| Author | Message | ||
     Fdl3  |
I have 21K on my Firebolt, and the stator has gone bad. I got alarmed at the number of stator failures around the 20K mark after performing a search on "stator", until I realized that many of the returned hits were from Glitch reporting his stator failure in multiple posts!  But still, out of curiosity, who here has had problems with the stator on the XB models? | ||
| Glitch  |
I realized that many of the returned hits were from Glitch reporting his stator failure in multiple posts! Sorry, it's just how I am I guess  | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
14200 miles for mine. Replaced under warranty. The smell of fried Mobil1 was the giveaway. | ||
| Chainsaw  |
15K. Dead. Voltage regulator too. See profile! | ||
| Al_lighton  |
I'll look at the parts and service manuals to see if the physical construction has changed, but failures of stators above 20K are certainly common enough on the older XL based engines. Did any of you see your failed stator? Where did it fail? I had one fail on my S3 at 26K or so, my S1W at 35K or so. Both failed where the regular stranded wire attaches to the solid windings, likely due to wire wiggle from vibration at that location. When I put my stator back on the S3, I backfilled the "clamp" (word used loosely, its just a retaining plate that keeps the wire away from the spinning rotor, it doesn't really stop wire movement/flex much) area with RTV to prevent wire movement of the free stranded wire relative to the very fixed windings. I'm hopeful that this will eliminate, or minimize, the failure mode. See the post I did on the little voltmeter I'm using now. I want to know for sure when I've lost charging on my bikes, as FI bikes don't run well or long on total loss electrical systems. The PITA of having to replace the failed part is bad enough, getting stranded in the middle of nowhere is no fun. If it ever happens when you're riding with someone, the escape is to swap batteries. But by yourself, you're done, you ain't going nowhere. Al | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Nope Al, I didn't get to see the part. I asked but was told it had already been sent back to BHQ. | ||
| Glitch |
Did any of you see your failed stator? Where did it fail?  | ||
| Al_lighton |
Yup, about what I'd expected to see. Mine looked similar, failed at the region where the wires come in. Looked at the service manual to see how the wires are retained in the XB engines. It's a little different than the XL based engines, but seems fundamentally the same. I'm not opening it up specifically to tack those wires down, but the first time I'm in there (hopefully not to replace a failed stator!), I'll be coming up with something to further prevent wire movement of the stranded wires relative to the fixed wires on the stator. Al | ||
| Reepicheep  |
Looked much like mine from the Cyclone (just with one less wire). I think mine went one post further counter clockwise, but I think there were fewer posts as well. | ||
| Daman |
My bike has been in the shop six times for stator/voltage regulator problems in under 9000miles (Message edited by daman on January 27, 2005) | ||
| 99x1  |
"failed at the region where the wires come in" This is likely where most failures would be - the voltage difference between the coils is low except at the end coils, the only joints are at the ends, and it might run hotter at the top then the bottom? | ||
| Jasonxb12s  |
What would be some symptoms? I occasionaly smell "fried mobil 1" same smell from draining the tranny. My starter hesitates to make the initial turn when the bike is cold too. | ||
| Kaese  |
Have 25,000 on mine. No failure yet. I was curious about the symptoms also. | ||
| Hkwan |
Yeah, what are the symptoms? Fried fuses, bulbs? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
The battery doesn't seem to want to take a charge was the first slight indication. The hesitation at start up with the starter. Then the fried Mobil 1 smell. The final day the bike wouldn't start and had to be push started and barely made it home. | ||
| Reepicheep |
There are two tests. 1) Simple Test. Pop off derby cover. Stick nose in hole. Exhale completely. Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely. If you threw up, you have a fried stator. If not, it's just the normal stink of mobil 1 or sport trans. (you think I am kidding.. I am not). 2) Fullproof test. Open your manual to the "stator test" page. Read and perform test. There. Simple  When it finally goes completely, you will just gradually drain your battery and the bike will strand you somewhere. You will charge it back up or jump it, because you are in denial, and ride it somemore, where it will strand you again. The battery just won't charge, and when the battery gets low enough, the bike will run like crap for a short period, then die completely. Jumping it or recharging the battery will make everything perfect again, until the charge is used up or disconnected. | ||
