| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
I've looked at a couple of '96 S2's with the middle of the seat tab and bar. I think the center bar/tab is pictured in the '96 service manual or owner's manual. You should be happy Dan, my cam cover plate and any signed documentation is probably hanging on some previous owners den or garage wall. | ||
| Court |
MikeJ: You are talking about the slot in the rear of the seat and the tab in the tail section that rotates into the slot? Court | ||
| Mikej |
Court, No, there was/is an additional bracket/tab added to the middle of the '96 seats as I understand it. I thought it was a "safety" consideration in case someone forgot to "lock" their seat down. It's located approximately in the middle of the seat and is/was a bear to remove one seat on a bike that I looked at (local '96 S2T that sold on e-bay back in August). The other local '96 S2T that I looked at had the same center bracket/tab setup. My '95 S2 has the front tongue/tab that hooks under the frame bar below the rear of the tank cover, and the notch setup on the rearmost portion of the seat that receives the lockarm from the lock in the tailsection of the bodywork. The additional bracket looks like a handle attached thru the bodywork to the frame below the seat, then there is an angled tab/finger that is connected/bolted to the underside of the seat that you almost have to flex the seat to get it into/under the the center-bracket. One owner told me the center bracket was added because some owners were having problems with the seat coming loose when their rear lock either rotated in the bodywork or was left unlocked and the seat would move while riding. I'm pretty sure I saw the bracket in a manual, and thinking back it really seems like it was in the ebay'd bike's owners manual. I think that particular bike was a fairly late '96 S2, but I'm not positive of that. I'll stop by Hal's tonight and see if I can find the info/details in one of their S2 parts books. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a service bulletin on the middle seat bracket. MikeJ (Stitches hurt when the skin stretches.) | ||
| S2no1 |
Dan, The there is a tounge at the front of the seat and a keyed rotating latch at the back. Some of the models had the key latch installed backwards. The center latch is not on my production S2. Someone has and sent me a detailed list of production changes to the S2. Really neat trivia. Arvel | ||
| Buelliedan |
Court and Mike, Mike is correct in that it appears to be a safety feature added to the later model 96s. In fact my 96 service manual(blue one unfortunately) shows it and says it's only came on late model 96s. I am not too concerned about having the extra bracket unless there is some known problem out there caused by not having it. Court's lack of knowing about it tells me that it is nothing to worry about!! You see Court, even when you don't know the answer you still do!!  Thanks Guys!! | ||
| Aaron |
My '96 S2T does not have it. But it's an early one, number 19, made in July '95. | ||
| Mikej |
Arvel, Is that S2 change list in emailable format? If so could you send it to me at this address? I know from talking with S2Carl when he was in Milwaukee that there are two styles of shifter arms, and cast and machined versions of the triple trees. I may be needing to sell one of my Buells, and I'm thinking the S2 is the keeper. Plus it's relatively painless to pep up the engine a smidgeon, and for my riding I don't really need the lightened flywheel like the M2 has. | ||
| Buelliedan |
I guess we will have something to look at and talk about in Colorado in June!! | ||
| Buelliedan |
Aaron, I have a feeling our S2s were on the line at the same time. Probably for painting purposes. Mine is #14 of 398 made that year. Born July 26 1995. Do you still have your signature series stuff with your bike? That timing cover sure is pretty!! | ||
| Blake |
Arvel said "a detailed list of production changes to the S2. Really neat trivia." POST IT!!! Please? Put it in the History section of the knowledge vault? | ||
| Aaron |
Wow, that's amazing, only 5 bikes apart. Probably knew each other! Yeah, I've got all that sig series stuff, but I haven't put the timing cover on. Seems like a hokey marketing thing to me to make us all feel special. I feel special enough. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Blake, Post what? A pic of the timing cover? Why don't you just ride out here to El Paso and see it for yourself!! | ||
| Buelliedan |
Aaron, Put us both together with our "special" timing covers and we could be dangerous!! hehe I too won't be putting it on the bike. I like the S2 cover that's on their now. But it sure is a nice conversation piece to have. I wonder just how many of the 398 covers are still with their respective bikes? Are you going to post a pic of the sig series stuff for Blake?? | ||
| Buelliedan |
I see Blake has been using the edit post feature!! | ||
