| Author | Message | ||
     Joojoo |
Well, My XB12 Pings. Only when the motor gets pretty hot. It pings for a quick second in 1st as soon as I let off the clutch if the rpms are low. It pings when hitting the throttle in 2nd,3rd 4th, 5th at lowish rpm's. Doesnt matter which supreme gas I run, or which pump. Bike's motor is stock, and set up well. Its too bad. As well, with hearing about the other XB12 owners that are losing motors after 25000 miles plus is worrying me as well. Im kinda losing faith in the longevity of my block. I wont be able to afford to fix a blown motor if it dies on me after my warrenty goes. Im just pissed off about it. Buell knows about these pinging issues FOR SURE. With the amount of testing that went into the XB engines, in the extreme heat, Im sure they noticed it. Maybe they know that minor pinging wont hurt the motors? Who knows.... Just venting... Jack | ||
| Stealthxb |
I know you should not have to, but consider investing in an extended warranty if it would ease your mind. Or purchase a fire safe and start stashing cash for a Nallin fund.  | ||
| Whodom |
Jack- I have always been under the impression that very short duration occasional pinging will NOT hurt an engine, and is in fact an indication that everything is setup for optimum performance: the ignition advance is as advanced as it can safely be, the fuel mixture is optimum, the compression is as high as it can safely be, etc. Changing any one of these parameters could eliminate the pinging, but performance would likely suffer by a measurable amount. The only way pinging is going to blow an engine is if it does it for a sustained period under high load- i.e.- climbing a grade in hot weather under heavy throttle (did this once with a Mitsubishi truck- didn't blow the engine, but one piston looked BAD when I pulled the head off a couple of months later). If it really bothers you, try to avoid lugging the engine, especially when it's hot. Maybe a small change in your riding habits would eliminate it (rev more/lug less). You could try adding a small amount of octane booster to bump the octane up a little. At any rate, I know how annoying things like this can be but I honestly don't think it's a real problem. | ||
| Fdl3 |
"As well, with hearing about the other XB12 owners that are losing motors after 25000 miles plus is worrying me as well." It seems lately I keep reading of unsubstantiated reports from various other message boards of supposed XB owners having engine troubles after 20, 25, 30K miles. Can these reports be substantiated, or are they heresay? I almost get the feeling it is more of a smear campaign than fact. Anyone else notice? | ||
| Ingemar |
I believe you will always hear reports of engines dying etc. People with problems always scream the loudest and I remember not long ago I believed my engine was dying too. I've visited many other forums dedicated to a particular brand, and I know folks working at riceburner shops. Believe me, they have the same stuff going around as we do over here. | ||
| Bud |
ingemar... you hit the nail.. but it's a normal people reaction | ||
| Ingemar |
People with problems should scream out loud. But for crying out loud, why can't those without a problem not scream even louder?  | ||
| Blake |
Jack, What do you mean by "lowish rpms"? | ||
| Ingemar |
Hey Blake, why doesn't it say "message edited by .." when you change your mind?  | ||
| Joojoo |
Hey Blake, If the bike is hot, if Im in any gear 3200-3600 RPM (and obviously below) and come hard on the throttle (even a quick roll on), Ill get a split second of the "marbles" noise as shes laying out torque. Once I get high in the RPM's and its all horsepower, she sounds great. Jack | ||
| Rooster2168 |
Whats with all this talk of engine pinging? I have an xb12r that I ride very hard, and it has never once pinged. Even if I lug the engine it doesn't. So I don't know what gives. | ||
| Xbolt12 |
Guys, The Dobeck Performance Techlusion TFI eliminated all the pinging from my xb12r with stock ECM, no snorkle, stock exhaust, race filter. It's running better than ever and I haven't toyed with the settings from recommended at all. It is obvious to me that the xb12 is tuned lean for EPA regulations. xbolt12 | ||
| Blake |
Jack, Your Buell should not be pinging at 3200 rpm. Check for an intake leak. If you are not sure how to do that speak up and I'll walk you through it. John (Xbolt12), Any vehicle tuned to meed EPA is going to be on the lean side of optimum performance. Buell motorcycles are no different. By altering your intake to achieve more efficient flow, you may have caused a clean running engine to go too lean. | ||
