| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
Rempss, I'm not going anywhere. Note on your above post. Your manual does not tell you to put 1 quart in your trans. It tells you the capacity is 1quart. There is a difference. What is the difference? Well, when you drain the trans there are places where sport trans lube is trapped and not fully drained. You can not drain the full quart unless you remove the primary cover. If you just poor a quart in when changing, you just over fill the trans/primary. The refill spec is actually "fill until fluid reaches the clutch diaphragm spring" with the bike vertical. Same principle applies to the engine oil. There is about 6 oz. of oil left in the motor when you drain the oil. Put the stated "capacity" back in on a change and you over fill. Details my friend, details. They do mean something. | ||
| Chainsaw |
Rempss wrote:
Explaining to the guy at the service department counter that it's not really re-Zeroing the TPS seems like an amusing way to kill some time, but this is a situation non-XB owners will not encounter in this F-ing World of mine. I welcome opinions and have asked advice many times on this board, I value the diverse opinions and background of the people here. I do not, however, feel obligated to follow what I consider to be bad advise, that the advisor himself will never have the opportunity to see to fruition.(no offense Blake!) I don't beleive this is a closed-minded opinion. | ||
| Xgecko |
whether or not it was intended Buell made a mistake when they described it as such. The FB manual may be the only Buell where in it is described as Zeroing the TPS...I seem to remember hearing that in both the X1 and the S3 it is/was reffered to as Flashing the ECM (as it is in the automotive world as well). The guy at the service counter is just as likely to understand "Flash the ECM" if not more so than "Zero the TPS" especially if he's worked on bikes other than the FB. This problem is probably something that someone ought to send in to Buell for a Pub's update (you know that card in the front of your service manual). And please don't carry the "Book is the Bible" attitude many of us have already found enough problems in Buell service manuals to know that it's not always right | ||
| Blake |
Chainsaw, Like XGecko alluded to, all the Buell EFI bikes must undergo the same general procedure for flashing a new ECM wrt throttle position telemetry. I ride an M2. Ain't I lucky!  I may be butting my head against a stone cold rock wall, but it's my nature to point out errors that lead to a total misunderstanding of reality. The factory could take this discussion to heart and henceforth do away with the inaccurate terminology. That is my main point and my hope. I don't care what you tell your dealer. Obviously you should use terminology that he understands. Meanwhile, I'll suggest to the factory that they revise their terminology in favor of accuracy. Thanks all and especially "Anonymous". This is a great way to learn the ins and outs of EFI. I still prefer a carb, but if I find a good deal on a used XB9R, I'll be snatching it for track only duty. BTW, what if anything is different about the XB9's EFI system architecture compared to the X1's and S3's? | ||
| Xgecko |
Blake you know you could just shove a downdraft Carb in it and not have to deal with all the EFI crap. | ||
| Two_Buells |
bike ain't running right? 1. Take your bike to a Buell dealer and have a Factory Trained Buell Mechanic work on it. If said dealer doesn't have a Factory Trained Buell Mechanic..see step one! | ||
| Csg_Inc |
Just got my copy of the Service Bulletin dated August 20 B-047. Re: Sidestand leg for 2003 model firebolt. As was stated earlier by somebody else here BMC has elected to replace all sidestand legs on XB9R motorcycles, manufactured through July 9th, 2002. The part will be available on or before August 21, 2002. The replacement part number is L0167.02A8 which will replace part number L0194.02A8A (Problem part). | ||
| Court |
David: Good news....can you scan the B-047 Service Bulletin and get it in the Knowledge Vault? If not, drop me a line and I'll send you the address of a "Scanner Elf" to mail a copy to. Court (love the picture of your 'Bolt in the profile) | ||
| Rick_A |
I went to check out the local dealership here in Sarasota. They have a Firebolt demo. Guy says "only for people serious in buying one." Their demo has the race kit and sounds pretty fierce. I will get a demo... | ||
| Blake |
Tyler, Texas dealer is cleaned out. Shreveport, has one on the floor, but cannot allow out of state customers to demo. Some silliness concerning insurance and Louisiana law. | ||
| Geofg |
Hey all, I've been lurking for a bit, and thought it'd be a good time to chime in. My dealer, here in Gainesville, FL has something like 6 XB9Rs on the floor. If any of you are desperate enough to come down here in these Dog days of August, I'd bet they'd be happy to sell 'm. | ||
| Rd350 |
