| Author |
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Court
| | Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 12:48 pm: | 
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That's no story . . . that's a "real time life acount".
Look both Erik Buell and I married much smarter women . . . they soon became friends and have collectively answered the call keep he and I in checque . . .
They, this is the saving grace, have abandoned any hope of making us "grow up" which tossed the upper hand back to us . . . me with my power tools and him with his mower are out to take over the world!
Remind me to tell you . .. .
when we can get permission from our wives |
Ratbuell
| | Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 01:03 pm: |
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I think we just need to start asking the wives.
The accounts will probably be less flattering that way though.....
 |
Court
| | Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 03:07 pm: |
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Uh . . . I think you are right. We were both on "Double Super Probation" a while back. These gals, both sub-100# about 5'-0" are tougher than nails, and are unfamiliar with the words "quiet and reserved".
The classic is the time I was asked to get a copy of Erik's driver's license prior to his boarding a flight to Italy. Getting the license and transmitting the copy to the right place was no problem. . but you should have heard the instructions he and I got for putting it back where we found it . . . .
I'll simply say . . they were "fairly detailed". neither of is is known for our keen memory or attention to detail. I seem to be able to remember Avragodo's number, Planck's constant and so forth but not my birthday or address. Erik exhibits some similar, albeit, different quirks. He does have an amazing ability to recall minute details from years ago.
Yeah . . . you guys probably don't want our wives version.
Classic was the day were were supposed to meet them for what I call "cultural immersion torture" and someone asked us to stay a couple hours somewhere and go riding . . I had to explain the danger our lives were in if we were not in the appointed place at the appointed hour!
These are REALLY tough gals! |
Bombardier
| | Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 10:31 pm: |
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Normal wives then. |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 07:56 am: |
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A wife - that's one problem I don't have...yet. ;) |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 06:43 pm: |
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I didn't receive a call today. Two promises that have been broken thus far. 0-2 and that's not reassuring. |
Court
| | Posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 08:43 pm: |
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That is not.
Did you get a case number?
(Message edited by Court on December 17, 2007) |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Monday, December 17, 2007 - 09:00 pm: |
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No. Was I supposed to? |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 03:33 pm: |
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OK Matt called me back today (Tuesday, December 18). I got the same story. There's nothing wrong with the bike. And I was told that Harley doesn't really have a spec, but that consuming 1 quart in 1,000 miles is considered to be normal. I was also told that the dipstick range is 3.8-4 ounces even on the new bikes, but he "wasn't sure". I will double check myself through trial and error because I have a hard time believing that.
Matt also told me that the dealer checked my compression, did a leakdown test (which nobody at the dealer told me), and checked the valve seals. When I questioned if they had the motor apart (to check the valve seals) the response I got was "well you don't want to tear apart a good engine"... I was blown away so I forgot to question that any farther.
Maybe the over-pessimistic dipstick has me more worried than I need to be.
But there is one thing that nobody can explain to me. How does my bike consume ZERO oil during breakin, where oil consumption is usually higher, to using much more once the engine is broken in?
Court: My case number is 805901. |
Dbird29
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:03 pm: |
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Maybe you could make a new farkle for American Sport Bike. The ultrasonic oil level sensor.
http://www.globalspec.com/FeaturedProducts/Detail/ SSITechnologiesControlsDivision/Acutrac_Ultrasonic _Fuel_Level_Sensors/22705/0
(Message edited by dbird29 on December 18, 2007) |
Old_man
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:36 pm: |
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Do you add oil each time you check it?
How much oil do you add?
If you are only adding a few ozs. to get up to the full mark, quit doing that.
Just make sure there is oil registering on the dipstick.
It may settle somewhere in the operating range.
I found that on my bike the few ozs. I added to get to the full mark soon disappeared.
It remains quite stable at the lower range on the dipstick.
I hope that this is your situation and not a problem elsewhere.
You might want to change the oil yourself and add only the specified amount, then check where it measures on the dipstick.
It may not register at the top. |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 10:01 pm: |
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I have addressed most, if not all, of those questions on this thread or my last.
I'll give you a quick summary. My bike stayed full and didn't eat any oil when the level was on the top line of the dipstick up until ~1,100 miles when the change was made to Syn3. The level on the dipstick makes no difference at all in my experience. |
Bombardier
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 11:10 pm: |
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How much oil are you getting in your airbox? |
Dhalen32
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 09:50 am: |
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07xb12scg:
Have you considered switching back to the oil initially used in your bike in order to get back to a lower level of consumption?
I think you will find that all engines consume some oil in their operation. The reason you don't see oil levels go down is that detergent oils hold some level of dirt and contaminants that make up the volume that is lost through combustion.
