DJP
New member
From time to time, I’ve experienced the much-reported stalling issue. My bike can go for months without it happening and then do it two or three times in a week. It mostly does it when I’m still moving. For example, I’ll be slowing down for traffic lights and as I pull in the clutch to stop, the engine just dies. And, on each occasion that it does it, it takes five or six attempts to re-start. That to me is indicative of a fuelling problem.
I’ve read of similar stalling issues on other bikes where removal of the O2 sensor is the accepted solution. I won’t pretend to be an expert but, as I understand it, the O2 sensor controls fuelling at low engine speeds. So if it detects exhaust emissions outside certain parameters it signals the ECU to supply less fuel. Which is great for the environment (or at least emissions tests) but it sometimes cuts fuel to the point where the engine can't actually run and it stalls.
Now you could just unplug the O2 sensor. I don't know if that would cause running problems but it will certainly throw an error message and “Check Engine” light on the dash. (Also running the O2 sensor disconnected will eventually kill it so you can't easily put the bike back as it was). However, an O2 eliminator fools the system into thinking that the O2 sensor is still there, hence no error messages. So I figured I’d give it a try.
I bought a full kit, including a blanking plug, from eBay for £14 delivered and fitting is a doddle: Remove the right side frame cover, trace the O2 sensor wiring back to the connector, disconnect it and plug the eliminator in it's place. Then unbolt the O2 sensor from the exhaust and fit the blanking plug instead. Takes about 10 minutes all in.
So what's it like? Well, it’s early days but I’m going to call it a success: I haven’t had any stalling since fitting the eliminator and tick-over is now rock steady instead of wavering up and down like before. And although I haven’t measured properly, fuel consumption seems unaffected. So a small price to pay for a much enhanced, and safer, riding experience.
I’ve read of similar stalling issues on other bikes where removal of the O2 sensor is the accepted solution. I won’t pretend to be an expert but, as I understand it, the O2 sensor controls fuelling at low engine speeds. So if it detects exhaust emissions outside certain parameters it signals the ECU to supply less fuel. Which is great for the environment (or at least emissions tests) but it sometimes cuts fuel to the point where the engine can't actually run and it stalls.
Now you could just unplug the O2 sensor. I don't know if that would cause running problems but it will certainly throw an error message and “Check Engine” light on the dash. (Also running the O2 sensor disconnected will eventually kill it so you can't easily put the bike back as it was). However, an O2 eliminator fools the system into thinking that the O2 sensor is still there, hence no error messages. So I figured I’d give it a try.
I bought a full kit, including a blanking plug, from eBay for £14 delivered and fitting is a doddle: Remove the right side frame cover, trace the O2 sensor wiring back to the connector, disconnect it and plug the eliminator in it's place. Then unbolt the O2 sensor from the exhaust and fit the blanking plug instead. Takes about 10 minutes all in.
So what's it like? Well, it’s early days but I’m going to call it a success: I haven’t had any stalling since fitting the eliminator and tick-over is now rock steady instead of wavering up and down like before. And although I haven’t measured properly, fuel consumption seems unaffected. So a small price to pay for a much enhanced, and safer, riding experience.
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