| Author | Message | ||
     Jaggerts |
Sup gang? Im new to the buell world.. I just picked up a 02 thunderbolt with 5200 miles in her.. Killer deal.. I have a ticking sound coming from the front top of the motor.. It sounds like a sowing machine.. It never goes away even when Im driving low speeds or high speeds.. Is this just the sound of the 1200 sporster motor or is there somthing I should be conserned about? Thanks guys... | ||
| Rick_a |
Light ticking or "box of rocks" sound is ok. If it sounds anything like a sowing machine you've got a quiet one. | ||
| Akbuell |
First thought - Try hanging out at a place where Sportsters congregate, and listen to other bikes and see if the noises are the same. Our air cooled v-twins do make a lot of mechanical sounds. Check around the top front of the engine, esp the motor mount and front exhaust pipe. Look for missing/broken fasteners. Possible exhaust leak at the head? Could be normal. | ||
| Jaggerts |
LOL!! Def not a box of rocks.. Just a ticking.. I stoped at the harley shop in town here and they said it was normal, but i wanted to check with guys that have these kinds of bikes.. Ill def check all the spots you guys said to check and make sure everything is tight.. Got another question.,. I want to change out the brether.. I like the look of that small little air cleaner that takes the place of the big black box.. Any ideas of what I should look for? You guys are a huge help.. I love this fourm... | ||
| Kilroy |
I think American Sport Bike sells a small round one. K&N "forcewinder" is the one with the 90 degree elbow with the cone shaped filter on the end. Or you can make an "econoforce" using the parts inside your breadbox. Where is Buellistic when we need him? | ||
| Rsm688 |
Exhaust gaskets are leaking I'd bet. I just had the exaft same problem with my bike. $8 worth of exhaust gaskets and no more ticking. Also the little metal bracket that holds the break cable to the forks can cause a ticking, I pulled mine off. For the exhaust gaskets, get all the old ones out, throw the new ones in the freezer for a few hours and use a little dish soap to slide them in -spencer- | ||
| Coxster |
get the regular 'tall' exhaust gaskets, about 1/4" vs the low profile screamin eagle. I wadded up the SE, but then again I didn't know Rsm688's trick of using the freezer. When I slid my muffler on the header, I froze the header with some computer spray, made the assembly much easier | ||
| Jaggerts |
Ok I will sure change out the gaskets first.. Ant Ideas where is the best place to order them? Like I said Im new to the Buell world so I need your years of great info.. I want to keep my bike for a long time and want her to run the best she can.. I plan on working on her tonight to find some of the noises..Thanks again for the help guys... | ||
| Rsm688 |
Agreed on not using the smaller screaming eagle ones, I also used the cap off one of my spices from my kitchen and used it to evenly push the seals in without putting too much pressure on one side. Also get some permatex copper rtv from your local auto parts store an line the inside of the muffler where the header pipe attaches so that everything seals up nice and tight Americansportbike.com is a great place to order them -spencer- | ||
| Jaggerts |
Ok I just looked at that web site Spencer.. Im not sure what gastets to get.. Iv never done this kind of work on a bike befor so all the help you could give is super helpfull.. I dont want you guys to think Im a dumb ass.. LOL!! I just want to get the right stuff.. Thanks... | ||
| Kilroy |
http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/5931.html | ||
| Coxster |
Here are the 'EVO' Gaskets http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/5931.html and the flat gaskets I recommend you avoid http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/5930.html | ||
| Coxster |
Sorry for the duplication Kilroy, 'saw you' on a truck the other day ; ) | ||
| Rsm688 |
The EVO ones are the ones you want, sorry I didnt think to post a link No worries there, I have only been a Bueller for about 4 months. Everything I know I picked up from other Bueller's on the board. Hang out here for a while and you will learn quickly | ||
| Jaggerts |
Ok!!! I just spent some time with the thunderbolt . I tightend all the bolts to the on the header and they were all loose.  I started I up and no ticking!!! Bam!!! I'm so pumped!! Thanks for all your help guys!! | ||
