| Author | Message | ||
     Captainkirk |
Just curious.....how many of you OldSchoolers out there do your own maintenance, and for those that do, how much do you do? Just PM, "fix-it-when-it's-broke", mods only, or everything? And of those who DON'T, do you take it to a Harley/Buell mech or an indie shop? I try to do everything as it comes up, BTW. The few times I've gone to the dealer for warranty work I've been disappointed in some way or another. | ||
| Maxbuell |
That is one one of the thing I love about my M2 that it's very easy to work on. I do all the work on mine. It's an 02 with 15K. Nothing major yet, brakes, forks, primary seal. Have a factory manual that is priceless and covered in grease. Nobody takes care of your stuff like yourself! | ||
| Rocketman |
I do everything, and better than any HD Buell tech. This way I can blame myself when it's my fault. Rocket | ||
| Patrickh |
it's like a giant erector set you can ride | ||
| Whodom |
The only things I've taken my bike to the dealer for are the rear shock recall and a TPS reset. These bikes are not hard to work on. Oh yea, I change my own tires, too. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Only one guy works on my bike. He's really slow, though, not just in pace, either. He's irritable and hard to be around unless everything is going just right. It took him 3 hours just to get the front wheel off once. He can't do anything to the bike without cursing parts guys... he swears up and down he orders the right stuff, so it's never his fault, it's always their fault. His shop can be a rats nest sometimes too... he spent an hour looking for a torque wrench once because he's so disorganized. A multi-meter can send him into a panic; it was obvious he didn't have clue how to use one to diagnose a stator failure. He's always having to look at the shop manual, too. Sometimes when he's working on the bike, he has a really confused look on his face. That's me, btw; I'm the mechanic. | ||
| Ragnagwar |
I do everything on mine. My dog "Cruzer" helps a lot. He's very smart and knows just what part or tool I need next, because that's the one he takes off with just when I need it!!! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I do everything I have tools for- can't reset my own TPS or remove/replace tires from the rim..... Easy to work on is one of my main criteria when looking to purchase since I do not buy new.... That is one of the many reasons I bought a tube frame Buell! | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I've found that Buell's are kinda like old cars....there's nothing too difficult as long as you take it slow & easy. I've done everything from as complicated as a complete top-end rebuild to as simple as changing plugs. I've tuned my own carb and I mount & balance my own tires. Oh yeah....I barely owned a wrench before purchasing my Buell. BTW...I CHOOSE to do my own work. It's kinda like therapy for me. | ||
| Naustin |
I just bought mine, and after 3 trips to the Harley Shop with it the first month I owned it, realized you have to be your own mechanic if you own a Tuber (or any Buell for that matter. And I even bought my bike from that Dealer!!  ... ... (Message edited by naustin on September 29, 2006) | ||
| Bomber |
Hey, DJ -- sounds like we gots the same wrench! grumpy cuss, ain't he? | ||
| Bluem2 |
I bought my M2 last spring because my slow mechanic (me that is) hadn't gotten around to getting my Yamaha XS650 twin together for the last two years. I soon discovered that I had purchased a Buell with a pre-existing broken header stud condition and I would be drilling and tapping into my head while it was on the bike. The knowledge here at BWB enabled a successful fix though, and I had not done anything that scary before. In other words - I do my own work. Because I want to. | ||
| Sleez |
i do almost everything myself, still take it to a shop (non-HD) to get tires mounted and balanced, other than that...all me! | ||
| Silas_clone |
Just over a year of ownership; new tires, new clutch cable, new front rotor and pads, stock muffler customized and upgraded hangers, upgraded primary shoe replacement, stock handlebars, oil, spark plugs, plastic removal, obsessive belt and rear axle adjustment. Planning to do oil pump gear and isolators. Not very difficult to do the work, but get a manual, read the knowledge vault, ask questions and DO NOT rely on the dealership unless you know who you are dealing with. Make sure YOU double check part numbers. Getting the old front rotor off was a PITA, had to have nuts welded onto those lousy torx screws. Also replaced derby torx screws with 1/4-20 studs and nuts. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
