Cam Pulse Generator

ondablade · 08-11-2003, 4:12 PM

I'm really a good old 70's points and condenser man at heart, and a little hazy on some of the more specific functions of modern engine management and fuel injection systems.
I've just finished helping a friend rebuild his bike after a pretty comprehensive track day trashing and the damn thing won't start.
It's finally emerged after lots of trial and (mostly) error and taking the PC3 out of the circuit that the ECU is flashing the 18 pulse code which indicates a cam pulse generator problem.
Some questions:
(1) What exactly does the cam pulse generator do that the ignition pulse generator does not? Does it tell the ECU what stroke the motor is on?
(2) What happens if it fails? The bike seems to be sparking and bringing the injection system up to pressure as normal so what's not working? Is it cutting power to the injectors?
(3) Does fitting a PC3 normally prevent the engine management warning light system from functioning? It's not a good thing if this is indeed the case...

Thanks in advance

nedro · 08-11-2003, 4:23 PM

Cam pulse generator is like points in a distributor. It triggers the coil.

Blue or orange spark?

luvtolean · 08-11-2003, 4:59 PM

Yep, it pics up a magnetic resonance from the 'sender' that bolts to the end of the cam.

The little black thing below the gasket surface with the unplugged harness is the sensor. *You can see the both parts in this photo.

http://www.fireblades.org/gallery/gr...r2001/image009

abtech · 08-11-2003, 10:17 PM

Quote:

luvtolean : Yep, it pics up a magnetic resonance from the 'sender' that bolts to the end of the cam.

The little black thing below the gasket surface with the unplugged harness is the sensor. *You can see the both parts in this photo.

http://www.fireblades.org/gallery/gr...r2001/image009

So that's where my side cutters went!

Damn, I had given up on those . . .

luvtolean · 08-11-2003, 11:04 PM

Eh? *Did I steal your sidecutters?!?!

I've only seen one set in the box, and I had a pair...

G-Force Junkie · 08-11-2003, 11:33 PM

you did end up with my feeler gauges

luvtolean · 08-12-2003, 12:18 AM

Seriously, if I have anyone's tools, please tell me. *Tell me exactly what I have of yours, and if I don't find it, I'll send you a new one.

Bacchus · 08-12-2003, 12:51 AM

LTL, you little klepto!

G-Force Junkie · 08-12-2003, 12:54 AM

Quote:

luvtolean :

Seriously, if I have anyone's tools, please tell me. *Tell me exactly what I have of yours, and if I don't find it, I'll send you a new one.

Just busting your balls dude, no biggie

ratter · 08-12-2003, 4:43 AM

Quote:

luvtolean : http://www.fireblades.org/gallery/gr...r2001/image009

Nice unicycle

abtech · 08-12-2003, 8:46 AM

You put mine back in their proper place, I was just kidding . . . BTW, do you still use the 'Grattan' work chair? I still use yours (along with mine) all the time.

luvtolean · 08-12-2003, 12:15 PM

Quote:

abtech : You put mine back in their proper place, I was just kidding . . . *BTW, do you still use the 'Grattan' work chair? *I still use yours (along with mine) all the time.

Cool.

Hehe, sure do. It's sweet!

One of these days I'll get a real garage and it will get even more of a workout.

ondablade · 08-12-2003, 3:44 PM

Thanks for the info guys. The problem is resolved - it turned out to be a damaged connector behind one of the fuse holders (not sure which one as I did not work on it), and a dead PC 3.
Both brought on by being flailed on the tarmac in a 120mph end over end endo at a track day which ripped the subframe and nose section of the fairing off the bike and flattened the tank. It was in fact a borderline case for writing it off, even with heavy discount on the parts and doing the work ourselves - saved only that by some miracle the frame, motor and forks survived untouched.
I'm not sure how the ECU thought the problem was the cam pulse generator. The bike was sparking, but intermittently and not very strongly.
It was caused by a slow guy cutting hard across in front of my friend on a gentle curve. I'd been ahead, and saw the red flags at the start/finish. Came around on the cool down lap to find chaos.
It's to say the least not funny to find a scene which looks like a bombing - three bikes down, bits everywhere and your friend face down and not moving on the grass 200 yds up the track. Amazing how quickly the fun turns to sh1t. He fortunately only had mild concussion - he was very sore but miraculously no broken bones and they let him out of hospital that night. Amazingly nobody else was significantly hurt - the only other badly damaged bike was the cause of the accident......