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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through November 15, 2009 » FNG « Previous Next »

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Ev780
Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 10:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So this looks kind of like a bar where you just walk up and join in on the conversation. Well here I am.....

I live up in the mountains of Colorado and several buddies have been trying to get me on a Uly for a while now. I finally found one at the right price in Tennessee. Frank, aka buellsrule, gave me a great deal on an '08 XT overstock and we made the deal. Thanks Frank! I had a buddy pick it up for me and as soon as most of the paperwork was done, well the company folded. Ugh!! Oh well, Harley had to do what Harley had to do. I have a Road Glide that I absolutely love so it is hard to hate on the MoCo too much. Business is Business.

Anyway, after a lot of transfers and pickup rides I finally got the bike in my garage about a week and a half ago. Of course the weather went to hell and I did not get the first ride until Saturday last.

Well the bike was running like shite!! No power, no acceleration, lots of sputtering, just a flat out dog. I was cursing everyone from my buddies to Eric himself. After all he signed the damn thing!! I knew that something was wrong and fixable but I was frustrated that I bought it long distance, live nowhere near a dealer and it was a beautiful day and I couldn't make the stupid thing go. All right, so I was gonna get it in the garage and do a couple basic things to see if I could diagnose and treat the problem. I was out running one last errand before I started the wrenching and I was on my way home, all the while cussing everyone associated with this transaction.

I was at a light waiting for a left turn arrow next to a hockey mom in a grocery getter. When the light changed, she accelerated and left me there. {grumble grumble} I was in the apex of the turn and the bike farted twice and suddenly let go!!! I was hanging on by my fingernails, in a power left turn, and the bike carving hard!!!! By the grace of god I kept control, powered through the turn and got square and pulled her over. Bike purring like a kitten, check. Drawers, dry, check. Heart rate back under a hundred, check.

So now deep breath, I swing out into the road and had a ride!!! Nice......This is what they meant....Front wheel can rise now since I am ready. Let her go nicely into that carve. WOW!!! Rode another few miles (nevermind the errands now) and found that I have a gem of a bike and it should be a ball. Accelerates, carves, and is wicked responsive compared to my road sofa. Don't get me wrong I love the Harley but this is a whole different ride, Too bad it's fall and riding is nearly over, but spring springs eternal.

That's my story. Whatever gummed up my fuel system or fouled my plugs is now clear and I am ready to ride.

Be talking to you.

Fred
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Wolfridgerider
Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Wheelie when ya can.... its addictive... once you start, its hard to stop.

oh yeah... welcome to Badweb

Glad the Uly is running the way it should!
Now put a Drummer on it, reroute the breather hoses and add a K&N air filter.... HOLD ON!
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Odie
Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Welcome!! Ride safe, Odie.
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Idaho_buelly
Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 11:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Congrats!...You'll love it!
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Skinstains
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 01:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Welcome.
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Keith_mahoney
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 05:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It was probably the change in altitude. Since your bike wasn't ridden to CO, but hitched a ride in the back of a pickup, it didn't know how to act up at that altitude. After you rode it for a bit the computer figured out what was going on.
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Hooper
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

+1 Keith...

I love happy endings.
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Prowler
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Probably a fouled plug. Dealers have a habit of starting bikes for one or two minutes blipping the throttle a couple times and then shutting them off. Not good thing for these Buells. You might want to change the plugs when you get a chance. I would guess that running on two cylinders would really wake you up after coughing around on one for a while. Congrats on the bike.
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Pkforbes87
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 12:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've ridden a Uly demo on one cylinder before.. you would definitely know if it's one cylinder vs. the high altitude ECM learning process like was mentioned previously. IIRC, the bike wouldn't get above 55 or 60 mph when running on one cylinder.
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Ev780
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 04:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I also am leaning toward fouled plug. It seems that ECM learning would get gradually better rather than get better in the middle of an intersection while at full throttle. I could get it to 70 but not in 5th gear so, I think I was firing on only one jug. No matter all better now.

Thanks for the welcomes. See you on the road.
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Tootal
Posted on Thursday, November 05, 2009 - 05:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think everybody's right. You started with a fouled plug and the altitude kept it that way until it started leaning out. At some point the plug cleaned itself up and the party was on! Congrats on the new toy, you live in the perfect environment for a Uly! I have a Road Glide too, great combination of bikes to own. When the snow melts take a ride up here for a nice view!



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Ev780
Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 12:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeah...Grew up 50 miles from there!!!
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Nadz
Posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 07:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Same story here: brand spankin' new Uly ran like crap. "Surely," I told myself, (and don't call me Shirley), "the motor cannot be this bad out of the box. It must be still breaking in." So I hammered even harder, but it just wouldn't scare me like the 'Bolt did. Turns out I was riding on only one cylinder! First clue: you should never be able to hold WOT for ten seconds without shifting, shitting, or bending the needle. Second clue: a little oil being pumped past the exhaust manifold gasket and not burning on the pipe. I've never been so happy to find out only half an engine was working!

Dealer changed out the fouled plugs and compression tested it. Runs like a champ. Moral of the story: don't start it up 'to see how it sounds' over n over n over agin if you ever want to be able to sell it as a working bike! -Nadz
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