| Author | Message | ||
     Nocompromise |
 Thanks to everyone on here for helping me to complete my Buell project (especially Jim Higgins who came over and personally saved me untold amounts of time and frustration - I still owe you and the fam dinner!). Badweb is a close second to the factory manual when it comes to maintenance issues. I can't count how many times I was able to work through issues because someone else had already given advice on that exact problem. Special thanks also to whoever thought of using dowels in the holes of the primary and cam covers to mount the gaskets and covers. That was GREAT advice! I'm sure there were a few other tips that really helped me, but that was one that really stuck out. My S1 is finally back together with the exception of a decent primary cover (long story, but the one on there is stripped to the bare metal) and gasket. She started up and ran on the first try (after I figured out that my starter relay had come unplugged from the starter)! I still have some stuff on the burner, but at least I can ride as I continue to do projects. Still to do: 1. Mount handlebars - Thanks Bart!! Although I'm 95% sure I want handlebars instead of clip-ons, I'm going to go for a few rides with the clip-ons before I change them out. 2. Penske shock - arrived last week built to my specs!! I have to decide how I want to mount the reservoir. If anyone has suggestions about how to mount it under the engine (as Djkaplan has in this thread - http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/251321.html?1174501613 ), I'm all ears! I'd prefer not to mount it to the frame since it looks more obtrusive. 3. Race Tech valves/springs - I have all the hardware, and I think I'm just going to have a local shop install them. 4. Braided steel front brake line - Again, I have it, but I haven't installed it yet. 5. Banke shifter - I had to bend the heck out of my stock one to get it to fit. I had rearsets on my other S1, and I don't remember if I bent the stock hardware to fit or what. I am not planning on using the rearsets (initially at least) on this bike, so I had to bend the boomerang quite a bit. I was debating whether to get the Banke, but now I'm sure that's what I'll do. 6. LED turn signals - again I already have them, but they didn't do anything when I tried them out. I think the flasher unit that the previous owner installed is broken. I'll try replacing that first, then troubleshoot from there. 7. Custom paint - this will be in the future, but it's nice to think about.  8. Swingarm swap - I forgot to add this one, but once I muster the courage I'll probably swap for a 99+ swingarm and powder coat it black. I'm hoping I have the majority of the wrenching done and I can finally get some RIDING done!!  Here are some quick and dirties I took just now. Sorry for the poopy lighting and background.   (Message edited by nocompromise on August 26, 2007) | ||
| Nocompromise |
I should have a full ride report tomorrow once I get that gasket installed, but from the brief experience I had she is a real rocket. Also, here is a really dumb question: Does this part go to my S1, and if so, where? I hate having leftover parts when I work on a project! I kept everything quite organized (by my standards), but somehow I still lost a bolt and ended up with this extra piece.  | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Thats a luscious bike. Love it. Cant help with the spare part though. They are a common thing with me and my projects. Kinda like "bonus" parts. | ||
| Mm128 |
Very NICE !!! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Looks kinda like a shock eyelet bushing. A little bit too clean though. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Ahh, another S1 back on the street! | ||
| Ratbuell |
On the LED lights - try reversing the wires to them. They are pole-sensitive, unlike filament bulbs. For the Penske, I mounted my reservoir right above the frame brace on the left frame spar. I ran a keychain ring through the crown adjuster, and poof! on-the-fly adjustment. A VERY nice S1 you have. I'd recommend also looking into the CRG levers for clutch and brake. I got the stubbies, but they also have full length breakaways. I love the flipper adjust - swipe it with a glove, and I can fan the clutch for "fun" shifting on back roads; swipe it back and I have full engagement for traffic lights. And I can set the brake lever exactly where I want it. | ||
| Bad_karma |
Kevin At work so I can't check, mounted mine to the bracket that the tilt sensor used to be bolted to on the S3. Hides it nicely and gives good access to the adjustment. Not sure there is enough room/ body work there on the S1. Joe   | ||
| Djkaplan |
That location is pretty ingenius. | ||
| Shadowracerx1 |
When powder coating your new swingarm, make sure you leave the surface that mates to the mount block/engine bare so as not to interrupt the ground. (ask me how I know) | ||
| Cyclone262 |
