mmmmm... I just went out to look at my bike.
With a copy of the service bulletin in hand...
The upgraded 25 deg injectors are in place.
I've had many lean HDs.. none this bad.
Now what? :-?
My SEUC is the same way. I have only true duals and a stage one air cleaner etc.
The dealer is telling me that a Power Commander is what they have been using to fix the problem of a lean running engine. Is the MoCo running these things so lean just to meet Cal emissions or something? I'm in Washington but hly chit, I've had the "near dump" experience several times to date and one was returning from CC with the bike fully loaded and it wasn't fun.
Any ideas anyone (Jerry?)?
Dr. E,
First, have your dealership verify that you have the correct calibration loaded in the ECM. H-D changed the calibrations when they went to the 25 degree injectors, and it's always possible they got the wrong calibration installed. Then have them do a
thorough check for vacuum leaks, good spark, etc. With the mixture set so lean, even a tiny vacuum leak can create major issues. If everything checks out OK, then you probably have one of those bikes where the tolerances for the various components (sensors, injectors, throttle body, etc) stack up in an unfavorable way. The easiest way to fix that, rather than change out parts until you hit on a decent combination, is to richen up the bottom end with a PC, SERT, etc. Will your 120 Jim's engine be EFI or carb? If EFI, I'd go with the SERT since you will need the tuning capabilities with the 120 anyway. If it will be a carb, then go with the least expensive option, such as a DFO or PC, since the SERT can't be resold after it is "married" to your ECM.
Rjob,
One idea I've had rolling around in my head for the past year (since dumping mine due to the lean stumble/stall, and being blown off by the dealer) is to contact the NHTSA with a safety complaint. If enough folks did this, H-D would probably be forced into a recall to fix this safety related issue just like various auto manufacturers have been in the past. But, that is a long-term option and doesn't help in the near term. I originally "fixed" mine by adding a DFO and richening up the low speed mixture. This cured the cold start/lousy cold idle/stumble/etc. issues, but it also reduced fuel mileage significantly because the DFO adds the same percentage of fuel from idle to approximately 4000 rpm. My bike ran fine above 2200 when it was stock, all I needed was to richen up the idle to 2000 rpm range. Recently, even with the DFO, I started experiencing the same issues again, plus an exhaust popping. I pulled the DFO and had the H-D calibration (stage 1 race) installed, and still had the same issues. That's why I'm looking at fuel pressure and injectors now.
Probably the best way to "fix" this issue is with a SERT, since you can adjust the cold start enrichment and warm-up enrichment curves separately without screwing with the mixture at normal operating temps. The Power Commander isn't that sophisticated, and any adjustments you make affect both hot and cold operating temps equally. If anyone decides to go with the SERT, however, they need to do it quickly since H-D is no longer selling them to dealers (per my stealer, their last chance to order was the week of Memorial Day). Since I'm a hard-headed SOB who thoroughly hates being screwed over by folks like H-D and my dealer, I refused to add to their profits by purchasing a SERT to fix their p-poor engineering. I recently went with the PCIII-USB, with the idea being to play with it to get the bike running decently for now until I'm able to determine the root cause for the return of the driveability issues. Once I'm sure the rest of the EFI system is good to go, I'll have a custom map built by a local PC tuning center. I'll also never again buy a motorcycle without a
thorough test ride first. Any sign of driveability issues like these, and the dealer will have a choice of fixing it before the sale or I'll walk. It's just not worth the aggravation any more to have to constantly deal with H-D's crap. I prefer to buy American, but only if I don't get thoroughly screwed in the process.
Sorry about the editorial - I just can't help getting worked up over this issue. None of us would tolerate this kind of safety-related problem with our family car, but it appears that many of us have been forced to tolerate it (and pay to fix it) on our bikes because the MoCo thinks it is immune from normal market forces as well as regulatory ones.
Jerry
Author
Topic: The hiccup is going to cause a crash... (Read 2188 times)