Just got the XB on Saturday. Had to ride it home from Las Vegas. (450 miles) Here is what I found so far the good and the bad. Good, This bike is by far the best that Buell has made. It doesn't shake you to death and it very sold and well built. Fit and finish is fantastic. I would say on par with the Big four easily. Every were I ride this bike I am getting so many looks. The pegs are not that high and the reach to the bars are just about perfect. This is very close to riding position of the Suzuki TL 1000S. I like the sound of the fan running. I like the rush of the twin and the no drive line lash. Runs great at 90 MPH on the freeway like it is nothing. Buell you should be proud. Bad, The seat is to thin. Needs more padding and it looks like the seat is going to wear through the red cable on the battery. (Part of the seat sits on the cable.) The mirrors suck. You just can't see out of them unless you are down on the tank or have about 18 inches in shoulder width. I am around 24 inches. Maybe I am just to big in the shoulders. The shifting is great by Buell standards but still needs some work to get on par with everyone else. The gauges are hard to see in the dimming light and the colors are hard to see the numbers. The clutch is to long a reach. I have big hands and I even have a hard time reaching it. Where is the helmet lock on this bike? Just about every bike on the market has a helmet lock. I know that Buell could come up with something simple like a cable on a hook. Not everyone likes to take there helmet with them every were they go. During hot days the fan comes on and it pushes out the air on you butt and legs. It get very hot. The frame gets so hot sometimes that you can't touch it. Last there is a stumble in the Fuel injection system around 2500RPM! Fixes for the factory. Mirrors fix them! Put a helmet lock on this bike!! Put different colors on the gauges!! Put more padding in the seat!! Change the HE-MAN reach on the clutch!! Fix the stumble in the Fuel injection around 2500RPM!! Fix the shifting to be smoother like the Japs!! This bike could use a 6 speed trans. Gearing is to far apart. More power never hurts!! I really like this bike! I am not putting down Buell. If they want to sale this bike they need to lissen to who is buying them and what we want. I think this is a great bike but needs just a few changes to make it perfect and on par with other bikes in its price range. | ||
| Rockbiter1 |
Its my understanding that 6 speed conversions for sporty-type tranys are not geared any closer than stock, but adds a over drive gearing. (5th is still 1:1, but 6th is .80:1) Anyone know if a close ratio gear set exists yet? | ||
| Blake |
RD, Great report and congrats on your new bike! Thanks. Just one observation... every single report, and there have been many, I've read has lauded the XB9R's "flawless" fuel injection. You may want to have your ECM reflashed for proper calibration wrt TPS zero. | ||
| Rd350 |
Thanks Blake.. I will have the dealer flash the ECM to see if this fixes it. | ||
| Bykergeek |
2000 - 3000 rpm surge? Does anyone else see this under low engine load (throttle almost closed) ? The motor behaves like it is losing fuel delivery under these conditions. It is more pronounced when the engine is cold and does not seem to happen above 3000 rpm. I was wondering if the same ECM flash was at issue. Otherwise, it runs GREAT. | ||
| Darthane |
Bykergeek, Mine does exactly what you described, and my ECM was just flashed after I installed the race kit. I don't believe the TPS is at fault. ::shrugs:: I tend to keep mine at or above 3000RPMs anyways. That way I can twist the throttle and GO. Bryan | ||
| Rd350 |
Bykergeek, Mine is doing the samething. I haven't had a chance to get it flashed. Let me know what you find out. I also checked the dealer today to try to set up a date to have the kick stand change. They couldn't give me a date. Said that they just ordered the new kick stands. So... just have to be careful until then.. | ||
| Bykergeek |
Darthane, Rd350 Thanks. I also called my dealer re the sidestand replacement and they had not gotten word of the service bulletin (read not a recall) yet. No date on a replacement yet. | ||
| Blake |
Bykergeek, Suggest you consider the possible translation of "not gotten word yet" to the more truthful "not bothered to look at it". Call them again, get their email address, send them these links... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/buellpg1.pdf http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/buellpg2.pdf http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/buellpg3.pdf The internet is great ain't it? | ||
| Court |
>>>>they had not gotten word of the service bulletin (read not a recall) yet. BLEEEEEEEP: "Warning Will Robinson"....someone has attempted to program you with inaccurate information. Buell dealers DO HAVE THE SERVICE BULLETIN information and should be cordially trying to do the will of Buell Motorcycle to insure your "uninterrupted ownership experience". Print the above links and ask them to call their S.P.O.C. today. If that doesn't work, e-mail me. The Firebolt are off to a great start and proving everything and more than Erik Buell promised. I refuse to let a dealer detract from this. Court | ||
| Buckinfubba |
alright heres the low down on the race kit and possible problems. atleast with mine...just so ya know if ya don't already I am a buell tech at tilley's..ok that out of the way....problem is simple. my first race kit did all the things you all said pissed and sputtered and surged and ran like shit. I took the ecm off and put the stock one back on it ran fine. So I had buell send me another one. And yes I "re zeroed the tps".sorry thats what we really call it in the back room of the dealership. always have always will. Yes on the harley injection system we reflash the ecm. Anyway, zeroed the tps put the new ecm on and low and behold she runs like a freakin champ. a 14% gain in torque and a 9% gain in horsepower.But thats not all I know it don't sound like much but heres the kicker. it reached top speed 2 seconds yes I sadi 2 seconds faster on the dyno..You can't shake a stick at that. That is cool beans to me. Some of the ecms must be goofed up. I am sending mine back to buell so the can see what is wrong inside it. It was either mapped wrong or has some bad connections inside it is my guess. But hey what the hell do I know. I just get paid to work with the lil buggers. By the way first gear whack the throttle at 4500 rpm and by god the front end comes up and smacks ya in the face now. Hell and I way in at 250lbs. Yes I am possibly the fattest firebolt rider out there. But I am a well rounded individual. prefectly symetrical ssesya Brian " bubba" Gardner | ||
