| Author | Message | ||
     Karbeener |
Hi all - I'm new to Buell's, new to the forum and need some advice. The story.... Bought my Blast about 2 months ago and it's my first bike so I desperately want to ride it...a LOT...but it's backfiring. When I first brought it home it was backfiring a bit but it had been in storage for about 6 months so figured it was the gas...but I'm on my 5 tank of primo gas and the problem keeps getting worse. What it's doing: - It runs just fine when cold and idles pretty good - although the idle does drop sometimes. - The problem happens most consistently at high RPM but it will pop a bit at lower. - Once the bike is warm and I'm starting to enjoy myself it starts backfiring. I loose power and then it backfires and my power is back. - After it starts backfiring if I have to stop at a light it sometimes will idle super low and stall out but it starts up again...so far - Last time I rode it I was coming up a hill and I lost power, braced myself for the backfire but it never happened...I had no throttle response so I pulled the bike over and it died. It started back up no problem and then I continued on my way...backfiring as I went. What I've done (everything is stock at this point): 1) thought it was probably the boot - replaced the boot (OEM) - I'm pretty confident that it's seated correctly and I have a Dan's Superboot on the way 2) Found a crack in the exhaust header pipe - got the crack spot welded by my exhaust guy 3) Checked for spark - spark was good and consistent - plug was old so replaced it anyway (also replaced the cable) 4) I've popped off the timer cover and had a look at my ignition module - the LED seems to be consistent and strong; however, I can't replicate the backfiring in my driveway while looking at the module I don't want to dish out the 250 bucks (I'm in Canada where everything is more expensive) for a new ignition module if that might not be it. I want to love my Blast as much as you all love yours...please help! Cheers, Kara | ||
| Ezblast |
Welcome! Air screw out to 2 1/2 turns, disable side stand safety - cut and twist wires together and tape. Flip center diode in fuse box - if these things still happen, inspect slide for tears, check jets - take out, spray carb cleaner through them, make sure all holes clear, reinstall. Replace boot again with Dans - probably torn from all the back fire - lol - make sure carb vacuum line plugged on left side - if ugly looking replace. When warmed up, place hand over carb, if still running well, then you have a vacuum leak - could be the carb intake gasket on back - then you have to rego through everything - what was the last thing done to the bike? EZ | ||
| Karbeener |
Hi EZ - thanks for the response and the welcome. Your bikes are the first ones I found online when I started researching Blasts and they got me stoked about getting one. I'm a complete novice when it comes to carburetors but it sounds like I need to jump into it and give it a good cleaning. I have a couple of questions about your suggestions - Can you explain to me what it is that I'm testing by doing the following "disable side stand safety - cut and twist wires together and tape. Flip center diode in fuse box.” | ||
| Ezblast |
LOL - the kick stand switch has been known to cause a world of trouble - just cut and twist together the bared ends of the two wires going to the kick stand, and lift seat, see fuse box, middle fuse is a diode - just flip it. close seat. That is the clutch safety, another culprit that can shut you down for no good reason - while riding along - by disabling them, you rule them out of the equation, and you can always, reconnect and repair the wires to the kick stand later as well. I would leave both disabled though. Also turn the air screw to 2 1/2 turns out from light bottom. I would do these three things first, and see it that helps eliminate your troubles. Also add some Seafoam to a tank of premium and see if that helps as well. 3 to 5 ounces should do the trick. EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
" but it sounds like I need to jump into it and give it a good cleaning."Nooooooooooo!!! This is almost always a bad idea and rarely fixes any problems. Very often it will create more problems especially if you arent familiar with carbs. I dont care how many well meaning people may have told you to do this, but its usually because they dont know whats wrong with the carb (or bike) and they hope that fixes the problem. Dont Do It! EZ has given you solid advice, although maybe a bit brief in detail. Ask questions, we'll be glad to help. And welcome  | ||
| Karbeener |
LOL - thanks Gearheaderiko. I promise I won`t pull the carb apart. Dan`s Superboot just arrived so I`ll be starting on the first part of EZ`s recommendations this weekend. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Thanks. I can sleep easy tonight knowing that  | ||
| Karbeener |
