| Author | Message | ||
     Desotonorsocal |
Hey all, so I'll try to make this succinct since there's a bit going on--- [2006 XB9City] I was told California Harley in Harbor City had a couple of god Buell mechanics there so I went for my 10k service (@ 11k, but oil was done a few k ago) AND because my fan had died and my check engine light came on. I rode the last few miles home then took it to the dealership the next day. While I was there, I also asked them to look at (listen to) what me and an H-D owner had thought was noisy pushrods in the back cylinder. I was quoted $700 for the 10k service and diagnostics which (so far) is at $940, not including new fork seals which I apparently needed. I also need tires, brakes, new front blinkers (which I just did) and other stuff. I'll ignore that for now and focus on the dire stuff- Findings: Fan: I was told the fan is shot as well as the 'voltage regulator'. (Not sure which, where, etc.) -- Q: Which fan do I need (PN#) or where can I get one (actually 2, right?) Same question for the voltage regulator. Valvetrain ticking: They quoted 14 hours for disassembly on the motor to diagnose as they say the sound is bottom-end. I passed on that due to the price. I've noticed no difference in gas mileage, power, function, etc, and in fact, had several people tell me these are simply loud ticky motors ("Dude, those things sound like VW motors, period.") I'd still like to verify this as I commute 350 miles a week on this though... -- Q: Is there anyone in the Long Beach, CA area that any BWB's know that work on XB's? I'll be clear; I'm NOT looking for a bro deal or cheap labor- Great mechanics are hard to find and worth every penny- I'd *like* someone who doesn't have the shop overhead but at the end of the day, I just want someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to Buells!!! Timing couldn't be worse on this- I had to WALK to the LB bike show this last weekend, heh. Although EBR's "booth" was no more than a 3-bike-width blocked off area. But at least I saw the 2 2015's he had on display and it made me feel good to know that EBR is moving forward. It'll be great when he's offering a full product line again! Thanks in advance everyone- It's killing me fiscally (15mpg in the Magnum) and emotionally to be off the bike!!!! :P | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
That sounds very expensive! Guess HD dealers usually are. The fan you can get from Americansportbike.com Al (the owner) can get you what you need and knows the bikes better than most anybody. I can't help with the mechanics since I'm no mechanic but I can say the fan is doable (I did mine). If you were willing to come nor-cal I would recommend jt and s performance. Hopefully somebody has a closer option for you. | ||
| Ducbsa |
Only one fan on the bike. | ||
| Hammer1050 |
Before I went into the motor I would have an oil analysis done to see if the motor is generating any thing unusual as far as bearing/bushing, cam or tappet metal etc. These are mechanically noisy motors that can sound questionable to someone not familiar with them. I have heard some Buell motors that are indeed noisy that ran just fine for many tens of thousands of miles. Use an oil lab that has some experience or data base with these motors if you can. You might consider Blackstone Labs. Oil analysis will run about $35.00. Money well spent rather than a teardown that will probably reveal a solid, good motor. | ||
| Desotonorsocal |
Thanks everyone! Yes, @hammer1050, I'll definitely get the oil checked by Blackstone. Cheap at twice the price! @2008xb12- I'm on asb now, thank you! @ducbsa - Thanks, that'll save me some money!!! Now to find someone local to the Long Beach or Orange County area that works on Buells...! | ||
| Firemanjim |
Ticking sounds are not generally in bottom end--- 14 hours!!! WTF are they doing a complete engine rebuild!! | ||
| Teeps |
So what work has been done, what work needs doing? | ||
| Sifo |
I would have expected the 10K service to include fork service. At $700 it certainly should. Is it really their standard to service the fork without replacing the seals? That's just asking for another bill in a sort time. Seals are only a few dollars. If it were me, I might consider doing the bushings inside the fork too. When they start to wear the seals don't last long. Probably not really necessary at 10K, but I would be looking at it. Personally, I wouldn't have an HD shop looking at it. It's up to you what you are comfortable with though. 14 hours to diagnose a ticking noise? Ride it and see if it blows up! If it does, pick up a salvaged engine, or part out the bike. I would at least get another opinion, without any leading comments about what this shop thought it was. These bikes do make a lot of noise. The oil analysis makes great sense too. It's a shame you probably don't still have what just came out. Or has it come out yet? American Sport Bike is the go to place for parts IMO. Great folks! | ||
| Desotonorsocal |
I REALLY wasn't a fan of taking it to an HD dealer as well, but after the fan dying and being a bit past the 10k mark, I figured I'd should probably get 'er done. OK, so to be fair, they've been pretty good about getting a hold of me- As far as what's been done, they called to let me know they were ordering new fork seals. A couple bucks, yes, though I'm sure I'll pay more for that, lol. So they've told me they're doing or did *everything* on the Buell 10k to-do list including fork oil and seals. I'll definitely have Blackstone look at the oil. As far as what needs doing, that'll depend on what state I get the bike back in from the dealership. They told me my tires are shot, my front blinkers don't work, and I need brakes but I told them to hold off on all of that. I went aftermarket blinkers and they're recent, so strange that they stopped working a week after I recently tested them. My other remaining items will be to buy & replace the fan, and replace the fan 'voltage regulator', whatever that means, heh. I'll call Al @ American Sport Bike to see if he knows what they're talking about. So I could still use someone to listen and see if my motor is going or not, lol.... Thanks guys! -D | ||
