| Author | Message | ||
     Frequency |
05 CityX leaks oil when sitting still, nothing fast just constant. Took her to the stealership and they found the source of the leak and the engine knock ive been hearing. for future reference 4 collapsed lifter arms + 2 oil lines = $1000 All this to fix a bike b/c I have a conscious and can't sell it with problems(being sold for an 1125R or a GSXR750(undecided)) | ||
| Ironken |
Freq, what goes around comes around.....If you didn't have a consience, you could have ended up screwing over some guy that saved for years to buy that bike. You did the right thing....Kenny | ||
| Jaydub |
out of curiosity what causes the lifter arms to collapse? lack of oil? plugged internals? | ||
| Brent_crossbronkos |
There are no lifter arms in your Buell - there are rocker arms that are solid pieces of metal that cannot possibly collapse. You probably have failed hydraulic lifters - something I have never seen with these types of units. The lifters are very well built and rarely ever give any problems. A defective oil line is probably your slow leak for sure, but the lifter issue is suspect. XB9's make a lot of engine noise even when they are in perfect running order - a faulty lifter usually makes a "ticking" noise and not a "knock". I sincerely hope you are not getting the runaround at the dealership. | ||
| Frequency |
I was under the impression that lifters are a part of all engines... | ||
| Ccryder |
Freq: Depending on the type of engine: pushrod, SOHC, DOHC, Helicon will depend if they have lifters. Hyd. lifters used in the XB/ Tuber engines transmit lift from the cams to the pushrods. Since they have the hyd. part, they also automatically adjust for the proper valve train clearance. They are engine designs that have rocker arms w/o lifters ie: Helicon. The cams act on the rocker arm and the rocker arm acts on the bucket/ shim/ valve. That is valve train basics, very basic. Neil S. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
This may confuse or help the situation. This is a "Basic" Pushrod valve train graphic.  | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
One of my co-workers had an hydraulic lifter go bad in his RoadKing. He had replaced the stock lifters with Screamin' Eagle. Our service manager said that it was a common problem with the Screamin' Eagle version. You'd think it would be the opposite, since the Screamin' Eagle parts are supposed to be an "upgrade". He went back to stock and hasn't had a problem since. All this being said, I haven't heard of stock Sportster/Buell lifters (they're the same part number) having any particular problems. YMMV. HellBuelly J "It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day's toil of any human being." --John Stuart Buell | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
From what I have heard, the stock HD/Buell automotive type lifter is virtually bulletproof. It will perform every bit as well as "Performance" lifters on the market. I have been told that it is cheap insurance to change them when doing a top end. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I was under the impression that lifters are a part of all engines... High performance motorcycles don't use them, as they don't work at high RPM due to the weight. XB lifters are VERY heavy. I was shocked when I pulled one out of the engine, as I'm not used to Harley engines. I'd say the lifter alone weighs more than most valve springs, retainers, shim, and bucket combined. Most non-touring, non-Harley engines run hard parts from the cam to the valve, usually with a shim in between to adjust the clearance. Some have rockers and some have the cams right over the valve stems with just a shim (and bucket to hold it) in between. My old Volvo car had a cam over valve setup that look very much like the 1980's kawasaki heads. My wife's old Honda Accord and her Toyota mini-van needed valve adjustments too. Luckily not very often. | ||
| Clutchless |
Kinda odd to have all 4 lifters go bad, have you ever let that oil leak get the best of you and ran it on the low side of the dipstick? good excuse to be putting cams in for some new owner to enjoy! and maybe make you a couple extra bucks for fixing up the leaks/squeeks | ||
| Bombardier |
My 07 Bolt also has a knocking noise which a bike mechanic friend says sounds like a valvetrain issue. I will get it checked out at the 8000km service. Thanks for the heads up. | ||
| Sgthigg |
If the lifter arms "collapsed" would one be able to tell a difference in the performance? Were you having performance issues? My xb knocks,bangs clangs,pings, even sound like a roll of quarters on a dryer at times. She runs very very strong. I never notice a performance issue. It has for a about 15000 miles. I have 16300 on it now. | ||
| Jos51700 |
The performance lifters do perform differently, but it's not really an "upgrade" scenario. They have different valving for *use with* performance valvesprings. The additional load transmitted to the lifter by stiffer springs can keep the stock lifter from filling completely with oil (thus allowing lash, which the lifter is supposed to eliminate). Failed lifters can make a little noise, or alot, depending on what specifically failed. Running with low, or no, oil pressure can definitely cause a failure, but it would have to be a pretty bad leak (Like, you wouldn't want to ride it). It's also possible the rollor on the lifter failed, but if so, I don't think all 4 would fail, and they're probably replacing all since they're there (A good idea). Usually if the roller goes, it eats up the cam, too. If you've ever built a Harley motor, or started a high-mileage bike that has been sitting awhile, you'll hear the lifters. It's a clattering sound that will scare you to death (especially if it's your motor), if you've never heard it before. It will go away as oil pressure builds and the lifters fill with oil. The occasional, short-duration, lifter noise is harmless. If I remember correctly, the heads have to come off to access the lifters. That was one thing I didn't like about the XB design, compared to the XL-powered Buell days. The XL/tubeframe Buells could access lifters easily. (Message edited by jos51700 on January 25, 2008) (Message edited by jos51700 on January 25, 2008) | ||
| Jos51700 |
If it were an oil line, it would leak MORE when the engine is running...... Does it ONLY leak when sitting? | ||
| Brumbear |
check your primary adjuster and teflon washer I highly doubt your lifters are bad. the bike would have a hard time making power with bad lifters | ||
| Xbcrazy |
XB lifters will bleed down if oil has a hard time getting pumped to the head. Oil travels from the pump to the cooler, back to the filter then to the cam cavity and head. Make sure oil is not being blocked or leaking somewhere along the way. Reduced oil flow at the head will cause the lifter collapse. Restore oil and lifters will pump back up and tick noise will diminish. My $.02. | ||
| Jos51700 |
XB Crazy, that's backwards. Oil flows from the lifters, up the pushrod, to the rocker arms in the head... Defective lifters reduce oil flow to the top end, not the other way around. | ||
| Xbcrazy |
Oh yeah... I knew something wasn't making sense there. Thanks for the correction. My point is the same though. Blockage, leaks or damage to any of the external oil system can cause the problem described above. I had this happen after an on track incident where some of the fins on my oil cooler got smushed together. Over the next few laps the bike began loosing top end power and making more noise. Eventually the lifters bled down and my day was over. After replacing the oil cooler all was back to normal. |