Hey guys - first let me say thanks again for all your input. Spent this weekend bonding with my Blast and going through EZ's list. 1) swapped OEM boot out for Dan's Superboot 2)drilled out airmix screw and set at 2 1/2 out from light bottom 3)flipped diode2 to disable clutch safety 4)disconnected the kickstand safety 5)added 4oz of seafoam to a full tank of premium 6)resisted the temptation to pull apart my carb and clean it What's different - sadly...nothing. It started right up when I got it all back together, but I've haven't had trouble with starting. It backfired a couple of time at idle but I assumed that that might have had something to do with the fact that I took the carb off to drill the airmix screw out. I sprayed some carb cleaner into the carb and the backfiring seems to stop at idle. Took it for a bit of a ride around town and it started the backfiring around the same time as before...however, for the last 1/2 of the ride it didn't backfire. Today, hopeful, I took it out again thinking that maybe the seafoam had done the trick but it started to backfire again and worse than before. The bike died on me number of times - after power loss (mid backfire) but I was able to start it up again right away. Any thoughts or does anyone know a good Buell mechanic in Vancouver, BC? | ||
| Ezblast |
First make sure boot is securely on, then because of your stock airbox, to rule out other things as well, purchase an intake carb gasket, and a 45 primary jet, install jet, keep using premium. Next step after that would be to unplug your carb TPS/Auto-enrichner circuits | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Concur with EZ. Though it does sound as if you're heading for a new ignition module (as you previously suspected). The problem sounds erratic like a loose, broken, grounding wire (or bad safety switch) or a bad module  Oftentimes a bad module wont be consistent in its behaviour to troubleshoot and many are just left taking the gamble on a new one If it ever wont start, make sure the module is uncovered so you can watch the LED light. (you can leave it uncovered and much wont happen to it unless it rains really hard or a dust storm comes up). hmmm.... the only switch you havent bothered with is the BAS (bank angle sensor). They can go bad and a common telltale sign is if the bike must be turned off and back on to restart (turning the bike off resets the BAS switch). I do not remember how to bypass it though its only 3 wires, 2 of which must be jumped together. I dont recall specific symptoms a bad BAS causes (besides needing a reset)-sorry. FWIW: The BAS actually has a small metal roller inside that rolls to one side of the switch or the other if the bike is laid down on its side. Once it does that and shuts of the power to the ignition module, the bike must be shut off and turned back on so the switch will reset itself. Sometimes just pulling the switch off the bike and turning it from side to side will mimic the problem or at least tell you which wires need to be spliced. Not saying thats the problem, just providing information to help diagnose it. | ||
| Karbeener |
Hey guys - thanks for all your input and Gearheaderiko, I think you're right...ignition module. Regarding the BAS, I assume that when you say that you need to shut the bike off to reset, you mean that the key needs to be turned off. If that is the case, that's probably not the problem because all I have to do is hit the start button to get it going again. I managed to find a great mechanic in my area that is happy to work on my Blast. He cleaned my carb and "while he was there" drilled out my jet and did a couple of additional tweaks (I think I found a keeper). He called me on Sat. to let me know it was all fixed up "not a backfire in sight" and I had my fingers crossed that it wasn't just having a good day when he took it for the extensive test ride....sadly, it was having a good day. I got 1/2 way home and the pop pop started again. Headed back and he popped off the ignition module cover there was a lot of moisture in there (it was raining) and when he pushed on the module the bikes idle dropped and it almost stalled so, seems like he was poking the sore spot. Harley dealership here wants $275 bucks for a new one and it's going to take 2-4 weeks for it to arrive. buellsterparts.com has a new one for $176 so I'm planning to order it from them. Any other thoughts on acquiring a new ignition module? Thanks again!! | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
No other thoughts on a new module. $176 and its in stock, buy it! Sounds like you found a "keeper". Buell/HD mechanic or just general mc mechanic or ? (just curious- the Blast is simple, so its not hard to fix if someone is willing-but that isnt always the case). | ||
| Karbeener |
He's kind of both, will work on all bikes but also a certified HD mechanic (www.essentialmotorcycleservices.ca) he seems to know what he's doing AND he's funny Ordered the ignition module...now I just have to wait..........I'll update once I get it swapped out. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Cool! | ||
| Karbeener |
Update: finally received my new ignition module (postal worker strike in Canada certainly didn't help) and....that was it!!! I got it back from my mechanic on Tuesday and did a ride out to Harrison Hot Springs this weekend and it's running great!!! Thanks for all of your help and input. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
WooHoo!!!! | ||
| Brian1121 |
If the bike is backfiring and stalling with the feeling that it has run out of gas check your fuel tank vent line. I spent three hours on the side of road tonight before I figured out that I'm just a tard and pinched the line while re-installing the fuel tank cover. |