| Rsm688 |
Be careful, the nuts on the header bolts are not meant to be torqued down real hard, I believe it calls for 6-8 ft/lbs of torque. The studs are notorious for breaking and can be an absolute nightmare to get them out. Also If you over tighten them it can force the gasket into the head some and block some of the airflow. The nuts usually sit out about 1/2" or so from the heads. You could have had a leaking gasket that you squished tight enough to seal it off but now run the risk of breaking the studs. Or it could have just been loose, either way I would loosen them and torque them to specs. If the ticking comes back you still need new gaskets, if it doesn't come back then the nuts were probably just loose -spencer- | ||
| Kilroy |
LOL Cox | ||
| Jaggerts |
Whell I torqued them good, Im sure more that 8 ft\lbs.. I dont feel any air flow problums or power restriction.. I guess well have to see how it goes.. What are your guys thoughts on getting a service done by harley? Is that somthing I should look into doing? It only has 5000 or so miles on it.. | ||
| Ustorque |
Get the book, learn your bike, don't let anyone else touch it! It will be worth it in the long run. Also if it makes you feel any better, my S3 sounds like a blender full of nickels and she runs like a top so i wouldn't be to scared. | ||
| Jaggerts |
Thanks Ustorque! Good words to live by.. I dont let anyone touch my jeep and it never has a peoblum.. I do all the work myself. Im just gonna have to learn about my bike to.. I looked on ebay for a manual and they seen to be going for $40. Im guessing that is about standard.. Im just kinda picky about noises.. I have a jeep and drive myself nuts trying to find all the rattles, and I know thats just the noises it makes when ya got a lifted jeep. I guess it the same way with a harley motor.. Thanks fellas!!! | ||
| Rsm688 |
Jaggerts, what I was getting at about you torquing them down real good is that you very well may have overtorqued them putting extrass stress on the exhaust studs which are notorious for breaking in the first place and sometimes requires a machine shop to get them out and that will require pulling the motor and a lot of money the manual will be the best $40 you ever spent | ||
| Hootowl |
Most of the rattle is from the cam gears knocking into each other. The cam tries to rotate backwards when the valve is closing because of the spring pressure on the back side of the lobe. They used to match them at the factory for tighter tolerances, but they abandoned that practice years ago. It's clackety, but harmless. | ||
| Jaggerts |
Im just gonna leave it alone then. The ticking sound is much better now. I don't think I crankedthem down to tight to damage the bolt coming out for the header. I'm gonna get a manual soon. Thanks for all your help guys!! | ||
| Akbuell |
I'm going to be with RSM here and sound a note of caution. Exhaust studs have a poor service history with some owners, and tend to snap off at the surface of the head. Removal of the remains can be/is an issue. My X-1 manual (YMMV) list 6-8 ft/lbs torque for the nuts. Might do to loosen all of the nuts/bolts in the exh system, wiggle everything a little, and start tightening things up at the head, working to the end of the muffler, using factory torque settings. If the ticking returns, you do have an exhaust leak, and you will have to replace the gaskets. Much easier than pulling a head (and the cylinder, because the base gasket will leak if you don't replace it) and taking it to a machine shop to have the broken stud removed .... | ||
| Akbuell |
Ooooppsss! My bad; should have looked in the service manual first. With everything loose, tighten the muffler first, back to front. Wiggle things. Then the header bolts, to 6-8 ft/lbs. Wiggle stuff. Then the exhaust (Torca) clamp. Also wouldn't hurt to get with Buellistic for his instructions. He knows his stuff. | ||
| Jaggerts |
Ok will do. I don't think I'm gonna mess with it till I get my gaskets in though. Another question.. Iv been looking around at breathers.. Will the stock breathers off a 1200 sportster fit the 1200 buell? I'm finding a lot of good deals on eBay but don't want to buy till I know for sure. Thanks guys!! | ||
| Kimberley |
My '02 ticks away........fairly quiet. I'm anal about checking the oil and she runs fantastic so I yet another Buelly quirk!!!  |
