2008 DL1000 lumpy when cold

[Fat Rat]

Given a past experience of a DL1000 only firing on one cylinder and bursting into flames in my mancave  I am a little paranoid.

So, enter this rather lovely 2008 DL1000, it has been standing for a while. When cold, it is very lumpy on start up, it either sounds like it is intermittently firing on one, or it is running very rich (I haven't pulled the plugs as yet).  What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hIlVy8cytPc?feature=share

[Rixington43]

I know it's pretty warm at the moment but could it be the fast idle being out of whack, have you tried upping the idle manually and seeing if it evens out. That's assuming nobody's whipped out the secondaries of course.
Mine did this a while back and fast idle was the cause, although that was in colder conditions.

[kwackboy]

What's it like when up to running temp ..?

If it corrects itself, as said,  it maybe the idle speed control or fast idle playing up.

[Brockett]

When you say standing for a while, do you mean a long while? Check the air filter for mice nests etc. A friends bike had mice nest in and eat some of the air filter and few hoses were chewed..
Fuel stale fuel in the tank and varnish deposits in the throttle bodies - maybe a dose of injector cleaner in the fuel would help.

[Fat Rat]

Thanks for the replies all. The idle was topping out at around 900RPM. I have adjusted it to the top end of the recommended RPM at around 1300 and it has definitely evened things up.

It still seems a little unhappy (what do DL1000 Gen 1 owners think?), it has been a while since I have had the pleasure of a lumpy Gen 1.

Edit: Also, the TPS readings are good.

[Brockett]

Definately sounds like it's 'hunting'.
How old is the fuel?
If the fuel in the tank stinks you might have to clean the system  - try some injector cleaner
Throttle bodies unbalanced? 
Maybe time to check the plugs.

[Fat Rat]

All good suggestions Dave 

I have emptied and refilled the tank. I will throw some injector cleaner in just for the hell of it (any recommendations?).

Then at some point, pull the fuel pump and filter out to have a look.

[Brockett]

After I posted I saw your petrol guage shows a full tank Doh!
Only suggestion for injector cleaner is, try the cheapest first.
However it's not a cure all and I had to strip my XJs carbs to clean out the varnish that accumulated in every jet and corner. I have no exerience with fuel injection.
Have you taken it on a good run to clear the pipes ? (as it were)

[Rixington43]

That doesn't sound a million miles away, injector cleaner and a throttle body balance would definitely be my next options. I've used Wynn's gold formula petrol system cleaner before to good effect.
Is the fast idle kicking the revs up to about 2000 on first fire after a stand and then it steps back to the standard idle once warm?
I can see your video is with 2 bars on the temperature guage but sometimes the fast idle is still operating at that point so you might be at 13000rpm but the secondaries are still operating so the revs are fluctuating slightly.

[kwackboy]

By you raising the idle which has improved things,  I'd suggest the throttle bodies could be out of balance.

How long has this bike been standing ..?

 

[Fat Rat]

@Rixington - No, the revs do not go to 2k on start up.

@Kwackboy - Six months

[Rixington43]

OK, fast idle could still be a contributing factor then. I think adjusting it is outlined in the service manual from the downloads area but small adjustments on the screw make big differences. There are rev ranges for given ambient temperatures in the manual. Mine rises to about 2k very briefly in summer and then steps back to 1700ish quite quickly. It doesn't drop to the hot idle until will after the second temperature bar appears.
The screw is tricky to access with the tank only raised up but it is possible, I used the back of a curved butter knife to get past the fuel line. Pro tools eh.
Throttle balance definitely worth doing anyway though.

[Gert]

How are you getting on with diagnosing the reported complaint?
Have the secondary throttle plates been removed?
https://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,1455.0.html
https://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php?topic=10843.0
https://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php?topic=6477.0.html

[Fat Rat]

Thanks for the suggestions folks, I am too busy at the moment, with hairy arsed bikers at the campsite, to tinker with the bike at the moment.

[Fat Rat]

I had an hour today so I thought I'd get the plugs out and look at the condition of the air filter.

Interestingly, the rear plug was finger tight (if that). I have ordered the stuff for a full service and will get to that next week.

The plug on the right, in the image below, is from the rear cylinder.

[Fat Rat]

@Gert. The secondary butterflies are still there.

[Gert]

I'm thinking that if lumpy when cold, then perhaps the secondary throttle plate operation needs to be inspected.

The process / steps to check that the ST plates are correctly adjusted, are discussed in https://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php?topic=6477.0.html

For more insight on the function of the ST plates, have a look at https://www.gsxr.com/threads/position-of-secondary-throttle-valves-w-pics.154194/

[Fat Rat]

Thanks for the suggestions here folks and sorry for the delayed update.

Today I finally found time to throw the new plugs and filter in. Well, the difference is night and day. I am pretty sure that the loose plug in cylinder two could well have been the culprit, it really was less than finger tight.





Edit: It was pointed out to me that I had posted the wrong video (a duplicate of above). The correct one is now above.

[Brockett]

Is that 19000 miles on the ODO? It looks like a nice bike. I hope those end cans are not too quiet.

[Fat Rat]

It is indeed 19000, and the last of the proper DL1000s before it all went horribly wrong in 2014