| Author | Message | ||
     Boogman |
Hello All, A fellow bueller in OZ has post this information at another site.. and I thought to ask for badwebs thoughts. As anyone experienced this ..  The photo was taken from a mobile phone camera so quality is average but you get the idea.. XB12R 06 .. race ecm and pipe .. Owner fills bike up with fuel .. rides for 20 mins .. then the pipes are glowing red. Only occurs when the bike is full of fuel ? the bike is only 6 weeks old. And still being run in ...not totally being flogged .. Any one had this happen ?? The dealer has diagnosed the bike, apparently called BUELL USA. sent the pics etc. and the answer is that this is normal !!! Ive never seen this on a buell .. ( i have a xb9s race kitted ) .. and ride with a few lads that have 9s and 12's .. Comments please I just dont want this guy to make the news .. if his 6 week old Buell detonates on him Cheers | ||
| Tunes |
Normal? Really? Looks like it's runnin' REAL lean to me. I wouldn't ride it another inch until I knew why this was happening. Maybe a pinched fuel vent, an intake leak, timing, etc. It just don't look right to me. With all this said, I have never seen ANY Buell do this... including my 2. I have had this happen to me on a '76 XLCH Sportster. When I pulled the top-end off, the pistons had indentations on the side of the domes from melting. Turns out the mechanic I bought the bike from wanted to keep "his" cams and installed stock cams. The cams needed to be "HOT", therefore, not enough air for the high compression pistons... and I know this is not yer prob. It just don't look right to me.  | ||
| Teddagreek |
That is not normal... Personally I'd just leave at the dealer and demand another bike or my money back and would have my friend who is a attorney on standby... If the headers have got that hot I sure the motor has already suffered damage internally as well... I'm no motorcycle mechanic but On a car running lean can cause that and also if the timing is way off.. That kind of heat screws your valves up..} (Message edited by teddagreek on May 26, 2006) Once a Marine always a Marine! | ||
| Hogs |
I have heard of other ppl. bikes like that here on BAdWeathers, Just when they shut em off in an enclosed garage when they got back from a hard run... If I remember right many had this and All said it was normal, But I have never saw mine like that, Not that I really looked either... | ||
| Jlnance |
Boogman - There was a similar thread here a couple months ago. Someone let their bike idle, turned off the lights, and the headers were glowing. All sort of speculation ensued about what was causing this problem. Then other people started trying it, and their headers glowed too. We had just never noticed. It had to be pretty dark for us to see the glow. I can't tell how much background light you had when you took the picture, but I think it's more than we had. Of course we were just idling the bike too. Anyway, it may be prefectly normal. The best way to get "peace of mind" about it is this. Go figure out the simplest way to make them glow, and note how dark it has to be to see it. Post back here and then other people can do the same thing and see if their headers glow. | ||
| Debueller |
I was shocked the first time I seen my front header glow orange. It was very dark outside in the woods at night with the engine and lights off. I suspect if I had been running it hard it would have been red. My Uly is under warranty so I'm just going to ride it. So far my the finish on my pipes are no worse for discoloration than other XB's I've seen. On my bike I've come to the conclusion that it is normal. BTW that photo does looks pretty red. | ||
| Swordsman |
Whoa! That's wild! Wonder if mine does that too? My pipes have blued a good bit, but I always ride during the day and leave it parked outside for awhile when I get beck, so I've never noticed anything glowing. Someone get the marshmallows! =D ~SM | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Seems fairly normal. (I'm afraid this isn't something that will be easily fixed, or correctly troubleshot on the web though) If you get them realy hot they will blue down farther and turn really cool colors! Kinda like mine.  (Message edited by 99buellx1 on May 26, 2006) Woooo! We have signatures now!! | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
How many miles are on the bike? Bet they wouldn't glow like that with a "DRUMMER" on there.IMO Call Kevin and ask him....Charlie | ||
| Buell920 |
normal as can be. if you realy whant to see something wild get a guy/girl with a twincam road king and look at there rear pipe after a ride "cherry red" is not the word. just ride it and enjoy the thing | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Ok, I'll bite. What in the world would a Drummer fix? Make the bike run more lean and get hotter? (believe me, I've seen the a/f ratios, ALL pipes make the bikes run lean without some tuning) Why does it seem like lately the cure all for these bikes is a Drummer? "my bike is sputtering", "oh, that's cuz you dont have a Drummer!" "my bikes fan seems to run alot", "put a Drummer on it, that will fix it!" "my tires wore out at 2500 miles", "Drummer baby!" (this post is no way intending to undermine Kevin or ANY of his great products, he does make a great product, and his passion is obvious!) Please, let's not make this a pipe thread. This bike needs answers, not speculation. Woooo! We have signatures now!! | ||
| Caffeinedreamz |
lol I don't know if that's normal... but it looks cool! | ||
| M1combat |
It's normal enough. I've heard of glowing headers many times. I've had mine glowing. If it really bugs you, send them to Al at American Sport Bike for a cerami-cote... | ||
| Nuerburgringer |
My old BMWs do it too, apparent at night. They're very high mileage, and have done that their entire lives. Seen a stock SV650 do it after idling for a short time at night recently. Remarkably common. | ||
| Perry |
Normal - go for a ride at night and then pull over, and check out the headers while it idles. You don't see it during the day, but you will at night. But yeah, you could just get a drummer, which will make your tranny shift smoother, your seat more comfortable, your tires last longer, and bugs won't splat on your helmet. At least, that's what I hear. I just have the Buell race can so my tires are worn, the tranny is clunky, and the bugs... Gotta admit someone knows how to build a VERY happy customer base. | ||