| Hogs |
Xbolt12 if I didn`t know better one would think you are selling the product yourself..:-)) good to hear buddy keep us informed on it as I`m thinking about getting rid of the Race ecm( throw it on the wifes later maybe ) keep all other mods,and try one of these units myself.............. | ||
| Joojoo |
Thanks Blake, I dont know how to check for a leak. I am running a stock bike except for the race filter. Could this cause a lean condition? Jack | ||
| Blake |
The race intake/filter would tend to cause a leaner running engine in open loop mode (WOT). To check for an intake leak, get your bike warmed up and set the idle at around 2,000 rpm. Then get a can of contact cleaner or WD40 and spray it all around each of the three intake manifold sealing locations, where the intake manifold, the thing connecting the throttle body to the cylinder heads, interfaces the cylinder heads and the throttle body. If the engine speed drops noticeably, you've found an intake seal leak. Before I did that, I'd try reinstalling the stock intake/filter configuration. If that eliminates the pinging, you have identified the problem, and it is the race intake. You might also try a different source for high octane gasoline. I've not heard of any XB12 engine problems. Where did you hear about them? | ||
| Blake |
Ingemar, Hey Blake, why doesn't it say "message edited by .." when you change your mind? After posting, sometimes I'll hit the back button and revise my post, then delete the prior one. I may have done that above. Anyone can delete their posts within the allotted time limit. Sorry, no special secret insider conspiracy going on here. Not that YOU know of anyway.  | ||
| Tommy_2stroke |
Just for the record: I got an XB12cg here, that I've been riding around in the Southern California summer heat. Only 500 miles since new, I admit, but so far NO pinging whatsoever, under any conditions, even very hot. Bike is bone stock, and I'm using Shell or Mobil premium fuel. I've even lugged it away from a stop in 2nd gear...nothing. But I read these threads and believe some bikes are sometimes pinging... I wonder what the variable is? | ||
| Zx9rmal |
Hi guys. New here. Got my 12R a couple of weeks ago. Cool bike. Nice change from all the superbikes I've had (ZX-10R, 954RR, R1, Busa, etc.). Jack - I don't think the pinging you describe is normal. I agree with Blake about checking for an intake leak, but I'd lose the race filter first. I don't know why you'd use a race filter and leave the rest of the bike stock. What most riders don't get is that mods should be done with "matched" parts, or "stages", e.g., intake, exhaust, and ECM. I'm a believer in factory components, since they have the resources. I would also check the static timing. It's set from the factory, but that doesn't mean it's set properly. I live in Ft. Lauderdale, and neither my bike nor the demo I rode pinged. Your problem may be an intake leak or that air filter, but I'm betting on an ignition timing problem. | ||
| Joojoo |
How do I check my ignition timing? Ive never done that before.... Jack | ||
| Zx9rmal |
There is a procedure in the Factory Service Manual. Your dealer can check it. Otherwise, you can do it with a timing light. | ||
| Blake |
Ignition timing for any DDFI Buell motorcycle is determined by the ECM based upon cam position sensor output and other factors (throttle position, engine speed). The only thing you may need to set in that regard is the baseline cam position sensor. You cannot do that with a timing light as far as I know. It must be done according to the factory service manual. Basically you want the cam position sensor to activate at a set engine position. Your manual will tell you what that engine position must be. | ||
| Hogs |
So Blake tell me what will that box do that Dave and them were all talking about?? Besides setting the tps if it will do that what else? If you know? Thanks | ||
| Zx9rmal |
<<The only thing you may need to set in that regard is the baseline cam position sensor. You cannot do that with a timing light as far as I know.>> Blake - I have the Service Manual and know about the "timing procedure", but couldn't you get a look at static timing by using a light through the timing plug, since the timing mark is there? |