| Teeps |
The fan speed is controlled by the ECM. Shorted armature windings could take out the ECM. But, I've never read about that happening. For what it's worth, I'd take a listen to the engine. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Story time: My 2008 was making a scary klunk down low. While it was still under warranty, I brought it in thinking the worst. They replaced the muffler and the sound went away! Something was flopping around in there. Just saying, sometimes it's good news. Or less bad news. | ||
| Desotonorsocal |
@Teeps- OK, great news, thanks. I'll just get the fan from American Sport Bike, install, and see where am I am there. Their comment about a 'voltage regulator' seemed inaccurate to me, so... Hopefully it's just a dead fan like others have had. Shame @ 11k miles but there could be worse things! @Natexlh1000- So, the sound came about a thousand or so miles after I bought the bike (so @ approx 5k miles). I've since put 6k on it with no issue. Also, as mentioned, it's without a doubt a higher pitched 'ticking' sound, near or around the pushrod sleeves. Not saying that couldn't have maybe "also" heard a deeper bottom-end sound, but if so, then that's news to me. Still waiting to hear back from them as to when I'm getting my bike back, heh. | ||
| Hammer1050 |
May I ask what oil you are using? What brand and grade, with what oil filter? | ||
| Fast1075 |
When the fan crapped out on my '06 XB12s, it blew a fuse. I did an autopsy on the fan motor to find the cause. It has stainless steel ball bearings in the fan motor, one of the bearings seized from lack of lubrication. There was no evidence that there was ever any lube in the bearings. Engine noise: Mine always sounded like a blender full of nickels. I took it back to the shop several times while it was still under warranty because it was noisy. I was, in each case told by the Buell tech that it was normal, and on one occasion he cranked his personal bike up for comparison. His was noisier. I finally said screw it and rode the snot out of it. | ||
| Sifo |
Did they have a bad batch of fans in '06? Mine sounded like a dry bearing from day one. It did last about 18K miles though and was replaced under warranty. The new fan has been much quieter and hasn't given any more problems at all. | ||
| Teeps |
Yeah, I would not buy a used fan. I replaced the fan on my Ulysses a few months ago. It's not too difficult, but I really took my time. Also replaced the 02 sensor too. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The early fans failed due to wrong grease being used. Heat made them fling it out and they would be dry. I don't remember the year that they revised them though. Here is the awesome old thread leading up to a retired aerospace engineer tearing one apart  http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/225002.html | ||
| Desotonorsocal |
@Hammer1050 - I WAS using Mobile 1 V-Twin Full Synthetic. Not sure what's in there after the HD oil change, but I thought he pointed to the bottle on the wall (yes, I told him what I used, and he said, "This, right?") but I'm assuming HD Full Synthetic which I heard was just the pricey version of what I had. I don't remember the filter off-hand, but it was one suggested here on BadWeb @Fast1075 - I'll check fuses after I get the new fan, thanks! And yes, VW motor, bag full of nickels, I've heard them all, lol. Mine is quieter in that respect than *some* others I've heard, and again, performance-wise it does what it's supposed to, so I'm taking some more BadWeb advice and doing the following: Blackstone oil test (piece of mine; though going to wait a bit since I have fresh oil), new pipes to hide the sound, and just ride the piss out of it!!!! @Sifo, @Teeps, @Natexlh1000- It's sounding like a new fan from American Sport Bike is going to quell two issues: Priority is obviously no working fan, and yes, prior to that, my fan as well was annoyingly noisy! Update: Got the bike back, total for 10k + fan diagnosis was $740, so I feel a *bit* better. They turned out to seem like pretty decent guys. Maybe not the most Buell-savvy, and they never test rode the bike (they put 'unsafe to ride' on the paperwork due to my tires & brakes being 'below spec', heh.) but I only truly *bash* a stealership if I find stripped nuts, bolts, or some other glaring incompetency. My paperwork (still haven't looked at it thoroughly) had a massive list of everything they inspected and/or replaced, and a list of recommendations (which they called me about to see if I wanted to do, which I declined, but appreciated the consistent phone calls) such as brakes, tires, and a few other items. The guy even said he'd recommend me buying the tires elsewhere to save some $$$ and they'd install. Anyway, rode it about 20 miles from the shop and pretty much same ole thing; runs/rides great, although I think the forks are noticeably firmer. Wasn't my normal route though so I'll know for sure when I start commuting on it again... AFTER the fan purchase! Thanks for all the info guys. My biggest fear has still been that noise and even though I'd read a lot about the noisy motors, them telling me they heard something kind of re-scared me, lol. |
