Please Help

Yeah it's me again with this same blamed 05 sporty.

I got the Thunderheart ICM in, installed, and all hooked up to the laptop. Finally figured out their software. Super easy to use, but the instructions are lacking to say the least. (NOTE: should anyone else get the TH ICM with Smartlink III software, click on your MAP section and hit the F2 key it gives a list of all the button functions)

When I first got it I couldn't get the system to link up with the laptop. Being impatient I just had to flippin know so I tried to start the bike. To my surprise it started right up and ran ok at idle still. Before it would cough and carry on when you gave it gas, now it just quits.
I took all I knew about it (didn't take long weren't much) and all the information I could find on the net and went about setting up a curve for it. Thank God I wasn't so stupid as to overwrite the factory settings without saving them first cause mine were WAY off. Bike wouldn't even start. Occasional LOUD backfire out the pipes but rare.

My biggest issue is what I find on timing is based on engine RPMs and the way this software works is based on manifold air pressure % at a set RPM. The only setting based on RPM vs Timing is the rear cylinder controls.

I reloaded the factory setting for the ICM (Thunderhearts) and it went back to starting and idle but no other change. Not expecting improvement just glad it wasn't worse thanks to me screwing something else up.

Can anyone give me pointers on setting this timing vs MAP%? I have gained an education on motorcycles I hadn't expected so far. I would like to learn more so I can learn about RIDING THE DANG THING LOL. Thanks in advance.

OH YEAH, it is carb motor not EFI. 2005-883C-V&H slipons-factory to my knowledge othewise.

Without knowing the history of your post, if the bike is stock, why are you messing with the timing curves? What are you trying to fix or accomplish?

Oh boy Reese, you opened up a can of worms now.....this poor guys been through the wringer with this bike....If it were me, I would've burned that b*tch by now and bought a new one. I gotta say, he's got more perseverance than I'd ever have. I sure hope he gets it figured out because he's sure put his time in with this thing and deserves to ride, that's for sure. Good luck with helping him, I gotta hand it to him, he's trying! I just wish I could help out.

:roflmao: Wringer, that is what this merry go round is called, thanks VooDooChild. Was wondering the name of this ride. It is nice when someone calls me something besides just dang stubborn. Perserverance, good word. Will have to pass that one along to wifey too. I did me and this bike a favor, I put the maul back in the outbuilding before I "customized" it. A true one off LOL.

I got information from Thunderheart. Seems this ignition module comes setup for a 1200CC. So I shouldn't have much tweaking to do really from the factory setting of the ICM. More research is leading me to believe that a majority of my issues still reside in that silly CV carb. Probably won't work on it until Wends evening at this point. Think I am going to actually drop all my jets to the smallest I have available, reinstall the factory ICM, and start again from scratch.

One thing that really confused the crap out of me is that the airmix screw will not stumble or kill this motor. All the way in or upwards of 6 turns out and it runs exactly the same.

Oh well even if this is the case I got a performance ICM for my bike, and more control over my own ride. I mean heck how can you be free if you have to rely on others to fix your scooter right? I can guarantee no one else I will ride with in the beginning knows their bike as well as I will know mine. That feeds my pride worth more than all this BS I am going through right now.

If you turn your airmix screw and there's no differance...sounds like something wrong with the carb...just my 2 cents

ok news on this thing. 60PSI of air behind acetone through an airbrush and now the airmix screw do make a difference. Apparently there were crap in the circuit I had missed before.

Spent yesterday at the harley shops around here looking for my aircleaner. I picked one up from my normal stealer earlier in the week and it wasn't what I had. Figured they did the normal wrong part thing again, so I took it back with my old filter (which has its number on it). Checked on the price of the stage 1 for this bike as well ($139), this is where it gets funny. Even while having the number (which they didn't have in stock) and looking up the stage 1 and me telling ol boy I didn't need the rest of that crap (back plate, the boots for the vents all that) he never came to the obvious conclusion. To his credit neither did I. Well I go about 35miles down the road give or take and stop at the other dealer.

Their parts department looked at me like I was stupid (which I am no biggy there) and said this is the highflo filter for that bike. I guess that is the reason I don't need the other parts to the stage 1 and why the filter the first shop had for my bike very well may have been factory equip. So apparently I have the stage 1 air already on this one, along with the V&H pipes. Wish the guys that work at the shop farther from me worked at the one closer. LOL but this gives me another $139 worth of extra play money until I reach the point that I have hit bottom book value on this bike. My deal just keeps getting better and better if the bugger would just run LOL.

Oh well had the share what I seen as good news. Back to spinning wrenc.... well screw drivers. Anyway I will post back what I work out later. OH yeah it was customer appreciation day at the other dealers yesterday so I got free beer and food to go along with my good news LOL. Felt bad so I bought the wifey a shirt and me a hat LOL. Enjoy the road today it is beautiful here, wish I was on mine instead of in it LOL.

Glad you found something,and get your problem corrected,cold and raining here,otherwise I would be out riding....I got a friend who owns a harley repair shop,So lucky for me, I don't deal with the stealerships.....

