Poor Running RC51

[xrocket21]

I'm not sure you guys can help, but bearing down on June... Ill try anything.

I had the RC51 for like 12 years now and every couple years I can have some small electrical gremlins, its an old bike and the previous owner didnt do a great job when he put an aftermarket undertail on.

Last summer I had the bike cutting out on me over bump, I assumed it was another broken/bad wire.

Turns out the tail was loose, sagging, and the positive battery terminal was shorting on the frame.

I fixed that, but since then it seems to run... richer? More popping on deceleration, and maybe even a pop on shifts. Bike starts fine and runs fine till 2 miles from home then it just cuts out/bogs over half throttle. I am able to limp it home.

Any ideas? Im kind of at a loss since I cant replicate it while it is sitting still.

edit: bike has a PC3, speedo healer, +3-1 gearing, 520 chain, m4 pipes, K&N filters

[loudbeard]

My first step would be eliminating the power commander as the issue. I'd re-flash it with the correct map and see if you're issues go away, stay the same, or new ones present. It's possible that with 12V going to the chassis you've managed to just wipe/partially wipe the EPROM on your PC3, a re-flash may be all it needs. If that doesn't work I'd remove the PC3 entirely and try again.

[xrocket21]

Thats a good idea, Ill try taking it out.

Unfortunately, the PC3 came on it when I bought it in 2007 so I don't actually have the map...

[loudbeard]

If you go to the Power Commander website they have a full library of maps searchable by bike. I looked at what was there for the RC51, there's 34 pages of them so probably something close enough to try.

[xrocket21]

If you go to the Power Commander website they have a full library of maps searchable by bike. I looked at what was there for the RC51, there's 34 pages of them so probably something close enough to try.

You the man.

Now just to find a serial cable...

[oVTo]

You the man.

Now just to find a serial cable...

I've got one you can use of you want.

[Fitron]

+1 on removing the PC.

[oVTo]

I like the PC3 on mine. It just needs a good map.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Fitron]

I like the PC3 on mine. It just needs a good map.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

The first step to troubleshooting a modified bike, is to remove the modifications. I have a PC for mine, just haven't gotten around to installing it. It's a necessity for SP-1's, not so much for SP-2's with their better injectors.

[oVTo]

Mine's an SP-1. Stock, it stumbles bad off-idle and the PC3 cures that and mostly fixes the 5k flat spot. With stock pipes on an SP-1, no PC3 is tolerable. But with after-market cans, it'll run way too lean without it. Just my opinion.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Fitron]

Mine's an SP-1. Stock, it stumbles bad off-idle and the PC3 cures that and mostly fixes the 5k flat spot. With stock pipes on an SP-1, no PC3 is tolerable. But with after-market cans, it'll run way too lean without it. Just my opinion.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

You're exactly right. Even with stock pipes they are a bit "twitchy" just off idle and part throttle.

[xrocket21]

Day dreaming..... Id love to sell it and throw a leg over that RC8r....

[union]

The power commanders of that generation are known to get a bit flaky. I know with the 3r I had on my bike it was a pretty common issue for the bike to be running fine one day and then terrible the next. Once the PC was eliminated the bike ran better. Sometimes reloading the map helped and sometimes the unit just needed to be replaced. Good old tin whiskers strike again.

I'll check but I probably also have a serial cable floating around.

[loudbeard]

Day dreaming..... Id love to sell it and throw a leg over that RC8r....

So sell it to me and go get you one

[xrocket21]

Ok, maybe I can get this thing running before the snow flies...

I have a USB to serial cable coming tomorrow.

Not sure which map to use?

I have M4 pipes (NOT LISTED), flapper removed, and K&N filters, and the soft rev mod. I thought the only difference with the euro model was the soft rev limit?

Should I do the 114-503, euro with pipe, flapper, and K&N?

Power Commander Motorcycle Fuel Injection Tuning Module

[xrocket21]

Well, I finally got a map flashed. I had ordered a cable on Amazon that was serial to USB, then I got the program installed on the laptop, but the map wouldn't flash. I messed with it for a while with no luck until I learned that all the tunes I had were *.DJM files, but the PC3r is so old it uses *.MAP files. After a lot of searching, I found some *.MAP files here: ROGUE PCIIIr MAPS RESOURCES PAGE

Got it flashed and the bike runs GREAT! Not only did it fix my problem, I feel like it idles and runs smoother than ever! I don't know what map was on it before, but this new map is a winner. Thanks for the help guys!!

[loudbeard]

Well damn, I do love a happy ending

[xrocket21]

Well damn, I do love a happy ending

hell yeah!

And it was a nice fathers day present to get the old girl going!

Gonna register it tonight and start riding it!

just turned over 35k miles!

!!!!!!!!

[xrocket21]

Bike runs so friggen good now!

AND, it seems to run cooler like it did 10 FUCKING YEARS AGO

heres a thread from 5 years ago saying it had been running hot for 2-3 years

RC51 coolant issues, cycles from 210 to 220 and back repeatedly

8-9 years ago I had a voltage issue when I replaced the seat and it shorted some shit out and blew the main fuse GOING INTO THE TUNNEL IN BOSTON AT 1 AM (lucky I didnt die).

So, I think that event partially botched the pc3r, and that last issue (undertail came loose and the battery shorted) caused more damage to the pc3r map.

Bike runs below 200 most of the time now and seems to have better temp control.

wtf

I guess im glad its running great now!!!