The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

So I had to make two round trips yesterday from Tacoma to Seattle to get my passport for an upcoming trip to China.  I was in a hurry so I was going fast (oh darn).  For awhile I was doing a steady 90-95mph and the bike hesitated and I lost acceleration.  I let off the throttle and slowed down to 80ish, then hit it again and it seemed fine.  But that happened about 6 times I think and it scared me.  This condition did not happen when I was traveling slower on the last trip home and my speeds were 60-80mph.  In the past I have noticed this hesitation once or twice in a long ride where I was going high speeds, but it did not repeat itself so many times like yesterday.

 Mods I have done are AIS blockoff, churkey VBAK, and bumped up the ECU about 4 points on each cylinder from my stock settings.  I bumped up +2 points per cylinder when I did the VBAK install, then recently I changed my plugs.  They looked lean, so I bumped up each cylinder another +2 points.  I need to pull the plugs and check, but could this condition be caused by being too rich and the plugs fouling out?  I also had the dealer do the TPS recall a few months ago, so that should not be the problem.  I'm running a 2006 Midnight with about 8500 miles on her.

 Thoughts?

A plug check is the correct thing to do.

Sounds to me like its still lean.

Could very well be a cracked wire at the CPS (Pick-up Coil) at those vibrations

Churchkey:

A plug check is the correct thing to do.

Sounds to me like its still lean.

Woody - I will pull the plugs and take a looksee.  Any recommendations on just how much more I should bump up the ECU?  I have it +4 points over stock now.  I have read that the Warrior comes very lean from the factory, so maybe my +4 isn't enough?  I guess I could just try a point or two at a time and take her for a spin until I get it dialed in eh? 

AlanH - Would a cracked wire be very obvious?  I will take a peek and see what it looks like.  I have done the coil relocation mod using Akitadog's plate.  Any chance I could have crimped something?  I was very careful but of course moving these things from their stock configuration does put some stresses on them so if the lean situation doesn't resolve it I can check that.  Would a  new CPS be in order if it were a crack or just a new wire?

 Thanks guys.

Your best bet is to keep checking the plugs and bump accordingly, a pain I know but at least you'll know for sure when ur dialed in. Be sure to check a plug from both the front and rear since, more than likely, they'll be different. I'm having a similar problem and there's a cps recall, I didn't know about it till these guys pointed it out. My problem is a little different, I only get that at exactly 3000rpm and only in 5th gear. From the responses I got tonight and the subsequent reading it does look like the cps, pickup sensor, very well could be the issue for us both. I'm calling my stealer tomorrow and you should as well, since it's a recall it's free.

Good luck.

Hey Jeff how are you? If and when it happens again, see what the rpm is, and if its always the same rpm when it happens, okay? 

See also:

JUMP to Topic "Engine cuts out at a specific RPM only"
1. http://rswarrior.com/forums/t/22937.aspx
2. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/22937/915765.aspx#915765
3. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/112837/923301.aspx
4. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/112797/923092.aspx

seattlesage:

So I had to make two round trips yesterday from Tacoma to Seattle to get my passport for an upcoming trip to China.  I was in a hurry so I was going fast (oh darn).  For awhile I was doing a steady 90-95mph and the bike hesitated and I lost acceleration.  I let off the throttle and slowed down to 80ish, then hit it again and it seemed fine.  But that happened about 6 times I think and it scared me.  This condition did not happen when I was traveling slower on the last trip home and my speeds were 60-80mph.  In the past I have noticed this hesitation once or twice in a long ride where I was going high speeds, but it did not repeat itself so many times like yesterday.

 Mods I have done are AIS blockoff, churkey VBAK, and bumped up the ECU about 4 points on each cylinder from my stock settings.  I bumped up +2 points per cylinder when I did the VBAK install, then recently I changed my plugs.  They looked lean, so I bumped up each cylinder another +2 points.  I need to pull the plugs and check, but could this condition be caused by being too rich and the plugs fouling out?  I also had the dealer do the TPS recall a few months ago, so that should not be the problem.  I'm running a 2006 Midnight with about 8500 miles on her.

 Thoughts?

80 mph is 3K which is where a bad CPS acts up. Running at 95 will generate more rpm than the normal CPS failure rpm zone.  Since the CPS was replaced it is possible that the new one has a problem & may be acting up at a different rpm range. Before attacking the new CPS there are several other things that should be looked at.

Suggest checking the primary coil wire connectors, pull each female spade connector & squeeze it with plyers so it fits tightly on the coil terminal. Also check the plug wire ends, suggest unscrewing each wire end & strip 1/4 of the insulation off then reinstall the plug ends. I dislike resistors at the plug. The plug wires are just that, wires not graphite like cage plug wires. Installing crimp on plug connectors & automotive style boots eliminates one problem area.

Try gapping the plugs at .024.

I do not see an exhaust mod on your bike. Regardless of what the ECU was set at from the factory reset it to +2 or +3 for each cylinder. This is the actual setting. IF you have an exhaust mod post it as the base line # will change.

Woody,

 I do have the Speedstar exhaust on the bike.  It was a recent addition and I forgot to mention it.

 The CPS symptoms sound similar to what is going on, but it could be lean also.  But since it seems to happen at the same speed/rpm I will have to take it for a spin and see if I can replicate the same symptoms.  I did an oil change last night and bumped up the ECU two more points.  I checked one plug in the rear cylinder and it still looked lean.  The cylinders are at +5 and +6 now, starting at -2 and -3 from the factory.  Did make a short run at about 80-90 and did not see the symptoms, but it doesn't always happen.  I've seen it more on long trips at sustained speeds.  I will try the plug regap when I pull them to check to see if they are too rich or lean.

So are you saying Woody that I should set each cylinder to +2 or +3?  Are they supposed to be the same?  Mine are one point off from each other, could that have an effect?

Hey Jeff how are you? If and when it happens again, see what the rpm is, and if its always the same rpm when it happens, okay? 

See also:

JUMP to Topic "Engine cuts out at a specific RPM only"
1. http://rswarrior.com/forums/t/22937.aspx
2. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/22937/915765.aspx#915765
3. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/112837/923301.aspx
4. http://rswarrior.com/forums/p/112797/923092.aspx

AZ - Doing well.  I will have to get out on an extended ride at those speeds/rpms and test it out.  It sounds like it could be a combo of things, but I surely want to get it addressed asap.  Plan to do a lot of riding this year and don't want any issues while I'm out and about.  I'll let you know what I come up with.  Thanks for the links.

 Jeff

With the speed star pipe you need more co than what I told you. At least +6 to start then fine tune from there. Cylinders do not have to be the same just make your adjustments according to plug readings. Ride the bike at least 20 minutes so the oil temp is at operating temp before reading the plugs.

If the problem persists do a plug chop when the engine stumbles & read the plugs. If its still lean add more fuel. If the plugs read OK then replace the CPS.

Has the TPS been replaced & set?

you might want to double check to make sure the dealer didnt splice the wires when they did the cps recall like they did to ohio mikes bike although he lost all power because the wires completely seperated

My bike was -6 on both cyls.factory setting. I started at +6 as Woody suggested and bumped an additional +2 to +8 and plugs are a nice tan color. I also have the speed* pipe.

TPS Recall was done.  I have an 06, so do I need the CPS recall?  I thought that did not apply to my model.  I don't know what you mean by 'replaced and set' Woody.  Is there something that needs to be adjusted?  I'm sure the dealer didn't do it right if there was, I never trust them.

This looks like it will just be a process of trial and error and a process of elimination at the same time.  I appreciate all the help, as always this is the best damn forum anywhere, period.