| Mikej |
That's what tools are for, fixin' stuff. Text is "stuff". | ||
| S2no1 |
Blake, I'll see if I can find it. That was three computers and three e-mail and two physical addresses ago. (Three if you count moving my office from the back porch to the new office.) Arvel | ||
| Firemanjim |
Buelliedan,what is your serial # as mine was built in march of 1995 and is #3000036.My signature series cover is in my jewelery box.And I would love to see that list of changes.Aaron,does the M-2 have the lighter flywheels?I thought it was similar to the S-2 motor.Mikej,the S-2 is definitely the keeper!!I have 61,000 miles on mine and just dynoed at 88hp/83 torque.Would not get rid of it for anything--too much fun!! | ||
| Court |
M-2 has the lighter flywheels. The "seat stud" was developed by Dave Ulicki and Doug Manternach for the 1997 intro of the S-3. Sounds like some made it to a few 96 S-2's. I never stop learning and the neat part is that it's the "exceptions", not the rules, that always fascinate me about Buells. And yes, boys and girls, there have been some jim-dandies! Well..here's my take...at 4 S/N apart, and (Dave G correct me if I am wrong) seeing as though those were the "6 bikes a day" (bodywork became the constraint) days, there is a good chance your bikes went down the line the same day. If you want to drop me the VIN's (by private e-mail) I shall let you know. Is it just me...or is anyone else feeling an S-2 reunion coming on? Court (signature stuff still in the envelope and the bike in storage for a couple years...but, you guys make me want to break it out) | ||
| S2carl |
Not to cause trouble, but my 95 S2, #644, has the extra safety bracket on the seat. As I bought it used I cannot be sure it came from the factory, but being that it had less than 1K on the clock when I got it, I doubt it was added later. As for the S2 changes info, here you go. The author of this is unknown to me. 1. Different timing cover, dash plate, a spacer between the front caliper and front fork and early Buell style rear mono-shock with remote adjusters for both rebound and compression. These items were shown in Cycle World magazine 10/93 and I don't believe were on any of the production models. 2. Wiring routed through the handlebars. I have never seen this but it was mentioned extensively in the directions included with the touring handlebars. 3. CNC machined rather than cast front fork triple tree. I know that this ran through at least 1995 V.I.N. number 416, but I don't know how much higher. 4. Lower triple tree change with replacement of the bolt that secures the top triple tree. This can be identified by the hollow I.D. of the lower triple tree shaft. This took effect with 1995 V.I.N. 817. 5. Different style shifter lever. The early style lever was just about ninety degree angle, the later lever has a curved vertical leg. This took effect with 1995 V.I.N. 979. 6. Air grill screens. Both the front fairing and the rear seat fairing grills changed from galvanized twisted grills to smooth stainless grills. I know this took effect in 1995 but I don't know at what V.I.N.. 7. Frame change. A lug was added to the neck of the frame for the front fairing stabilizer mount. I believe this took effect in 1995 but I don't know at what V.I.N.. 8. Rear belt guard teflon wear strip. Purpose was to prevent wear between the belt guard and the right hand frame diagonal brace. Part number 47930-96Y. I know this went into effect around 9/95 but I don't know at what V.I.N.. 9. Front isolator washer change. The new style has beveled sides to prevent contact with the back of the frame neck under exuberant usage of the throttle. This took effect with 1995 models, V.I.N. 1242. 10. Seat lock tangs. There have been two changes both for better seat security. The first was just a longer tang, this was 1995 V.I.N. 1293. The second has a ninety degree bend on the end. This was 1996 V.I.N. 74 for S2 & 172 for S2T. 11. Seats. There has been three seat changes I am aware of. The first style is shown in Cycle World dated 10/93, where the seat looks a whole lot like a Corbin seat (they supplied the seats for the earlier Buells). The second had a fiberglass bottom pan and I know it went through 1995 V.I.N. 416. The third change was a plastic seat bottom with another securing point for the seat attached to the bottom which hooked to a bar attached to the rear seat fairing. This took effect in 1996 with V.I.N. 74 for S2 & 172 for S2T's. 12. Windshield change. The original windshield was acrylic manufactured by Gustafsson and was embossed with his logo. The second was not marked and was very wavy (Lexan) in appearance. I believe this took effect with the 1996 model year. 13. Rear fender assembly was changed with the 1996 models with a painted unit rather than carbon fiber showing the weave. 