| Author | Message | ||
     Gas |
Does anyone else have a distinct "thunk", or knock, that happens when starting your CR? It is a single loud mechanical knock,like a hammer hitting a block of wood, happening most often when the starter button is released. It doesn't always make this noise, and the engine seems it's normal, mechanical, noisy self after the engine fires. I cannot tell exactly but think it could be a solinoid/starter noise. I have to say I am not really sure if the service personel at the Harley dealer are familiar enough with Buells to make an accurate assessment, and I would like the opinion of someone who has lived with a CR for a while. Anybody? | ||
| Moosestang |
Yes! Mine has been doing it for some time, maybe always. It seems worse when it's been on the charger all night. I tried to take a video of it the other morning and it didn't do it!!!!!!!! Pissed me off. I believe it is the starter, but I'm not sure. It almost sounds like a backfire. | ||
| Gas |
Yep, mine is transient, too, but it does it more often than not. Does your noise usually happen as you release the starter button? | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Mine does that too ... Not sure if it's right, but it looks to be SOP. Adding that the 'character' list! EDIT: I didn't really notice more prevalence when releasing the starter button. Mine seems to thump/kick like that the moment it turns over, but I've never really held the button down either. Mike (Message edited by milleniumx1 on December 15, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
Both my 08R and 09CR do it, never thought twice about it. | ||
| Moosestang |
I don't know if it's when I let the starter go. I dare not hold it down to find out. I might try holding it less and see what happens. I don't remember mine doing it when I first got it, but it started a few days later. | ||
| Gas |
I guess I'm a worry wart. After all, these Rotax motors are just 3 years old. I wonder if the starter or gearbox or bottom end will blow up in a few years because something is consistently hammering where it shouldn't be. I have owned a bunch of bikes, from chambered two stroke singles, twins and triples, to one lunger BSAs etc...and I have never, EVER heard the cacophony rattled out by a Helicon engine. It is the nature of the beast...hey... I used to laugh at my friends who wound up pushing their Nortons cause the Lucas electricals failed("Oh, it's just the nature of the beast" they would say). As my Buell leaks what little gas it doesn't burn, flashes engine warning signals when the temperature is low, burns out turn signals like firecrackers and dribbles tranny fluid like a baby, my laughter takes on a hollow and phoney nature. Hey, I love the Buell for what it is, but I weigh it's idiosyncracies against the fact that it must be (HARLEY) dealer serviced under warranty. I don't think repeated trips to a dealership are cool. Thanks to your info, I will consider the starting noise normal. I might mention it when I go in for the clutch revision. Maybe I could just schedule dealer maintenance every Tuesday... Oh, by the way, I took part in a toy run Sunday, and the Buell never missed a beat, two up and feathering the clutch constantly to keep in line with 6000 other bikes going 20 MPH. No overheating, no clutch fade, no problem. Kinda killed my BahHumbug attitude. | ||
| Chadhargis |
If your 1125 has tranny fluid, you have a bigger problem than you can imagine.  I guess I got lucky. My CR has been perfect. Excellent fueling, not so much as a light bulb going out. I do get the fuel peeing issue, but that's not a big deal. I just let it cool outside before I wheel it in for the night. Other bikes I've owned would give off serious fumes, so I have been used to letting them cool/air out before I park them in the shop. But to stay on topic...mine makes the starter engagement noise. It's normal. (Message edited by chadhargis on December 15, 2009) | ||
| Chevycummins |
I think what you guys are hearing is a backfire through the exhaust. When I modified my exhaust it became really noticeable, and it does not do it every time. During start up the ecm is trying to locate top dead center compression, it fires the #1 cyl each time it detects the sync gap for #1 which may be at compression or exhaust. When it detects engine speed increase when firing #1 it knows that it fired on compression then it resumes normal firing. The unburnt fuel and ignition with the exhaust valve open causes the explosion. | ||
| Hapo |
...I was wondering aboot this meself, but I heared a CR do the same thing as me R at the dealer and didn't worry aboot it further... ...the dealer had told me it happens intermitently because the engine internals are never in exactly the same position when the bike is shut down... | ||
| Ccryder |
Mine's done it at least 2x/ day for the last 31k+ s'miles. Oh no should I stop starting it since it makes that noise?????? J/K Time2Ride home Neil S. | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Chevy, that sounds quite plausible. The 'whack' I hear doesn't happen all the time, and it didn't really sound or feel like something happening inside the case. No, my butt and ears aren't calibrated ... I can't afford that mod. Mike | ||
| Ccryder |
Naw, mine is not a backfire through the exhaust. It's more mechanical like the starter drive or the cam chain slapping b4 the tensioner can remove the slack. | ||
| Ratsmc |
That's what I was hearing. It didn't really sound mechanical to me. It could almost sound like a hammer but I guess I have heard enough backfiring to know. | ||
| D_adams |
My butt's been calibrated for horsepower.  I'm accurate up to 123 hp for sure. | ||
| Gas |
Mine doesn't sound like a backfire. It's more mechanical, like being kicked in the head by an iron boot. No, it's more like the sound of a steel plate in somebody's skull bouncing off a sidewalk...or a u-boat anchor falling off an overpass onto a tanker truck. | ||
| Moosestang |
It sounds more like a wooden bat hitting a steel pole. Or breaking a concrete block with an iron sledge hammer. |
