| Author | Message | ||
     Impulse_101 |
I’ve got a nice 1997 S3T with 11,000 miles on it and a few small modifications. I would like to have a little more power and faster throttle response without making the engine run too hot. Remember, reliability is very important to me! My bike was bought to be a primary form of transport for me during the summer. i.e. I commute to work every day that I can. I’ve already got a Jagg oil cooler, ceramic header, forcewinder, carbon fiber rear fender, Vance and Hines pipe, and a lot of the bodywork removed. It is one of best looking S3T’s that I’ve seen. (That’s one of the reasons why I bought it) After a talk with UWgriz after the last brag meeting I’m thinking about modifying the bike next winter for better performance. Here are the things that we talked about and my questions about them. Carb and Air Cleaner: Mikuni 42mm, nuff said? I would like the Harley Carbon Fiber air cleaner as I think it looks better and I’m not sold on the Forcewinder yet. Heads: Should I go with Thunderstorm heads or XB heads? Which supply more power? Do they need any mods or will they bolt right up? Pistons: One of UWGriz’s suggestions was to run XB 9 pistons. I’m not too sure about this one, since I don’t want to pop a gasket. My bike still has the original paper gaskets and I’m going to replace them with metal gaskets next winter as well. A lot of these are small things but I figure that I can get anywhere from 5 to 10 Horse power without too much money or work and still improve the reliability of the bike. Does anyone else have any ideas? JT | ||
| Davefl |
Some of the people who really know will chime in I know but I think you can use your stock pistons with the XB heads. With the T-storm heads you will have to change to the T-storm pistons. | ||
| Aaron |
Dave is correct. To elaborate a little, your stock heads are what we refer to as "Lightning" heads. They have a small 62cc chamber with 10 degree squish bands that are totally ineffective with the stock flat top pistons. The ports are poorly shaped particularly in the bowl area and they're missing material in some places where they need it, which limits how much a porter can get out of them, or jacks up the price because they need material added. They use small 1.715" intake and 1.480" exhaust valves (same as a regular XLH1200) and putting in good size valves requires new seats, which again raises the cost of preparing the heads. While those heads can certainly be improved on, and we do it all the time, IMO if a person is going to sink money into a head, they're better off to start out with something better. In '98 Buell came out with a much improved head called the "Thunderstorm". This head has a 67cc chamber with a pair of 15 degree squish bands and much bigger 1.810/1.580 valves, as well as much better ports. They shipped these heads with a matching 15 degree domed piston. Overall, it's a much better setup, they literally rated the Thunderstorm motors at 10hp more than the Lightning motors. But if you use this head with a flat top piston, your compression ratio will drop to 9:1 or so because of the bigger chamber, and you won't have an effective squish band. You really need a set of Thunderstorm style pistons to make this conversion worthwhile. In '03, Buell came out with yet another new head, the "XB" head. The same head is also on the new 2004 Sportsters. This head goes back to a 62cc chamber like the Lightning head, so it again yields 10:1 with a flat top. The squish bands are not angled, so you get a squish band with a flat top. The valve sizes are 1.810/1.580 just like a Thunderstorm, and they went to a small 7mm valve stem with beehive springs that work really well and can support up to .550 of travel. The ports have some improvements over Thunderstorms as well, and they added material in areas where the port needed it. Even though stock to stock they flow about the same as Thunderstorms, they make more power. There are a couple of minor issues with putting these heads onto tube frame Buells, however. Easily overcome and we've helped lots of people put these heads onto their older Buells. More information here | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Aaron, Looking at your website what package sounds the closest to what I would want? What would a total list of services that you would suggest to fit my criteria of more power(10-15 HP) and more reliability. More than heads and pistons should be changed, correct? What about the breather tube ports? Are the XL1200R/XB heads compatable with my Tuber or do I need a different package? JT | ||
| Impulse_101 |
B.T.W. I have stock lightning heads on my bike. JT | ||
| Tripper |
Hot Rod S3. 125 HP. Money... don't ask.  | ||
| Jjlayleo |
I bought my Buell S3T last June and have put 12,000 miles on it. I have notice a lot of dead spots in the throttle with normal riding. I was thinking about put the racing kit with a power commander to help get more performance and response. Is this the way to correct the problem or is their a better option. | ||
| Josh_ |
JJ, install the complete race kit (or just the full exhaust and race ECM with a K&N replacement filter and modify the airbox) and try that. Save the $$ on the PC until you've at least tried just the race setup. It should fill all the holes for you. | ||
| Jjlayleo |
What type of exhaust works the best? I have been told D&D or Vance and Hines are the best on the market. edited by blake on July 22, 2004 | ||
| Josh_ |
Race exhaust works the best. The others are slip-ons for the stock header. The ECM doesn't raise the rev limit - it stays at 6800 but it does tune the motor for you. For best results, make sure timing is spot-on factory stock. If you have some miles on, consider changing the O2 sensor for the Bosch unit. | ||
| Captainkirk |
Ditto. The Buell race exhaust is the hot setup-for your bike header P/N 65396-96YA up to '98, and 65400-99YA if it's a '99 or later. Pipe is P/N 91424-99YA if it's '99 or later, or P/N 65398-96YB for pre-'99. The whole race kit(exhaust included) is82000-96YA (pre '99) or 82002-99YA ('99 and up). There may still be a few out there but they're going fast. Also check out ebay; search:Buell | ||
| José_quiñones |
The race kit works but is high maintenance, you always have to check it for loose nuts and the like. It likes breaking the "L" bracket at the front header mount just for fun. I gave up trying to keep it together and put the stock header back with the Supertrap IDS muffler. If you spend more time below 3500 rpm than you do between 6000-6800, you might want to try putting M2 cams in it. If you carry a passenger the extra grunt down low from these cams will come in handy. | ||
| Blake |
Jason, No need for PC-III with race ECM or vice versa. If your S3 is not running well, you might want to verify intake seal integrity and a few other things... O2 sensor, temperature sensor, etc... Sounds like a dyno tune session with A/F sensor may be in order. | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
My race kit on my 2000 S3T has not been high maintenance. Mine has the 2001 style muffler mount. It's been on for 8,000 miles with no problems. Make sure you double nut the header at the heads and check for looseness once in a while. Mine has never loosened up. Install with no bind in the system as the instructions tell you. | ||
| José_quiñones |
You're lucky, I had nothing but problems with it. | ||
| Steveford |
My race kit blows out it's packing but is otherwise robust. Of course now it'll self destruct. | ||
| Dave |
My race pipe has been pretty reliable. I use the American Sport Bike ceramic packing and the new Y exhaust bracket. I broke one race pipe hanger prior to the new hanger. (40k miles now) DAve | ||
| Gomo |
I Did the Race ECM, SuperTrapp Disc exhaust and K&N filter and what a diference. The bike runs smoother. As of yet, no Fuel Injection Hic-ups plus it has a lot more zip (to put it non technical terms). I am very please with it. Good luck finding a Race ECM for the F.I. X1's or S3's. I got mine just recently from American Sport Bike (paid a little higher than BUELL list, but it was worth it), it seems they have what might be the last few out there. The dealer did a nation wide search with no luck. If you have a carbed bike (98 or older), I do not know if the race items are still available from Buell either. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Update: The last race ECM sold yesterday, we have no more and won't be able to get anymore.  Al | ||
| Bluelightning |
Al, Does the repacking material you have work on the V&H canister as well, or would I need to go to V&H to get new packing material? I think that mine is totally blown out the end. Don't know why, what with me keeping the thing running are red line and all.....  | ||
| Stuporman |
I have a full unused race kit if anyone needs one |
