(FCE) Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST1300 - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Your experience with the FCE?

  • NO ISSUES: I have the FCE and am happy with it

    Votes: 51 68.0%

  • REPLACED: I had an FCE w/issues and it was replaced, no issues now

    Votes: 3 4.0%

  • EXTERNAL: I have an FCE w/issues but they ended up being something else

    Votes: 3 4.0%

  • OUTSTANDING: I have an FCE w/issues

    Votes: 11 14.7%

  • REPLACED: I had an FCE w/issues and it was replaced, still have issues

    Votes: 7 9.3%
  • Total voters
    75
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Sorry to report that my replacement FCE (my 2nd one) has the same problem. It showed up after 50 miles this time (took about 500 before having problems the first time).

When I reported the first problem Ivan said that 90% of them were fine, he saw this problem in only a few of the units. He made a design change (component change) to take care of the problem. Unfortunately the latest design still has the problem. So it appears to be some kind of manufacturing issue. Some have the problem, most don't.

I'll be calling Ivan today to return this one.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

ComfortablyNumb said:
Thought I would throw out some more grist for the mill... :confused:

I removed my FCE over the weekend and took the bike for another ride with it in virgin condition, e.g. stock FPR, no FCE. Well I'll be darned if it isn't doing the same very rough running in the 4-5K range that it was doing all the time I had the FCE installed. Now I'm really confused and dissappointed. :banghead:

I'm really not sure now if my problems were from the FCE or something else. In virgin mode, it now runs just as described elsewhere here: sort of smooth up to about 3-4-5K then all of a sudden starts running as if only two plugs are firing and there's water in the gas. It will run like this until I get just over 5K then the more the throttle is twisted, the more nothing happens until all of a sudden it catches and just leaps ahead and nearly jerks your arms out of the sockets.:22yikes:

I've been asking some of the local ST guys for advice and it sounds like maybe I've got a vacuum leak or bad spark plug wire. I've checked the plugs themselves and they look fine. I've run numerous tanks of gas through, some with some Techron mixed in just in case it was bad gas, etc. I'll be digging around for the next few days and if/when I find out what's going on, I'll update here. But I'm thinking I may have a whole different problem on my hands now than the FCE and if that's the case then I owe Ivan an apology for even insinuating that the FCE is involved.
Click to expand...

Long shot, but... the first time I pulled the trim off the heads, I found the rear plug connector was pulled loose. Maybe yours are loose, and at a certain frequency they bounce around... As I say, a long shot. A cracked porcelain on the plug might do that too..
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

I'm adding a poll to this review... we've had some with issues and some of those have been attributed to other issues... and some still pending so in order to give the vendor and us some idea what's happening, this should help us gauge it a little.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

I just sent mine back, waiting for a replacement unit.

Ivan told me you either have a problem with these or not. He stated they don't get worse over time. He also said he's sold 500 of these so there are quite a few out there.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

I find the FCE to be a great improvement to the ST1300. I hope we all help Ivan get the detailed info he needs to correct any problems, so we all will have a better performing motorcycle when all is sorted out.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Mellow said:
I'm adding a poll to this review... we've had some with issues and some of those have been attributed to other issues... and some still pending so in order to give the vendor and us some idea what's happening, this should help us gauge it a little.
Click to expand...

How about adding a choice for "I replaced it and still have issues"?
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

flying-st said:
How about adding a choice for "I replaced it and still have issues"?
Click to expand...

To me that's the same as having issues in the 1st place.. but, I'll add it.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Maybe word it "I replaced it with a 'fixed' version and still have issues"?
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

I wonder if Ivan has been pointed to this thread.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Yes, he also told me he has been following the thread with great interest.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

janfmiller said:
Long shot, but... the first time I pulled the trim off the heads, I found the rear plug connector was pulled loose. Maybe yours are loose, and at a certain frequency they bounce around... As I say, a long shot. A cracked porcelain on the plug might do that too..
Click to expand...

I thought of that too. Checked the plugs and they look fine. And I have tested the plug wires multiple times and they all seem to be seated well.

My current plan of attack is to double check all the soldering joints even to the point of reheating them, slightly tighten all the female connectors, then add some dielectric grease. I'm thinking my connections might not have the integrity they should, so am gonna make sure they're all OK before proceeding with more troubleshooting.

A bad connection scenario seems possible given that my symptoms are the same with both FCE installed and removed.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

This is why forums like this are so valuable. They get all of the parties involved together and keep everyone on the same page. Saves a lot of needless wheel spinning. Outstanding!
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Throttlejockey said:
Yes, he has seen it.
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Never did get my call back from Ivan. :( My kit showed up yesterday but I'm hesitant to install it before the trip to WeSTOC. I'm taking Jeff's 'wait and see' attitude at the moment. The whole Power Commander thing started to fall apart like this. People had no issues, then people started to have issues. Lots of 'mine's fine' and 'mine sucks'. Next thing you know they aren't making them anymore. Not saying this will end the same, just waiting for the dust to settle a bit....
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

Has anyone with the FCE and now having the midrange on-off pulled the plugs soon after the bike has hiccuped? A long shot, but if running too rich and fouling, that should be visible on the plugs. And, I'd think it'd remain a problem for a while after removing the FCE (until the plugs burn clean).
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

adamk said:
Never did get my call back from Ivan. :( My kit showed up yesterday but I'm hesitant to install it before the trip to WeSTOC. I'm taking Jeff's 'wait and see' attitude at the moment. The whole Power Commander thing started to fall apart like this. People had no issues, then people started to have issues. Lots of 'mine's fine' and 'mine sucks'. Next thing you know they aren't making them anymore. Not saying this will end the same, just waiting for the dust to settle a bit....
Click to expand...

:plus1:I'm waiting to install mine now too...
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

TimM said:
Has anyone with the FCE and now having the midrange on-off pulled the plugs soon after the bike has hiccuped? A long shot, but if running too rich and fouling, that should be visible on the plugs. And, I'd think it'd remain a problem for a while after removing the FCE (until the plugs burn clean).
Click to expand...

No because a quick on/off with the key always corrects the problem. Unlikely it is plugs or anything else physical. Also bypassing the FCE always resulted in normal operation for me. In my case it has to be (and was acknowledged by Ivan) a problem with the FCE.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

TimM said:
Has anyone with the FCE and now having the midrange on-off pulled the plugs soon after the bike has hiccuped? A long shot, but if running too rich and fouling, that should be visible on the plugs. And, I'd think it'd remain a problem for a while after removing the FCE (until the plugs burn clean).
Click to expand...

Yes I have pulled the plugs and they look fine. Light tan in color with no signs of fouling to my eye.
 
Re: Fuel Cut Eliminator for ST - On-Off Throttle Issue Resolved

I just got my call back from Ivan. He spent a good 30 minutes of his time with me discussing his product and how it differs from what DynoJet was doing with the Powercommander. I'm going to go ahead and make the time to install his unit and switch back to the stock FPR before I leave for my two week ride through Canada and then on to this years WeSTOC.

The main thing I miss about my 1100 is the rheostat like feel of the corroborated throttle. Ivan believes his product can correct my 1300 and give me that feeling once again. I'll take the plunge and report back here and on my web site.

Wish me luck! :)

http://koczarski.com/Motorcycles/
 
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