Cripple Mode

If he was passing a tractor trailer at over 90 miles an hour in the rain then it was probably a sign from God to slow down 😉😉.

God's already given me two warnings. One when I walked away unscathed after running my 1700cc Triumph Storm into a telephone pole. The second when I dropped a Triumph Speedmaster into a farm field at 60 mph and got up untouched. Gotta figure He was saying "Get a third wheel and stop riding Triumphs." I listen to what He says.
 
About 7 AM on I-64 headed to I-81 and TN. Passing a couple semis at 80 when I bumped it up to 90 to clear the last truck. Suddenly my '21 Freewheeler decided to quit running. No shoulder to my left and 2 semi's to my right. Couldn't accelerate and the dash lit up like it had shut off, but it was still running at a high RPM. The two trucks passed and I got to the right shoulder. Checked the diagnostic codes and one referenced the ECM and the other referenced the ABS. I wasn't in a position to right the codes down. Restarted and the trike ran normally for the last 300 miles. Seems I was in "cripple mode" for some reason. About 3 or 4 weeks ago I had the brake switch recall done. Could there be a connection with this and my rather disconcerting problem?

Just a thought from far left field… your ECM code… many modern processors come with a throttle mode built in. This happens to many laptops and desktops. If the processor gets too hot it will throttle on its own. You’re going fast, the engine gets very hot and if on a hot day I’m wondering if this may have been what happened. While many folks cool the jugs no one things of cooling the ECM.
 
Just a thought from far left field… your ECM code… many modern processors come with a throttle mode built in. This happens to many laptops and desktops. If the processor gets too hot it will throttle on its own. You’re going fast, the engine gets very hot and if on a hot day I’m wondering if this may have been what happened. While many folks cool the jugs no one things of cooling the ECM.

Thanks. It was 7 or 7:30AM with temp in the upper 60's, low 70's. Leather jacket and gloves in the mountains. It was chilly.
 
My last post about this was in August. Haven't had a minutes worth of trouble with it since, until this morning. Temps went above 50 so I was going to ride to my various errands. Pulled out of my driveway and went into limp mode. This time I made a note of the error codes:

ECM - P1511h & P2135h also ABS - C1100h.

The trike had been parked for the last week with the battery tender hooked up due to nasty weather. Had no issues when I parked it. I mean like what the hell happened just sitting in the garage?
 
JT, those codes are both related to the throttle response, your trike has gone into limp mode again

I hate to say this but you may need deeper diagnostic from the dealer on this

The P2135 H is a historic code, it will keep coming back until the condition is resolved, Good luck and keep us posted here, this problem is getting more familiar as more miles are racked up

A long shot, your M8 may be sumping, I hope this is not the case
 
If you can run your engine til oil temp is is normal, shut engine down, pull crank sensor out, let the oil drain out. Replace sensor, measure the oil that came out

If more than 6 oz, you are sumping, if less than 6 you are within the HD range for oil in the crank case

Doing this test will rule out the sumping as the problem

Next test, I would disconnect the wiring @ the throttle actuator, clean the pins with contact cleaner, reassemble with light coat of dilectric grease. Does this make engine come out of limp mode?
 
I think it's electrical somewhere. I've seen a lot of posts elsewhere about this. Couple of people were killed when it happened and reports have been filled with the NHTSA. I could have been killed back in August when I was passing two tractor trailers. Today was just pulling out of my driveway. I prefer there not be a third time. Taking it to the dealership tomorrow. Going to be out of commission most of next week so might's well see if they can do anything productive with it.
 
Was going to take it to the dealership today, but the service tech said don't bother. Said, this has been going on for 15 years and it could be any of 5 major sensors and replacing all them may not fix the issue. He did recognize the codes as historic, but they don't help with their diagnostics. Has to be current.

Told me the only way they can get a real take on the problem is wait till it happens again and don't restart the bike, then get it to them. (Hope it happens in my driveway again.) Basically, when it becomes a constant problem and not intermittent they can probably pinpoint the source.

One thing I do notice is that when it happened back in August it was upper 60's and damp in the early morning. Yesterday when it happened to me it was about 60 and damp. Since then it's been mid 60's and dry and it's been running great. Leads me to believe dampness is getting to a connector somewhere. Thoughts?
 
Was going to take it to the dealership today, but the service tech said don't bother. Said, this has been going on for 15 years and it could be any of 5 major sensors and replacing all them may not fix the issue. He did recognize the codes as historic, but they don't help with their diagnostics. Has to be current. Told me the only way they can get a real take on the problem is wait till it happens again and don't restart the bike, then get it to them. (Hope it happens in my driveway again.) Basically, when it becomes a constant problem and not intermittent they can probably pinpoint the source. One thing I do notice is that when it happened back in August it was upper 60's and damp in the early morning. Yesterday when it happened to me it was about 60 and damp. Since then it's been mid 60's and dry and it's been running great. Leads me to believe dampness is getting to a connector somewhere. Thoughts?

Yes it could be for sure

You could, tho tedious unplug sensors, clean the terminals ( male and female) then reinstall them, then test ride in similar weather conditions

I would start with the ECM

Large
 
Yes it could be for sure

You could, tho tedious unplug sensors, clean the terminals ( male and female) then reinstall them, then test ride in similar weather conditions

I would start with the ECM

I got this from my dealership for my spark plug boots.

1.jpg

Information on the web on how and where to use it are all over the place. I see vids of guys filling connectors with it and then putting them back together and other's applying it with a Q-Tip painstakingly avoiding getting any on the connections. The instructions on the tube from Harley just say to clean the connections and "... apply Electrical Contact Lubricant to both male and female terminals. Assemble connectors." Should I be doing this on the ECM terminals? Is it good to do this for the other terminals or is it a waste of time, or worse, going to cause more problems?
 
I got this from my dealership for my spark plug boots.

View attachment 115677

Information on the web on how and where to use it are all over the place. I see vids of guys filling connectors with it and then putting them back together and other's applying it with a Q-Tip painstakingly avoiding getting any on the connections. The instructions on the tube from Harley just say to clean the connections and "... apply Electrical Contact Lubricant to both male and female terminals. Assemble connectors." Should I be doing this on the ECM terminals? Is it good to do this for the other terminals or is it a waste of time, or worse, going to cause more problems?

Just a light dab on the pins is all you need, on the plastic part that locks the connector I put some on also, it makes taking them apart next time a bit easier

Too much on any connector is a bad thing, I have seen light bulbs in sockets with too much dielectric grease it actually made a connection worse

I find putting the grease on the male ends is enough, as you reconnect the grease is distributed pretty good to the female connector- put some on the rubber gasket ( weatherpak connectors) it helps seal them

Typical weather pak gasket on a duetch connector

1010-016-0406.jpg
 

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