14. Front fender changes. There have been three front fender changes. The first change was the elimination of the speedometer cable clip mounting holes which initiated the use of a wire retainer part number 67368-95Y. This went into effect with 1995 V.I.N. 1337. The second change was a restyled front fender which eliminated the access holes for the lower mount screws, this fender is also quite a bit lighter because I understand it is made of plastic rather than fiberglass. I believe this came about with the 1996 models. 15. Front brake. The original style disc bolted against the carrier, the later disc bolted inline with the carrier. The parts of the units are not interchangeable and I believe they came about with the 1996 models. 16. Kickstand/frame/isolator/swingarm mount. The later style has a steel plug and sleeve for the kickstand to rest against when it is extended. This came about sometime in the 1996 model year. 17. Timing procedure. All 1996 Buells should be timed with the engine at idle (950-1050 RPM) and timing is done using the side by side double dots. The 1995 Buells are timed at 1650-1950 RPM and use the single dot as viewed in the timing plug hole. This came about because a different ignition module was fitted to the 95 California bikes and all 96 models. The connector is 7 pin on the 95 and uses the M curve, The 96 and Ca 95 is 8 pin connector with a Q curve. The connectors are not interchangeable. 18. Front exhaust pipe. The loop of the pipe was tightened for easier viewing of the timing plug hole. I believe this was initiated in 1996. 19. Mirror fastener spacers. They are to provide additional support through the fiberglass front fairing. This started in 1996 with V.I.N. 166 for S2 & 69 for the S2T. 20. Headlight adjuster. A nut was placed on the adjusting screw so that the headlight could be adjusted without front fairing removal. Part number 67323-94Y. This took effect in 1996 with V.I.N. 74 for the S2 & 167 with the S2T. 21. Carburetors. The California bikes used a Quik Silver Carburetor made by Edelbrock. S2 & S2T service bulletins and alerts 1. issued 12/94; Front brake braided hose, Problem; Cracks from over swaging of the end fittings. Fix; Replace hose, new hose identified by blue band near the caliper end. 2. issued 3/95; Mirror stabilizer, Problem; Cracking of the front fairing supports at the welds. Fix; Installation of a stabilizer bar i e third mounting point, located between the frame neck and dash support. Also check idle RPM per factory specs (below 1000 RPM with the enrichment knob in). 3. issued 3/95; Vehicle ID number goofs. Problem; The factory got a couple of 5's & S's mixed up in the tenth character of the V.I.N. Fix; A new ID plate was riveted in place. 4. issued 4/95; The PM wheels not properly labeled. Problem; no label as per D.O.T. Fix;Install sticker provided by the Buell factory. 5. issued 6/95; Fuel cell leakage. Problem; Fuel leaks or imploding tanks, either flawed manufacture or vent check valve assembled wrong. Fix; Dealer replacement with pressure tested unit for bikes manufactured prior to 5/95. 6. issued 8/95; A reissue of 2. Problem; Because so many dealers didn't take it seriously. Fix; installation of the stabilizer bar. 7. issued 11/95; Touring handlebar recall. Problem; Handlebar breakage, not just stock S2T bars but any touring bars sold to S2 owners. Fix; Replacement of the handlebars. Replacement bars can be identified by the lower several inches being crimped where it touches the collar. The original bars were notch cut and then welded to the collar. 8. issued 12/95; Reissue of 1. Problem; Dealer noncompliance. Fix; Replace brake line. 9. Handle bar replacement; Problem; Some S2T's were shipped from the factory with S2 instead of S2T touring handlebars due to shortage from 7. Fix; Install proper S2T touring handlebars. Also there were 2 service bulletins/ advisories on the CA only bikes; 1. issued 3/95 Ignition timing/starting procedures. Problem; Differences encountered because of the Quicksilver carbs. 2. issued 11/95 Quicksilver carb problems. Problem; Throttle shaft interference with the possibility of sticking throttle. Fix; Replace throttle shaft. There was one urgent bulletin dated 10/28/94; Misrouted oil lines for bikes numbered 300-434. Problem; Oil lines switched Fix; Check for proper hookup by disconnecting the line to the oil pump and making sure it would drain the oil tank. Also keep in mind with the latest recalls; 1. Rear shock replacement for corrosion problem with the forward end being aluminum with a steel bushing. 2. Rear swingarm replacement due to cracks at the welds. 3. Fuel tank retainer installation to keep the tank on the bike in a wreak. 4. Fuel vent replacement due to possible clogging problem. Carl | ||
| Buelliedan |
Jim, My serial number is the same as yours except for the last 2 digits. Mine ends in 14. Aarons would be 19. I see that your S2 is my favorite color combo. Spark red with the white frame. I fell in love with Tats bike at Homecoming!! Did I read your post right, 61,000 miles on your S2?? Wow!! |
