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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through April 13, 2011 » Uly lacks power (I think) « Previous Next »

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Jetranger_2000
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 03:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

just came back from my first ride ever on the uly. I have never ridden a 1200CC bike before and to me it felt like it had very little power. I weigh 260ish lbs and going up a gradual hill at 90KM/H in 5th gear I had throttle full open and still was slowing down. On 1st gear starts like at a stop light I really had to rev bike to get it to go. My buddy who has a 1150GS took it for a ride and said the same thing. Also when my buddy was ridding it it backfired during slowdown
All I have is the rider comfort kit and its a 2009
any ideas on what might be wrong or is this normal
The bike starts in 1 push and idles nicely

(Message edited by jetranger_2000 on March 17, 2011)
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Hughlysses
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 04:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Nope, that doesn't sound right by a long shot.
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Froggy
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 04:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Can you get the bike dyno tested? I want to say its only running on one cylinder.
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Jetranger_2000
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 04:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

i can get it dyno'd at the hd dealer. I guess I could drop off and see if its a warranty issue-I hope if its running on one cylinder the exhaust pipe for said cylinder would be cool right any alternative for plug wires anyone could suggest just for troubleshooting. I have a idea in the back of my head that one of the wires is faulty
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Froggy
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 04:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Running on one cyl is usually due to a fouled spark plug, sometimes due to plug wires that get damaged from rubbing against the engine. Change the plugs and wires and see if it runs better. Magnacore makes plugwires that will work.
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Jetranger_2000
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 04:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

yup! gotta be 1 cylinder. Used my temp gun and front cylinder exhaust pipe is 75 deg. rear one is 3 hundred and something!!! Now does anyone have any plug wires kickin around. Im pretty sure that is the problem
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Hughlysses
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 05:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Glad you found the problem. These bikes are prone to fouling plugs if you rev the engine while it's cold. You can try the built-in plug clearing sequence. The procedure is on here somewhere. It fires the plug repeatedly in succession (with the engine not running) and will sometimes burn off fuel or a deposit that's keeping the plug from firing properly.
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Electraglider_1997
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 06:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If you've been running around on just the rear cylinder then you've been washing the front cylinder with raw gas. Maybe you might change the oil along with that plug since your oil might be awash with gas. Also, if you don't want a repeat performance of plug fouling then you need to know that stop light throttle blipping may sound good but it will most certainly foul your plugs so break yourself of the blipping habit. Blipping is ok with carb bikes but computer controlled fuel injection has no idea what you are doing.
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Scooter808484
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 06:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Front plug is easy to get to, just pull it and clean/check/replace.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 06:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You do have to remove the left side scoop first, but that's easy.
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Ourdee
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 - 07:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

replace it with a new plug.
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Whisperstealth
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 02:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My 09 XT has done the same thing. Took the plug out, cleaned it, put it back in. No problems. You might consider a TPS reset if still not feeling right. But reset the TPS after the bike is warmed up, and has been running awhile.

Then hold on tight. Your about to be rendered with perma-grin.
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Uly_man
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 09:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The 5th gear is a cruise gear on a XB and most other bikes. Going up hill at 90Km/h (less than 60mph) on a Uly you probably need to be in third. Keeping the revs above 3000 is the trick.

It does sound like the engine is not quite right but how many miles has it done. Also riding a V-Twin is not the same as a four, flat twin or anything else. This and things like gear ratios etc affect ride style. Anyone who thinks they will get the same power out of a Uly as a BMW K1200 or a Jap four is deluding themselves.
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Jetranger_2000
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 01:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

no bliping habits here. It only has 1500 miles on it. I know for a fact the front cylinder was not working. I took the plug wire off and the ohms test in the book doesnt show the right numbers shows open. I decided to mess with the wire but cant seem to find the picture of a cut apart wire i saw yesterday on this site anyone know where it is
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Someday
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 01:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Iridium plugs work great too!
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Hughlysses
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 02:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The stock ignition wires are standard "graphite string" core resistor wires like used on most cars. If you haven't previously changed the plugs odds are pretty low that one of those has gone "bad". Make sure it's pushed in completely on the coil end and clipped down on the plug connection at the spark plug end.
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Uly_man
Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 02:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Jetranger2000. You will notice the power and running gets better at 4k miles and it will be even better at 6k miles. These bikes need a long time to run in and it should be done with care if you want a good engine. Change the oil every 2.5k, for the first 6k miles, and do not rev it high. Let the engine bed in easy as it needs it. Its not a Jap 4 so dont treat it as such.

At 1700 miles the engine is still VERY tight. It WILL run hot, the fan WILL run lots (most all the time and is normal on a young engine) and you may even get engine ignition "skipping" at some point if you run it hard.

At 15k miles my bike runs much like any other and is a joy to ride.
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Mnviking
Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - 01:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Uly man,

Living in the hot Vegas desert, would you recommend for me to go to a hotter plug (Iridium perhaps)?
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Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 06:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mnviking. I have no idea about Iridium plugs but if people wish to use them then thats ok with me.

Myself I would fit a bigger oil cooler matrix if I lived in your area or the Gulf states. A R/H air scoop and a well run in, less heat, engine would also be number one on my list.
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Jetranger_2000
Posted on Saturday, April 02, 2011 - 09:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

oh boy oh boy oh boy
replaced the plug wire and threw in a new plug and WOW. 1 cylinder was nice, 2 is crazy.
I LOVE MY NEW BIKE
Thanks for all the help

ALSO changed oil and filter prior to running
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