| Xb12scg05 |
Ihave found that a lot of stator failures and also regulator failures are due to batteries that wont reach a full charge either because they werenot serviced properly when they were new or they need replacing Kuryakyn sells a neat little meter that will keep you up to date on your Buells charging system | ||
| Jasonxb12s |
That's some funny •••• Reep. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Hell Reep, mine stunk so bad I didn't need to open up the primary in any way...My girlfriend is still giving me hell about the smell lingering in the garage from it. | ||
| Coturi  |
3800 miles for the stator and regulator for me. Symptoms were that of a typical dead battery at first, luckily no nasty stench. | ||
| Aldaytona  |
Signal Dynamics makes a small box with a single LED that changes color to easily and quickly show you the condition of your charging system. Easy to install as well. They also have it in a single LED mount with a remote box so it can be mounted almost anywhere with only the LED showing. Signal Dynamics has been making quality electronics for years (Back Off module) for example. It's even inexpensive. | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
Okay, my turn to add to this one... A little over 10K and a few days ago, bike started running like crap. Thought fouled plugs at first, because I had let a friend use it to practice for his DMV test and thought the extended low speeds had fouled the plugs. They were a little fouled, but cleaning them didn't do any good. Went on to check battery voltage. Engine off, it read 12.29 volts. Started thinking bad battery, but I had purchased it only back in March of this year. Still, swapped it with another battery that I keep on a tender and the bike started fine. However, I checked voltage with engine running and found that it was only charging at 12.46 volts. Thought bad regulator and brought bike to dealer last Friday (it's under warranty still). They also diagnosed bad regulator, but didn't have one. Bad news since I was already pre-registered for the Love Ride which was two days away. They over-nighted one from Redwood City and I spoke to them on Saturday. They told me it wasn't the regulator, but the stator. Luckily, they had ONE in stock. I saw the stator and it looked pretty much like the one in Glitch's post above. They managed to save the day! I would have been more pissed to miss the ride than having to leave the bike in the shop to wait for the part. Anyway, the next morning, heading to Glendale for the start of the ride (coincidentally, at the same dealer that did the repair), noticed that the tech hadn't set the idle properly and it would sit at about 2K unless I forced it down by dragging the clutch. Anyway, reset it and noticed that my idle fluctuates between 1K and 1200 at random. Didn't do this before, and they did nothing that could have resulted in an intake leak. Will have to double check regulator output to rule that out as they kept my old regulator on the bike. Steve. | ||
| Buellerx |
Mine Failed around 18 or 19K took 2 Regulators with it. Look at my post from Aug 2005. | ||
| Vlightningx1v |
This is an old post but I am hoping it goes in the right direction since this is a good thread for the topic. Al, have you had to open that stator to retain the windings? How about you Glitch? I haven't had this happen to me yet but see it common on the 1125's and seeing it with all bikes now. I have 3 main questions on the stator issues. 1) is this problem with the stator the same with the 1125's 2) what are other stator problems? 3) if I am running a 1125cr head lamp conversion on a 05 xb12r does that increase my chances of having stator problems? What could I do in order to keep that conversion. Not sure if this will go anywhere since this is an old post, but I'll try it. | ||
| Froggy |
1, No. The problem on the 09 1125's is the stators failing due to overheating. 2, The main causes of stator issues on the XB was running the wrong type of oil in the primary case, causing the protective coating on the stator to fail. Another cause of failure was a poor connection (77 connector), causing the connection to arc and melt. 3, It would make no difference regardless of how many or what lights you have. | ||
| Vlightningx1v |
Wow! And thank you Froggy! that is good to know the conversion won't be the issue. I have read about some oils causing problems (damb). I haven't written down the list of oils to avoid yet but will get to it soon. I haven't changed the fluids on my new(old) xb but have been using the syn 3 by screaming eagle on my x1. Is it known what the chemical is that is causing the problems? | ||
| Froggy |
The biggest culprit is the GL5 rated Mobile 1 Gear Oil. Stick to normal V-twin oils or HD Formula+ and you will be fine. Don't be afraid to make a new thread asking about a specific brand/type. |
