| Author | Message | ||
     Vtwinjunkie |
I used to have a bad habit of listening to music while riding my XB. Jamming out flying down the road just enjoying the ride. Supid? Yes. Will I do it again? No I am hoping that possibly someone may be able to identify with and talk about their experience with it? I noticed at slight pinging or what sounded like a ping during hard acceleration under load. Only during these times. One day I was riding down the road (while listening to music) and noticed a substantial loss of power and throttle response. This caused me to look down towards the gauges as a lack of reflex to see if they were indicating a problem of some kind. There was a red light on that was the supposed to represent the jugs of the motor...I think it was possibly oil pressure or something. I coasted to a stop and took off my helmet. As I tried to start it again it fired right up and made a god-awful noise as if the valves were clanking around inside the motor. I think It was coming from the front jug. I then had the bike towed home for further investigation. Upon draining the oil I found NO metal shavings. I then pulled the Oil pump and it was completely clean as well this tells me that the oil pump is also working properly which dispelled any fear of lack of oil to the pistons or bottom end. I feel as though a collapsed lifter could cause this. I havent had a chance to look into it yet but wanted to see if anyone else has had this experience? | ||
| Teeps |
Does it still make the noise? Use a long screw driver, as a stethoscope, to listen to the engine. You should be able to quickly determine if it's a lifter or not. | ||
| Froggy |
There is nothing stupid about listening to music while riding, it can make a ride more enjoyable. The red V-twin light is the check engine light, I would see if the ECM has any codes stored to aid in troubleshooting, but there is no code for something like a stuck lifter. | ||
| Vtwinjunkie |
It def does make the noise. I drained the oil to check it as well as the oil pump. Havent started it since. It currently has no oil. I was going to pull the side cover to look for signs as well as front valve cover to see if anything is messed up. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Check the codes and just for the heck of it, take a look in the primary chaincase. | ||
| Sparky |
I recently had a loud ticking (tapping) noise on my 96 S1 which was accompanied by a different exhaust note at lower speeds, kinda sounding & running more like a single than a twin. Engine light didn't come on while running though. A compression check on both cylinders proved normal with about 2 psi variation. The rear spark plug tip looked darker than the front and slightly oily too. I traced most of the noise to the exhaust area of the rear head by holding a long screwdriver to different parts of the engine. The lifter/pushrod tube block areas of the crankcase sounded fairly the same for each lifter though as did the primary c'case side of the engine and the base of the cylinders. Thinking there might be a failed lifter, I removed the rear rocker covers and watched the movement of the rockers. Everything seemed OK so I removed the pushrods and the rear lifter. The roller on the lifter was jammed and about 0.030" was worn away causing, I think, the lifter body to hit the bottom of the bore when on the cam base circle thus making the ticking (tapping) noise I was hearing. A key to the lifter's demise might have been a pushrod seal at the bottom of the tube that was smashed in one spot thus allowing oil to leak out (there was a little) and dirt to come in (maybe). So I installed a new lifter and pushrod seal and, fortunately, the noise disappeared and it has gone approx 80 miles this way sounding like a twin again with power restored. I'm taking it to the dealer soon to have them check out the condition of the rear exh cam and verify that the new lifter hasn't deteriorated any. | ||
| Vtwinjunkie |
Good read. As for me, I am def only running on one cylinder. I plan on pulling it into the garage for a tear down this weekend. | ||
| Vtwinjunkie |
Checking the codes on my jap bikes requires a special dealer tool which I have... Do I need a special tool for this on my buell? | ||
| Buellblastrider |
There is a way to flash the codes with a paperclip. Good Luck. I have an extra set of lifters if you decide to replace . | ||
| Cataract2 |
Vtwin, the paper clip shot is one way to get the codes. The other is ECMSpy if you can get a copy and the cable to hook it up. | ||
| Vtwinjunkie |
I realized that I forgot to post back on this. After looking over a bunch of things but never actually tearing down the bike to check the lifters, I let it sit for a couple of months. Starting it again one day the noise was gone. Been riding for the past 7 years and it never came back Thinking maybe it got some air in the lifters or something and collapsed one? Not really sure but I am glad it went away. (Message edited by vtwinjunkie on March 06, 2020) |
