Thoughts and comments wanted. Background: My 2017 non ES with 35k miles which I checked the valves, changed air filter, plugs at 26k has occasionally been hard to start when cold. I live in Texas so this isn’t often. Also, the bike has stalled three times in the almost two years I have owned it; did the throttle syncing per what I learned on the forum. Bike delivers great gas mileage being mostly over 50mpg. Bike runs well with no check engine light coming on. Oh, and valves were in spec.
Last Saturday, which was cold, high 40’s to low 60’s the bike surprised me with starting up quickly in the morning. Usually cranks a bit when cold. However, after a lengthy lunch stop, bike cooled down and temps were mid 50’s the bike required some cranking and started with just a slight twist of throttle. The rest of the day all but one time the bike immediately started; one time took a few extra seconds. Normally I ride in warmer temperatures and bike starts quickly.
My thoughts and observations. If this bike had a carb, I would be tempted to richen the pilot jet and raised the idle just ever so slightly. I think it exhibits a lean condition. But the bike is fuel injected and knows the outside air temperature so should adjust fuel mixture to temperature. So I started thinking . Which led me to further observations...
The temperature read out on the dash. While riding out riding and passing businesses with thermometers on their business signs last Saturday, and not stopped in heavy traffic, my dash temperature reads eight to eleven degrees higher. Also, checking the cold bike in the garage since I’ve been home the dash temperature is reading approximately ten degrees warmer than garage or outside thermometer. Hmmm. From further research, I’ve discovered the ECU is using this same temperature data to determine ambient temperature and set fuel mixture. My hypothesis: I believe this temperature difference is what is causing the bike to be slightly lean since the ECU is thinking temperature is warmer than it actually is. Comments?
Note: What got me thinking this direction is how the Booster Plug works as described on their website. The device modifies the temperature reading to the ECU to read 20 to 30 degrees lower which causes the ECU to use a richer mixture.
Thank you and would enjoy hearing some thoughts.
Last Saturday, which was cold, high 40’s to low 60’s the bike surprised me with starting up quickly in the morning. Usually cranks a bit when cold. However, after a lengthy lunch stop, bike cooled down and temps were mid 50’s the bike required some cranking and started with just a slight twist of throttle. The rest of the day all but one time the bike immediately started; one time took a few extra seconds. Normally I ride in warmer temperatures and bike starts quickly.
My thoughts and observations. If this bike had a carb, I would be tempted to richen the pilot jet and raised the idle just ever so slightly. I think it exhibits a lean condition. But the bike is fuel injected and knows the outside air temperature so should adjust fuel mixture to temperature. So I started thinking . Which led me to further observations...
The temperature read out on the dash. While riding out riding and passing businesses with thermometers on their business signs last Saturday, and not stopped in heavy traffic, my dash temperature reads eight to eleven degrees higher. Also, checking the cold bike in the garage since I’ve been home the dash temperature is reading approximately ten degrees warmer than garage or outside thermometer. Hmmm. From further research, I’ve discovered the ECU is using this same temperature data to determine ambient temperature and set fuel mixture. My hypothesis: I believe this temperature difference is what is causing the bike to be slightly lean since the ECU is thinking temperature is warmer than it actually is. Comments?
Note: What got me thinking this direction is how the Booster Plug works as described on their website. The device modifies the temperature reading to the ECU to read 20 to 30 degrees lower which causes the ECU to use a richer mixture.
Thank you and would enjoy hearing some thoughts.