Thought it was surge, no longer so sure

Since the "solving" of my idle problem last year by my dealer I have had what I have described as surging issues. One is coming off idle where she bucks if you do not smooth it over with clutch work. A real jerk which drives me nuts in traffic. The other was thought of by me as a surge or hunting when I tried to keep a steady speed, say 40 or 60 mph. I now think it is actually a miss of some type as it appears to be getting worse and sometimes appears on acceleration, though if you acelerate hard you get no miss at all. It seems like the bike is crusing along gets a quick pause and goes back up. I do not think it is fuel mapping because it is not consistently there. Actually it is always there, but some days (warmer) it is worse then others. It seems to be getting worse, I noticed it more as I accelerated this weekend. Last night leaving NY and getting on 90 it really was running ragged, but later that night as I rode to Boston it seemed to go away again.

What can I check or have the dealer look at?

Mike

Cannot help too much, except by adding some information.

Sounds very like what mine has started doing.

Idle is very low - around 500 to 600 - often have to hold the throttle open a little, to save it stalling.

Very ragged around the 2000 mark, in any gear, very much like a misfire, (Surge - OK - surge - OK) but it's perfectly alright if you accelerate through and past it.

I reinstalled Sams Striped Ape tune last weekend, and it has improved things, but only slightly, so maybe a sensor is misbehaving?

Owl and Grey rocket, Guys I'd been having problems for a couple of months now. Originally thought I'd bought bad gas, as thats what it acted like. Not a continous miss or surge but more "only when it wanted to". checked the fuel filter. No problem there. Checked the plugs, figuring maybe one was fouled. No problem there. finally hauled it in to the dealer. After one week they determined the problem was one of the coil wires had come loose. I know, I know. but they looked ok. Apparently they have a clip or two that likes to come loose just enough to make you think you're rideing a P.O.S. Runs fine now. Please check this before you waste your hard earned money learning an expensive lesson like I did on a problem that shouldn't have been. Hope this helps and Hope it saves somebody money and trouble, if not now, down the road. xhdskip

I had the same surging problem at idle for awhile. It started right after my 10K service at which they downloaded the new Triumph recall tune...It morphed into the idle dropping to 500RPMs and then stalling. A friend who owns a local performance V-twin shop adjusted the stepper arm to bring the idle back up but it goes to the shop this week for hopefully the correct fix...

I'll submit a new post over the weekend if it works..

nope, never heard of it davidsonb. scangauge huh? It'd sure come in handy. Try googleing it and see what ya come up with, or you might get back on the triumphrat site and P.M. that guy for a hyperlink for us. thanks, xhdskip

The error codes are a tool, like a CT scan or lab test. They are not, by themselves a diagnosis. You need to know the problem, suspect the cause, and confirm it with the error code. When you have to work backwards it is al lot easier to get the wrong diagnosis. Grey Rocket do you still have your secondary plates in place? Can you see your secondary linkage, (or if you have aftermarket filters can you remove one and look down the bore?) In neutral in your driveway, hold 2,000 rpm, does it start to surge? When it is surging do the secondaries cycle open and closed? If they do then I doubt it is a coil wire. Mine did that, I have no idea how I caused it, (I was fooling with Tune Boy and the TPS) and I have no idea how I cured it! But I did not touch the coils, only the TPS and Tune Boy and it currently is way out of adjustment, with the check engine light on for an error code of (TPS voltage too low) and it idles *****IN so I am leaving it that way for now! Sorry I can't be more help.

I have a Scangauge mounted on my R3T. It will show you any codes and allow you to clear them. It also shows things like water temp, intake air temp, ignition advance, instant mileage (calculated by inputing fuel added) and a few other things.

I put a new tune 20027(?) in the bike last night, and took it out. Actually running worse each time I rider her, which in a way is a good thing. When the issue first came up I thought it might be me, then I had a hard time convincing the dealer. Now she is missing up the scale. Something is failing, and now failing fast. I am going to chech the plug wires tonight. The bike is engine stock other than cat pipe change. I have not touched the filters. The issue exists regardless of tune so I am now convinced it is electrical in nature. However, I will keep open mind as to fuel pump etc.

Oh well, the Ducati gets better mileage.

Mike