| Author | Message | ||
     70_west |
My 2008 Uly has developed a strange problem. It began missing on the front cylinder last week, so this weekend I dug in to it. The front cylinder appeared to be completely dead, cold pipe, fuel on the plug. I checked compression on it and it rang up at 175 psi. I checked all the wires and such, which were okay, and then pulled the coil. The resistance checked out okay so I re-installed it. I fired the bike up and a cylinder is dead again, only it's the rear now. The front cylinder warmed right up. Anybody have any ideas on what's going on... I just replaced the stator and VR and the bike had sat for at least three months with a bad battery on it. Motorcycle ran great the night those parts were replaced, but the next afternoon this new problem pops up. I'm thinking it's a bad coil, but don't want to start throwing money at it and missing. Thanks for any ideas! | ||
| Etennuly |
When you have started the bike in the past, have you warmed it up completely and then ridden it at least ten miles every time? If you fire these things up and do not ride them after about three or four cold starts you are killing the plugs. That is a normal situation. They do not like blipping of the throttle or unnecessary throttle inputs when not fully warmed up(ten miles of riding). Put in two new plugs and ride it, after it warms up good, ride it hard. | ||
| Froggy |
Change your plugs. Wires too if you got them handy. | ||
| Ulynut |
Also make sure the battery is fully charged. | ||
| 70_west |
I'm a man that willingly takes good advice, so I will do what each of you have suggested, in the morning. Especially so, since I have done what ETenn described. The bike was started several times but not warmed up, prior to the problem surfacing, and three times today, prior to replacing the rear plug. So I am off to Appleton's in the morning to grab a new set of plugs. Hopefully it will be another problem solved by BW. Thanks for the great suggestions. | ||
| Etennuly |
 Plug it and ride it! | ||
| Ulynut |
Can't the plugs be cleaned with brake clean and steel wool or something? | ||
| Ikeman |
If it's an 08 have you tried the plug cleaning procedure? Which of course I'll have to look up... | ||
| Ikeman |
From another thread... SPARK PLUG CLEANING PROCEDURE 2008 XB and 1125R - has the ability to clear residual fuel from the combustion chamber if a flooded engine or fouled spark plugs are suspected. This is achieved by opening the throttle to wide open, setting the Run/Stop switch to Run then, turning the ignition switch ON. This will fire the spark plugs for approximately 4 seconds, burning any fuel left over in the combustion chamber. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure several times to allow a severely flooded engine to start. NOTE: Motorcycle should be in Neutral. | ||
| Yamafreak |
I did this 4 times before I started my o8 XT today. Temp was 38 and snowing. We let her warm up then off we went for a nice ride and some cool drinks at the Creek Side Inn. Life Is Good In Maryland | ||
| Etennuly |
Once plugs have been wet, especially several times, the high energy ignition may get it to fire. That will let it heat up and burn the excess fuel. That heated burned on fuel tends to glaze over all of the exposed parts of the plug. That might run fine as long as it gets hot and stays hot. Next cold start wet foul adds another layer of glaze. I have cleaned them with a fine brass wire brush, heat from a propane torch, more brushing, sand or file the electrodes, re gap, but they are never as good as new ones. From my experience they are compromised once wetted. These bikes force them run anyway due to the high energy ignition system. Anyone who has run a drag bike/car, or other race bike/car, will change the plugs every time they suspect wet fouling. | ||
| Ulynut |
Good to know.  | ||
| Tootal |
Back in the 70's when I rode a lot of dirt we would throw our plugs in the campfire once we had good hot coals. The next morning we would dig them out and wash them off in creek water and we were good to go. Once I got my bike tuned right I never had to do it again but some of the other guys just thought the more fuel the better even if you had to change plugs every two hours! The Uly is very rich at cold start, I can even smell raw fuel on a cold morning. | ||
| Tocino |
I can even smell raw fuel on a cold morning. I love the smell of raw fuel in the morning. Smells like ... victory. | ||
| Etennuly |
 Yeah.....if it's not flooded!! |
