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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Troubleshooting (Poor Starting/Running/Handling/Ride Issues) » Archive through December 21, 2009 » Backfire « Previous Next »

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Delta_one
Posted on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 - 06:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My 03 XB9 backfired on the way to class today. I have been having some post det at the muffler laitly on throttle off. I figured the increased moisture from the micigan fall just had me running a bit rich but today I had a bang that I think rattled my air box.

I was approaching a red light so I pulled in the clutch applied the brakes and bliped the throttle as I always do. (I do it because it makes people look up from their phones or whatever it is they are doing and then they see my brake lights)

Other than a re-tune what should I do and look for?

I have also noticed a slight stutter when I open rev but again I blamed it on air density.
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Sparky
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Check for air leaks at the intake manifolds where they attach to the heads by spraying WD-40 there with the engine idling. If the idle speed changes, that's an indication of an air leak. Your next step then would be to change out the manifold seals.
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Tazmania720
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 04:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

WD40? How does that work? That is more of a lubricant/water displacer isn't it? What about ether? I would also check for cracks in your exhaust. I had a good size crack in mine and was popping pretty good until I got it fixed.
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Delta_one
Posted on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 - 05:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

thanks sparky and Taz

I'll look at both this weekend

where in the exhaust did yours crack?

(Message edited by delta_one on September 09, 2009)
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Sparky
Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2009 - 12:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Taz, tiny cracks at a leaky seal let in air molecules but not the larger WD-40 molecules. When the voids get filled by a liquid such as WD-40 or even water, the engine idle speed should drop slightly.

Some people use a solvent spray like carb cleaner or brake cleaner to check for air leaks but these solvents can attack the rubber seal and potentially shorten its life.

Using a gas like ether or propane can work if used sparingly but could lead to false results if it were to get sucked into the air filter. Also be aware that ether in the form of starting fluid comes out, I believe, as a liquid petroleum distillate, a solvent not good for the seal.
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Kalali
Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2009 - 05:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The Propane method is much much cleaner than WD-40. Trust me. Also, I thought the idea behind spraying the WD-40 was that the leak would cause the WD-40 to get sucked into the intake and create a little white smoke when it gets burned in the combustion chamber and out from the exhaust. The idle may also change but the smoke is the determining factor.
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Mrsnuggles
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 06:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

+1 on checking for leaks.

I had a similar problem, and mined turned out to be a faulty ECM. Worked with a tech at my dealer on this one. First thing we did was check for the leak mentioned above, but then the problem persisted. Turned out the seat was pressing down on the ecm, and causing a short of some sort. Added a couple of washers to the back of the seat latch to raise the seat, and problem solved (with new ECM, that is).
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Blake
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 03:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Spark plugs fresh and TPS reset lately?
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Delta_one
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

good plugs but no TPS reset lately, I think I will have that done next along with a full dyno tune. It will be added to my list of things to do.

there was no leak, I checked it out when I installed Odie's heat barriers. but oddly enough since I put those in I haven't had a backfire or even as much popping. is this a coincidence or are Odie's products just magic? in actuality I am afraid that I may have a bad ECM with how the problem just went away.

what is a good way to trouble soot the ECM?
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Kalali
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You could probably use ECMSPY and see if you can communicate with the ECM and even run some diagnostics. If all that work, then the ECM may be OK. It is not 100% reliable test but fairly easy to do if you have the cable and the software. Other than that, I would say switch the ECM with someone with a similar bike and see what happens. Unfortunately you seem to have an intermittent problem making the trouble shooting all that much harder.
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Delta_one
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 10:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I do not have ecm spy but I will have my shop run diagnostics for it.
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Bombardier
Posted on Friday, September 18, 2009 - 06:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Did you place the wiring above the heat blanket or are they still near the engine?
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Delta_one
Posted on Saturday, September 19, 2009 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I didn't move any wires
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