That is a beautiful bike. What does a project like that cost? I would love to do my M2,but will probably have to do it one piece at a time. | ||
| Nocompromise |
Thanks for the comments guys!! Rat - I tried reversing the wires to no avail. I did a search of the KV and ordered a flasher that others claim to work. It will be here on Thurs, so I'll try again then. I bought a $15 adjustable brake lever from American Sport Bike, and I LOVE the adjustment. Best $15 I've spent on the bike by far. I may upgrade the levers in the future, but I need to tap the brakes on the spending. Karma - That's a GREAT mounting location! The battery mount was modified (in a good way) by the last owner, so I don't think mine will work there, but I'm going to give it some hard thought before I rule it out. Shadow - Thanks for the tip!! I definitely would've made the exact same mistake. Cyclone - The motor work on the engine would've run me about $4000+ (1250 kit, Stage 2 XB heads, 536 cams, Mikuni HSR42, etc..), but I just bought it with the engine work already done. He already had the Force exhaust on there too. Cosmetic CF was on my other S1, but that would cost quite a bit if bought new. Ceramic coating the engine cases plus the exhaust was around $450, but the powder coater charged me extra because the cases were very difficult to strip. All the other odds and ends, including the Penske shock and Race Tech fork stuff, can be found on American Sport Bike. So, just build a wish list and watch the money disappear! Really, it all depends on what you want to spend the money on - prioritize what's important and get those things first. RIDE REPORT: The good news is that she's a runner. The bad news is that she's a leaker.  I rode a couple hundred highway miles today... which I normally avoid like the plague. It was actually pretty beneficial since I'm just getting back into riding. It gave me a chance to familiarize myself with my 'new' bike before I hit the twisties. The throttle is soooo much more sensitive than my other S1, which I believe is due to the Mikuni carb. The increased compression of the modified engine is also very evident as the engine braking is significant. I'll have to look it up, but the previous owner had some clutch modification done as well, which makes it grabbier than stock. All in all, quite a different animal than my lightly modified S1. The power is GREAT, and I look forward to seeing how it translates to fun riding. I definitely think it will be more challenging and unforgiving to ride than my other S1. The power comes on so abruptly and the clutch is stiffer, so you really have to pay attention. On my other S1, I rejetted it so the power comes in smooth as butter. Oh yeah, and that Force exhaust is LOUD, even with the baffle!  Unfortunately, it looks like I have 2 leaks. I have a leak on the left side of the front cylinder where the head gasket is. I also have a leak from the front cylinder right pushrod base. The right bolt on the right base wasn't torqued to spec, so I tightened it up. Hopefully that will fix that leak. But, the head gasket leak may not be so easy. I checked both head bolts on the left side of the front cylinder and they are both over the torque specs recommended by NHRS for their Cometic gaskets. Jim Higgins and I torqued them via the Service Manual instructions (90 degree turn for the final torque), and I know Jim has done a lot of engine work. Will I have to pull the front cylinder head again and reseat the gasket? Any advice would be appreciated. One more item checked off - I installed the handlebars tonight. After riding for a few hours with the clip-ons, I just can't take them any more. They might be good for aggressive riding, but to be honest I've always preferred the location of the stock handlebar - even on the track. If I lean forward just enough to be comfortable and put my hands out with my eyes closed they fall in approximately the location of the stock handlebars. The clip-ons are way too low for me unless I'm leaned way forward and hanging off. For a street bike, I just don't understand low clip-ons, and both S1's that I have bought had them installed. At least it's a relatively minor project to swap them out. I ordered the Banke shifter and brake lever, so those will go on later this week. Hopefully I'll be able to get the Penske on later in the week also. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.... or is that a train? | ||
| Firemanjim |
Kevin,doubt your headgasket is leaking oil,more likely it is a rocker box if its up high or base gasket if its low. | ||
| Nocompromise |
Thanks for the tip Jim. I'll look at it more closely. It looked like the oil was pooling a little on the lip right where the head gasket is, but perhaps it's dripping down from the rocker box. I'm sure I torqued all the rocker box bolts to the correct spec. Should I take it off, reseat the gasket and retorque? I don't see any other way to do it, but, as you know, I'm not much of a mechanic (although I'm getting better)!  |
