| Author | Message | ||
     Volume_eight |
My Uly sat for over a year with old gas. She was parked due to a bad charging system and my having started a business and having a daughter. Initial plans were to fix the stator/VR shortly after parking, but plans are a funny thing. So here we are. We replaced the stator and VR, then drained the fuel. It came out green, sticky and had a horrible stench. I imagined the injectors would be gummed up and it would be difficult to start, but we actually got it started. It wouldn't idle until it was warmed up, but then it even idled. After over a year, I saddled up and got ready for a nice ride to clean out those injectors... About 10 minutes later, we stopped at auto zone to return a rented 250FT/LB torque wrench and after turning the bike off, it wouldnt start again. It would crank and fire a bit, but couldn't get it to idle or above. So we went in and bought some fuel injector cleaner... bad idea. Now it would only crank. No firing whatsoever, so we waited. And waited. Pulled the plugs in front of Auto Zone and traded my lean NGK iridiums for some, ahem, champions. Then we tried again and nothing. Then after a whole lot of cranking, she finally turned over. We kept the throttle at about 2k and then took off again. The bike rode great for an hour, so we stopped and grabbed lunch, after lunch she started right up and we took off again. I was sure that things were getting better and the green junk was working its way out, so i ran a little harder and hit some twisties. Then we stopped and pulled off. It was idling just fine, so I took the chance of turning it off. It wouldn't turn over again. Plenty of cranking, but no turning over. Same thing, played the waiting game. After it cooled down a bit, we finally got it to turn over. I kept the throttle at 2k+ and took off for home. It was running great til about 5 miles from home, then the rpm's just started bouncing all over the place. The bike felt like it was misfiring and I did everything I could to limp home and that is where it sits now. I realize this could be a mess of issues beyond the injectors, but I wanted to get some of your opinions and suggestions. If you can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated. Thanks | ||
| Rayycc1 |
i haven't owned the Uly long enough to comment ...but I do know for fact that bad gas will make a FI Harley run like absolute dog shit...Bucking...missing...farting...can't even ride it kind of shit. I think if you put some good plugs in it and maybe rinsed and drained the whole system with good fuel you would be golden | ||
| Etennuly |
Try the best premium fuel you can get with a full can of Sea Foam fuel cleaner in the tank. Check for stored codes, could have a fouled o2 sensor, or Idle Air Sensor. Have you had the air box cover off? Some folks have found rat nests in the air cleaner. Check the exhaust valve for function. It may be stuck. The fuel tank vent could also be gummed up. Make sure the crank case vent is not plugged. Check the wires for the VR at the plug near the front drive sprocket, look at the wires for running across sharp edges. Check the cam sensor wires for wear through. You may need to pull the fuel pump for a new screen and filter. Just some suggestions, a lot of things, including more than one thing at a time could cause the problems. | ||
| Ryanco |
My first guess would be anything that restricts fuel flow, ie the screen and filter on the fuel pump as Etennuly mentioned, or any inline fuel filters if you have them. I had a very similar issue when I bought my 89 Toyota pickup that had been sitting a while. Third time I drove it, it died going down my driveway, and wouldn't start again. Waiting a bit allowed enough fuel for it to almost start, and then nothing. New fuel filter, and it's been fine ever since. Point being, that green crap can clog other things before it ever makes it to the injectors. Good luck! -Ryan | ||
| Volume_eight |
Thanks for all the feedback guys. So far I've tried the seafoam and a full tank of 93 with a splash of octane boost. Once I get it running, I can ride it, so long as I keep the throttle open a bit so it idles above 2k. As soon as i let off, it stalls. During riding, I am feeling some major hesitation too. I was thinking of doing a true TPS reset, but no access to ecm spy, or a way to check codes. Can anyone in the Hudson Valley area help out with that? Next would be to replace the filter and screen in the fuel pump, but now the tank is full of premium, seafoam and octane boost, so it would suck to have to drain all that. Any other suggestions? Should i just get it to go and take off for a while? Im all ears... Thanks! | ||
| Arry |
I agree with Rayycc1 about spark plugs. Easy cheap fix, if that's it. | ||
| Volume_eight |
We did change out the plugs. Doesn't seem to have made an impact. | ||
| Froggy |
I'm just across the river in Putnam. We can work something out to get your TPS properly reset. Also, a bunch of us are riding out to get burgers this weekend in Connecticut, if you are up for the ride I'll remember to bring my cable. https://www.facebook.com/events/477682212357834/ | ||
| Griffmeister |
I know this may be way off base, but didn't the earlier bikes have an unused vacuum port on the throttle body with a rubber cap? I seem to recall somebody here having that cap deteriorate and fall off which would create a vacuum leak/lean condition. Just covering all angles. | ||
| Froggy |
All XBs have that port, but even if that cap came off, it is not a vacuum leak as it is above the throttle butterfly. At worst it is unfiltered air. | ||
| Volume_eight |
Griff, I tried that too, and it was off btw, but to no avail. To date, I ave tried injector cleaner, fresh gas with octane boost, seafoam, new plugs and nothing... Froggy, I had a feeling you might chime in, thanks for the offer! I'm going to have to get it running first before we can do the TPS. I'm just going to bite the bullet and order a new fuel filter and injectors just in case, I can't stand waiting for the weekend only to not have everything i need. Once I get it going again, I'd definitely like to connect. | ||
| Jesse_lackman |
Old gas can cause valves to stick open. I never would have believed it until I read it on speedtalk.com. Then I realized it had actually happened to me twice. Last summer my son pulled the head on one of the vehicles and sure enough an intake valve stuck open and jammed the piston. Haven't had the heads off the other vehicle. The other vehicle crunched good when trying to start then the engine spun like it had no compression. Hope that is not what happened, shouldn't have since you drained the bulk of old gas out. (Message edited by Jesse_Lackman on May 11, 2014) | ||
| Volume_eight |
Well, I've been the weekend warrior trying to work on my Uly and finally got to pull the fuel pump today! The screen was completely disintegrated and there was residue all over everything. I cleaned it up pretty good, put in a new fuel filter and put it back in... Looks like i was a bit too much of a warrior though, because the 2nd o-ring, which had a bit of slack in it got caught behind the base and when i tightened it down, one of the corners busted. Great. So I tested it anyway to see if that is the reason why shes not kicking over, and the pump primed great, but still nothing. Now i need a new fuel pump and still no closer to having it run. SOOO... next question. Will a Firebolt (XB12R) fuel pump work in our Ulysses (XB12X)? | ||
| Froggy |
Any 03-09 XB pump will work. There are automotive equivalents if you want to source one from a car parts store, but you will have to search on here as I don't recall exact part numbers. Are you sure the pump is bad? If it is priming that is a good sign (Message edited by Froggy on May 31, 2014) | ||
| Etennuly |
He stated that the corner of the pump broke. Need to put some vasoline or similar on the O rings on installation. You may have to change the injectors. It is rare, but with everything else you have done, it is next in the fuel system that has not been checked. They are common, I think Ford injectors. |
