What should I be doing for maintenance on my '16 RTL?

[helton61]

I have decided to try and find my issue with poor fuel mileage and lack of power. Bike hasn't run well since I bought it. It is a '16 RTL that had 2500 miles on it, so it set a lot. I have torn into it, changed plugs, cleaned injectors, and checked fuel lines. Two of the plugs weren't firing good, one I don't think was firing at all. Going to ultrasonic clean the injectors. What else should I check out before putting it back together? There are no rat nests in the air cleaner and all the wiring looks good. Do the coil packs give any trouble on these bikes? Thanks.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Get the BUDs program and use it help diagnose your machine. Otherwise you're shooting in the fog.

[Mikey]

I don't know if those coil packs on the 1330's have a replacement wire inside like some car coils with the coil packs where you take the little spring inside that makes contact with the plug on one end and hook into the pack on the other end, if they do I would change that when you change the plugs.

[UtahPete]

"What should I be doing for maintenance on my '16 RTL?"

Everything called for in the manual.

[BertRemington]

Tell us more about the history of this vehicle.

Perform the usual inspection/correction poorly maintained vehicles:

(1) degraded fuel residue in fuel flow path from fuel pump to fuel pressure regulator (both in the fuel tank).
(2) degraded pressure and vacuum hoses (the inside of fuel line can separate from the braid and block flow).
(3) degraded fuel residue in the throttle body (the Spyder is throttle-by-wire).

You have two problems: misfire and performance.

You must fix the misfire first. Until the engine is running smoothly on all three cylinders, you're pretty much wasting your time tracking down the performance problem. Of course fixing misfire may also fix performance but sequence is important.

If you change spark plugs you must use BajaRon's kit. Anything else is inadequate. Follow instructions. It's unlikely the coil packs have failed.

If you don't immediately change ALL fluids and install a new fully-charged battery you will be facing expensive problems in the future. Your tires are dangerously old -- replace them. Do not use a pressure washer to clean your Spyder unless you enjoy chasing electrical gremlins.

And I concur with Idaho.

[helton61]

Tell us more about the history of this vehicle.

Perform the usual inspection/correction poorly maintained vehicles:

(1) degraded fuel residue in fuel flow path from fuel pump to fuel pressure regulator (both in the fuel tank).
(2) degraded pressure and vacuum hoses (the inside of fuel line can separate from the braid and block flow).
(3) degraded fuel residue in the throttle body (the Spyder is throttle-by-wire).

You have two problems: misfire and performance.

You must fix the misfire first. Until the engine is running smoothly on all three cylinders, you're pretty much wasting your time tracking down the performance problem. Of course fixing misfire may also fix performance but sequence is important.

If you change spark plugs you must use BajaRon's kit. Anything else is inadequate. Follow instructions. It's unlikely the coil packs have failed.

If you don't immediately change ALL fluids and install a new fully-charged battery you will be facing expensive problems in the future. Your tires are dangerously old -- replace them. Do not use a pressure washer to clean your Spyder unless you enjoy chasing electrical gremlins.

And I concur with Idaho.

I bought BajaRon's kit. Battery and tires have been changed. I don't think it had anything done until I got it. It had 2500 miles. I changed fuel filter lines looked ok. Put 3 cans of fuel injector cleaner through it. It started running some better but not great. I pulled the plugs 1 was good the other 2 not so good wet.

[BertRemington]

I see you were comfortable changing the fuel filter. Can you check fuel pressure? Tap into the return line that comes out of the Y fitting in front of the fuel filter. Should be at least 40psi.

Another source of misfire is uncooperative sensors. Camshaft position, crankshaft position, manifold atmospheric pressure.

Is the misfiring occurring at idle or only when you open the throttle?

Do you know anything about the previous rider? And where/how was it stored?

[BertRemington]

As I review your symptoms, I keep coming back to fuel: too little, too much, wrong time.

Too little: fuel pump clogged, fuel pressure regulator stuck open, fuel injectors clogged, TPS sensor

Too much: fuel pressure regulator stuck closed, fuel injectors stuck open, TPS sensor

Wrong time: camshaft position sensor is popular

Gotta go, beer cat time

[Bfromla]

Non fuel related but if has sat long time or not: brake fluid & coolant flush every 2yr

[helton61]

Spark plugs were the problem. It sounds like a different machine. Two plugs were bad, haven't taken it for a ride yet, but I started it, and it runs good!

[BertRemington]

helton61 -- thanks for reporting the misfire cause and correction. I was not expecting spark plugs, certainly at 2500 miles, as the chemical degradation of gasoline was the most likely cause. If you still have the old plugs, would you please post pictures. Thanks. Now off to research how spark plugs degrade over time.

PS I think you will still be moving on to performance.

[helton61]

helton61 -- thanks for reporting the misfire cause and correction. I was not expecting spark plugs, certainly at 2500 miles, as the chemical degradation of gasoline was the most likely cause. If you still have the old plugs, would you please post pictures. Thanks. Now off to research how spark plugs degrade over time.

PS I think you will still be moving on to performance.

Sorry, but I threw the old plugs into the trash yesterday. I looked them over and you really couldn't tell they were bad just by looking; two were wet when I took them out, one was dry. I think it was bad gas and sitting too much.

[BertRemington]

Thanks for info. Yeah with wet plugs I probably couldn't read much. Any yet ... now that your misfire is fixed ... I think we're going to be discussing fueling issues to get your full performance back.

[helton61]

Thanks for info. Yeah with wet plugs I probably couldn't read much. Any yet ... now that your misfire is fixed ... I think we're going to be discussing fueling issues to get your full performance back.

Went for a 100-mile ride today, runs great and fuel mileage is a lot better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXKcv_pqvZg BLR tuning.

I had this tuner since March, didn't make difference... but with two plugs bad, how could it? After the plug change I put the tune Bill sent me on. The bike runs great now.

[helton61]

Thanks everyone for the posts i think i have got it running good.