Also replaced derby torx screws with 1/4-20 studs and nuts Now that's something I've not hear about or seen done yet. Sounds like a good idea!! I replaced my with a standard allen. As for the rotor bolts, I drill them out and use a "backout" tool. | ||
| Bomber |
please splain this "backout" tool | ||
| Rex |
would love to do all of my work, but I do not have the knowledge or the tools to do it. I always get every nut or bolt out, except for one, and it will not come out. I don't have the proper tools to do the work normally, other than oil changes, eetc. I don't want to trust my work, when I am running 70-90 mph going down the road. I guess I need to go to motorcycle mechanics school...rex | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I do mainly maintainace stuff and electrical things. The most involved thing I did so far was a clutch job. It ended up being easier than my dirtbike! | ||
| Freeflyer |
please splain this "backout" tool easy out? i would guess | ||
| Aesquire |
The initial recommended work (1000 miles, etc. ) was done by the dealer. Except extra oil changes during break in, done by me. I'm not an ace mechanic, being slow & impatient. I feel much better about working on it after first, jetting the carb, then fixing a rocker box leak. So, I self maintain as much as possible from now on. This weekend, Race header! | ||
| Iamike |
I am kind of a tinkerer so I really enjoyed my S3. The only real problems that I've had were 2 side-stand switch failures and the stator. I was able to fix the switches on the road, luckily the other failed just 7 miles from home coming back from a road trip. I've done a lot of preventative maintenance and did a ring & valve job a couple of years ago. This bike has just been a blast and I will most likely keep it for a lot longer. | ||
| Tunes |
When I have the tools, I do the work... otherwise, my wrench takes care of the rest. Fortunate for me, we work for the same co. so we can bounce ideas off each other... especially when he has a tough bike to fix at home. Bike therapy when I can't ride. | ||
| Seth |
Self maintained. Can't afford or trust anybody else now-a -days. Get yourself a factory repair manual if you want to wrench your own ride. They are set-up great and easy to follow.  | ||
| Bluzm2 |
I do all work my self on my M2 and S2, my son's S2, my daughters Blast, a neighbors M2 and another neighbors S3. And anyone else that stops by and needs a hand. I've got a big one this winter, my M2 motor needs crank work. I'm rebuilding a 98 S1 at the moment. No need for the dealer except for parts. BTW, Zylstra in Elk River charges over list for some parts. NEVER going back there again. Only reason I went there was they were close and I neede a part quick. Brad | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
i got my x1 used with 950 miles on it. top cover gaskets I did , adj chain , clutch and replace rear belt and O2 sensor. Thats all i have had to do. Not including the accident i had last year. These bikes are great, the manuals are very good these days. Dont trust the dealer, know who worked on your bike and try to ask questions. This is a good resource here. CHECK FOR INTAKE LEAKS ON OCCASION. You dont want a lean condition blowing a hole in your piston or explodeing it at 80 mph on the highway!!!! I am a factory trained Harley tech though. Buy 400 bucks in craftsman tools and you should be ok. I despise my local Buell dealer. Next year I get the software kit so I can reset the tps. I take my wheels to the local Honda dealer for tires and balance. My Buell will never see a dealers shop. If I didnt have a motorcycle education, a mechanical attitude is enough. If you can work on your car, you can work on your Buell. Just be carefull and ASK QUESTIONS. At 60 MPH your ass is on the line boy. Brakes and suspension work is easy but very important  3 main concerns about the motor and trans. Primary chain tensioner, make sure its the latest style. Make sure your shift detent plate isnt falling off ( shifts good then its ok ) and make sure the oil pump gear isnt bad ( there is a better safer gear available , the gold one ) those three things can lock a motor up and cause catastrophic failures. Dont forget the Joker! (Message edited by mmmi_grad on September 30, 2006) | ||
| Captainkirk |
Well, so far, it's pretty much like I figured, the majority of us do most or all of our own work. In aviation, we have what's called the "3 minute factor"....which states, pretty much, that from the time something begins to go wrong to the time of impact (depending on altitude) is three minutes or less. On my Buell, I would change that to more like the three SECOND rule.......no room for mistakes whatsoever. Don't trust your bike to a hack (unless that hack is you!) |
