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