| Reducati |
noticed the same thing last year or so, after parking in garage, and turned out light...ouch, brought it in...nothing wrong said dealer....now 15k, i dont even look at it...rev it up, and ride | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
Just a little humor Craig, don't get your panties in a bunch.........Charlie | ||
| 99buellx1 |
So was mine, watch that corset. | ||
| M1combat |
"Gotta admit someone knows how to build a VERY happy customer base." He does it by making VERY good pipes  . | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Also, it was just a generilization, didnt mean it to be directed at you. Sorry if you took it that way. I think there are a bunch of people that are starting to feel the same way around here.....and thats a good thing. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Soo good infact that I heard that Ron Popeil is gonna start marketing them!  Just set it and forget it!  | ||
| Teddagreek |
This bike is new and he is just breaking it in something is not right} I'm a aircooled VW guy I've seen headers glowing on a VW motor out of wack.. I would say it would be retarded and or lean.... a "late burn" is a burn still burning when exhaust valve opens or a miss fire can allow raw fuel to enter the exhaust and ignite.. Any one else you know with a 12? Swap out the ECM and see if it fixes the problem.. Once a Marine always a Marine! | ||
| 99buellx1 |
He would then need a TPS reset. My Hero! | ||
| Perry |
So will they sell for $29.99 on Ronco like everything else? I will absolutely buy one then! And when that happens, Ron will be my hero too. Wow, the drummer SS for $29.99 - WOO HOO! | ||
| Bigbuell |
Well to just throw another monkey wrench in the fire, all of the header I ever bought for my other bikes (cruisers), have been V&H pipes and they have a double wall tubing headers and they never blued or glowed red. But on the other hand all the other motorcycle that I have ever owned there pipes have glowed at one time or another. Espesically V-Twin bikes. IMO | ||
| Davo |
Boogman, My stock Uly xb12x glows orange in the dark. I retarded my timing a little and thought that it was moving some heat down the tubes but others on the Uly forum have pipes that glow. I would be interested in finding out what your timing looks like. Straight up or a little late. Does you bike ping when it gets hot? Do you have a VDSTS? | ||
| Boogman |
thanks for the replies on the actual topic people .. Yes the headers get hot .. and change color etc .. but red hot ... im not sure of that .. I think ECM is the issue .. the dealer contacted buell .. and called the US .. they said all was fine .. but would you trust a vehicle that was doing that ??? ive not seen any road bike have pipes that glow red from normal riding especially during break in .. anyhow .. the dealer gave the bike back .. with nothing done .. said .. well its all under warranty etc .. ( what happens if the thing blows ... at 80 mph ??? Will catch up with this bloke soon .. see what he says .. Id put the std ecm back in and see if anything changes .. | ||
| Davo |
Boogman, I you are concerned just pull the front plug and get a read on it. Remove the scoop and use a 5/8 box end wrench. When reinstalling use anti seize then finger tight all the way down plus 1/8 turn on a reused plug; and 1/4 turn on a new plug. If you got a melt down, the plug will tell the story. Bleached white and blistered where the insulator hits the electrode means HOT. IF it is clean and ivory colored with maybe a brown quench mark then you got a "perfect burn" I think you are o.k. though. To check the timing pull the timing plug at the base of the right side between the cylinders then turn the key and ignition on. Put the bike in 5th gear and SLOWLY push the bike forward. Listen for the fuel pump. The fuel pump will cycle six times for every cam rotation. One of those times the timing mark should be straight up. Take note if it is not straight up. It helps to get someone to help you do this. It is tough by yourself. Be careful not to jump start the bike when you do this procedure. reinstall the timing plug 120-180 in.-lbs.......Now you know why Buells dont have a CAT. It is because the Header is CAT like! (Message edited by davo on May 27, 2006) | ||
| Boogman |
cheers Davo .. its not my bike ... another bueller here in Australia .. I havnt talked to him since he picked it up .. But should he be stuffing around trying to determine what is going on with the bike when its only 5 weeks since he picked it up new ??? Yeah they get hot .. but Not sure that hot .. anyhow thanks again all for the replies .. see what he ends up doing with the bike .. | ||
| Bake |
My WR400 doubles as a big cigar lighter at night. Grab a thermometer and see what temps it's running at. | ||
| Xb12rider |
Dudes and Dudettes it is normal operation that causes the exhaust header pipe to get hot now this lean this and pull a plug that is the wrong answer. The construction is thin walled high strength steel it keeps the weight down. Don't wanna see the pipe like that then wrap your pipe with a product called COOL IT thermotec exhaust wrap around 35 bucks for 50'of wrap and spray the wrap with a product called V.H.T. flameproof 1300-2000F (704-1093c)header paint check both products out at their respective web sites pj1.com for the paint thermotec.com for the wrap.my two revs P.S. the paint is like 8-9 bucks worth every penny will load pics as soon as i format my camera | ||
| Wieners1 |
i have an 07 xb12scg and as a matter of fact my bike has been in the dealer for two weeks for this problem now after reading this thread i realize that the dealer is clueless.no engine light only slight running problems cold but the pipes glow after idling a short time.they diagnosed it as a bad ecm.i was told by the service manager that the ecm was saying all sensors faulty.i dont think they know what they are doing.i have over 20 yrs exp as a auto tech and usually the last thing the problem is an ecm thanks |