Alrighty then, here we go. The kit I got to rebuild the carb had the needles with the E-clip for adjusting it. I got to thinking that it didn't drop down to the clip in the slider. So obviously it didn't matter where I put the clip it wasn't doing diddly. I know don't take much to figure that out but hey I am tired and not thinking much. Anyway, opened the hole in the slider so that the needle would drop down. Put that back, blew out all the circuits in the carb again with air, and put the 170 main jet back in along with the 45 on idle side. Fired her up and she ran real slow, dummy forgot to reset the idle screw. Turned that back up to about 1000 and let her warm up. Idles like a new one, tis good. Dropped her in gear and out of the yard we go. Does real well at about 1/8 throttle (idle side) but gets sluggish under load in the mid range (needle section). Jumps to life above 3/4 to WTFO, and runs like a race bike . So I figure about one or two more goes at the level of that E-clip and I should have her figured out FINALLY.

To get it to 3/4 and up I had to feather the clutch and get the RPMs up and turn her loose again. Not fit for real road use at this point but I am feeling like I am MUCH closer. Once I get this crazy thing set in the mid range it is time to pull the factory ICM back out and start tweaking that Thunderheart ignition system. Should have all this done just in time for the first snow :roflmao: . Will be happy to have her right to winterize her LOL. This year she gets a new tin. Got a bobbed fender to redo and put on her and working on getting my paint scheme squared away, along with building my tailight bracket to go under my 8"wide (stupid sporty) fender.

I now know I have more patience and determination than any of my friends, cause everyone of them at this point has asked "wouldn't it be better to just take it to the shop and get it right?" Where's the fun in that LOL? This is my first ever bike, I am just paying my dues up early is the way I figure it.

OK, after all this time and all YOUR Patience here. I finally got her being more of a motorcycle than a porch ornament. Moved the E-clip two slots down on the first try last night and have her at about 98% now. Road her around for about 30-40 minutes in the dark (wasn't a big fan of that) and she did fine.

This evening after work it was off to DMV for their 25 ?s for my license. You can miss 6 here and pass. ? #19 answer in and screen goes off and comes up to see examiner. Didn't miss a single question WHOO HOO. Get all that, go ahead and get a second copy of my registration cause I have misplaced it since I got it in August. Jebus, this has taken forever. Walk to the parking lot of DMV get in car, slide into R for race and as I back out of my spot RAIN :gah: . NO Kidding at all, the second my wheels turned over it started raining on me God must really hate me. Anyway I come home square crap away and say screw it I am going anyway. Rain stopped, I took a short 3 miler and the rain came back LOL. Made it home safe enough and dry enough. My First Legal Ride, and it had to be a wet one. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come for me. I know 3 miles ain't diddly for most here, but somewhere along the way I am sure you put in your first 3 miles to get where you are now. I hope this is a journey of a million just starting.

I want to thank everyone here who has read my rabblings, offered help, and given me someone to vent to and bounce ideas off of. You have all been a great group of folks and are MUCH appreciated. I wish everyone here lots of smooth road, twisty curves, sun on the shoulders and many miles of wind in your face. Thanks again.

Who cares!! You got that b*tch to RUN!!!! You should be damn happy. Now you can start logging the miles and all that nonsense will be water under the bridge as they say. Congrats and get out there and ride!!

You did good,wvak47.Safe riding and enjoy ever minute of it..even if your riding in the rain......:cheers:

According the the Biker Wisdom posted in PUAC
"· If you don't ride in the rain-you don't ride."
Well I RIDEZ, could have skipped the shower this morning. Took another on the way to work :roflmao: . Honestly, I am LOVIN this ****e!!!!

5:50am, 59F, Wet Looks like a fine day to ride to me now.
I did figure out one thing, I MUST get a fender back on the front of that rascal for just such times LOL.


I was afraid I was going to have your experience Chuck. Guess Rain ain't so bad if you consider it could have been snow LOL. Sounds like a much nicer first scooter than I have.

Hell yeah I am happy Voodoo. Road water tasted like crap but damn it I couldn't quit LOL.

Thanks Whacker appreciate ya. I have enjoyed all of the minutes so far. Hope they keep comin LOL.

Is it 3:00 yet? I want back on the bike LOL

Yeah but I likes the way you think LOL. Thanks for the congrats. I didn't take the fender off, it were gone when I bought the bike. Even then I was thinking FOOL, but hey it was a good buy. Cheapest tuition I ever paid LOL.

LOL yet another story. I just won a fender on ebay for $1 and $10.62 shipping. Who can beat that. Well ol boy emails me that there is a PayPal premium. I am in hopes he forgot his decimal cause if he thinks I am giving him $64 as a premium for using PP on a $12 auction he can kiss my rosey red. Doing the email tag thing now to find out what his actual is LOL.

Ebay is where this saga all began anyway. I bought this wicked project I have been fighting on there to start with. Drove from WV to GA to pick it up. Heck wanted the road trip it was a blast. Been a battle ever since LOL. PITA it may be but I am starting to feel I am cheating on wifey. I really am falling in love with this little piglet sporty. Just got off her back about 5 minutes ago, after leaving work early. LOL this is worse than drinking for me. I just might get addicted.

We're all addicted.....that's why you find us here!