| X1glider |
Fubba, any chance of getting a hold of the "real" go fast parts Tilly's race team uses? Doesn't hurt to ask...or does it? | ||
| Buckinfubba |
oh shit also almost forgot....after you rezero the tps and get the ecm put on. ride it between 2500 and 3000 rpm for 5 miles. than kick it in and let the damn computer know what it is supposed to do. see we get mad at these computers but its almost always oh hell who we kiddin its always human error. Just like a bike never wrecks we always wreck them ourselves. as far as getting the really go fast parts you could get alot of them yourself. wiseco , millenium , titanium stuff and such like bigger throttle body , "read bore the lil bastard out. But the thing that would be real hard would be that specail programmable ecm....hmmmm thats the factory racing stuff that we mere mortals can't get. Unless we pulled a watergate type of thing but I thjink that is going to extremes seeya bubba | ||
| Buckinfubba |
Blake don't get me wrong I ain't trying to start a fight with you. But the rezeroing of the tps is a manual procedure. Ya need a scanalizer or digital tech to do it correctly. You back of the throttle plate to zero that with the scanalizer you rezro yes this is flashing sort of . Then you turn the throttle plate back to its postion of 5.8 degrees and your in business. It also ain't a bad I dea to reset the afv and then ride the bike for 5 miles between 2500 and 3000 rpm this lets the computer adjust it self to the new modifcations. okie dokie good. Like I said I am not trying to start a fight here. seesya bubba | ||
| Two_Buells |
bubba, cool stuff. I can't wait to get the race kit now! | ||
| Blake |
Thanks Bubba! No offense whatsoever. Maybe they want to keep the HD and Buell procedures distinctly separate and so misnamed the Buell procedure on purpose. I dunno. I do know that it is the official, by-the-book nomenclature. I'll still keep banging my head against the wall complaining about it. "Total Quality" isn't just a buzz-phrase. If you can't name/describe a procedure accurately, how do you expect people to understand it accurately? See my point? Okay, how do you reset the AFV (air/fuel value?)? Was that 2 second improvement in 4th or 5th gear? Between what engine speeds? What were the actual times? Can you post copies of the dyno plots? We love this stuff! ![:]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) You can email me the files if needed. I can compress them and post for you. Thanks again. | ||
| Darthane |
Bubba, What did your bike pull on the dyno for HP and torque? I'd be very interested to know. My race-kitted 'bolt runs fine, but there is a hiccup in the FI under 3000RPMS and it pops like mad when I close the throttle. I was very happy with the power gain from stock, but damn it, if these are symptoms of a faulty race ECM then I want a new one. Dunno if they'd take it back now, though, it's been like a month since I bought it. Bryan | ||
| Darthane |
All right guys, I've got three questions for you before I head to Deal's Gap on the 12th for the rally. First of all, what (if any) synthetic oil and tranny fluids are you using in your 'bolts? I'l be running close to 4000 miles when I head down there so I want to switch before I go. Second, what kind of suspension setting are you using? Mine came from the factory with a setup that is geared more towards 2-up riding. It makes for a nice comfy ride by myself or with my girlfriend, but I want it set more aggressive for tearing around down there. I weigh in at about 145 lbs with all my gear on, by the way. Last, what's the most amount of gas anyone has put in their 'bolt? My low fuel light was coming on after chugging about 2.6 gallons consistently, so I figured great, I've got 1.1 gallons left in the frame there to burn. Should have been able to make another 50 miles easy. Well, I ran out of gas yesterday - was just able to coast into a gas station before it completely keeled over - and the damned thing only took 3.25 gallons! WTF? Bryan | ||
| Rd350 |
Bryan, The settings on your bike for the suspention that you should try is this: Front Preload 6 Compression 2 Rebound 1.75 Rear Preload 2 Compression 1.75 Rebound 1.5 Then try to increase the rear shock preload by 1 position. Since the Bolt doesn't have any linkage in the rear suspention the bike is more sensitive to suspention changes. Try these setings and go from there. Everyone riding style is different. You need to find out what you like. Also put a zip tie on the front fork. This will help you understand how much suspention you are using and what adjustments you need to make. As for the oil. Mobil 1 75w/90 has been working very well for me in my last bikes in the tranny. Blake I think is using something called Red line purple(a little help Blake) that he really likes. As for engine Mobil 1 20w/50 is also great. There are some other great oils out there as well. Hope this helps. |