Perhaps if you switch back to the dino oil originally in the crankcase and go one or two more oil changes the engine may break in a little further so that when you eventually go with a thinner synthetic the consumption will not be as great.
If it makes you feel any better, I used to own Alfa Romeos that were notorious for their oil consumption. They would easily burn a quart every 1000 miles and this was considered normal by the factory, the dealers and knowledgeable owners.
I was told by my Buell owning Service Manager to wait until the engine was fully broken in on my Ulysses (at least 5000 miles) before switching to Syn 3. I have found that it consumes 4 - 8 ounces of oil every 3000 miles since switching.
Dave |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 11:36 am: |
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Bombardier: I don't know how much oil is in my airbox. I've never checked. I'll have to do that when I get my bike bike.
Dhalen32: I did switch back to regular oil and it was consumed just as fast.
Again, I do not buy the "don't breakin with synthetic" thinking because some cars and motorcycles come from the factory brand new with synthetic oil, including Screamin' Eagle Harleys from what I've been told. But my bike only got synthetic at 1,100 miles. Maybe air cooled engines are different, but I'd say most of the breakin is done in that amount of miles. Am I wrong?
And no, it does not make me feel better to know that your Alfa consumed oil. It was probably older and European which basically means the car has an unquenchable thirst for oil.
As far as when to switch to Syn3, I get differing opinions from everybody and nobody has told me what Harley recommends, if anything, as far as this goes.
Thanks for the input, though. |
Ironhead1977
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 07:55 pm: |
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07xb12scg, I agree with you that some vehicles come from the factory with synthetic oil and this is not why it is using oil. I am curious what you find the problem to be. I am thinking since it did not use oil until around 1000 miles that it is not rings unless you have been running a low grade of fuel and have carbon built up on the piston causing the wiper ring to stick. If this is not the case I am betting it maybe a plugged pcv or leaking reed valve.
.
(Message edited by ironhead1977 on December 19, 2007) |
Swampy
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 09:39 pm: |
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Where is the oil going?
I it leaking into the primary? |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 10:58 pm: |
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If this is not the case I am betting it maybe a plugged pcv or leaking reed valve.
Reed valve? Where is that on a Buell engine? I only know of reed valves in two stroke engines.
Where is the oil going?
Good question. I'd love to know as well. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 03:01 am: |
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Al Gore is sequestering it for our benefit. |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 12:48 pm: |
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Al Gore is sequestering it for our benefit.
Ugh...I'm sure my bike would much rather be bounced off the rev limiter without oil in the engine until certain death! |
Teeps
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 01:44 pm: |
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Court Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 -
Look both Erik Buell and I married much smarter women . . .
Me too.
They, this is the saving grace, have abandoned any hope of making us "grow up" which tossed the upper hand back to us . . . me with my power tools and him with his mower are out to take over the world!
Yes, we have no choice in growing older; but that doesn't mean we "HAVE" to grow up... |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 02:17 pm: |
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>>>>but that doesn't mean we "HAVE" to grow up...
No . . no . . you don't understand . . we are under ORDERS to grow up.
I think once the foreign exchange student who stayed with the Buells this last summer gets home we're likely to have an international incident on our hands.
It's been a ugly year for growing up . . first Erik gets his mower keys taken away and then I get issued the "why would you need more than one guitar?" quiz.
So far . . . after I loaded up all but ONE fancy bracelet and handbag to make a point, we've sustained no actual physical damage . . but either of us, say of for instance one of us. . the older of us. . . were to do something stupid like come home with a new 1125r . . we're subject to a major ass kicking with little prior notice.
I hasten to point out that in many of our collective escapades I am but a mere victim having been pushed in front of the bus by my aging engineer pal. I'm usually not like this. . .
Anyway . . . we capitulated and attended the theater last year for our 8 hours of "cultural immersion" and to date have been unsuccessful in fooling either of them into believing that a trip to Italy "has nothing to do with motorcycles".
I'm beginning to think we may break down and grow up but I'm not seeing it happen this year . . |
Rainman
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 04:02 pm: |
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I'll likely break down, but it's unlikely any growing up will occur. |
Ironhead1977
| | Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 - 08:36 pm: |
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crankcase breathing system, page 3-78 in your Buell service manual.
good bedtime reading- is this normal? |
Bombardier
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 08:00 am: |
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If you have someone ride behind you they will be able to see if your valve guides are worn.
Get up into the rev range whilst riding and then snap the throttle closed.
If your guides are worn the fellow behind will be rewarded with a lot of blue smoke coming from your exhaust.
If the smoke comes out whilst building up the revs it is usually your oil rings.
Another option is to vent your breathers to atmosphere with a filter on the end and see if that makes a difference.
If you get a lot of oil coming out of the filter the breathers may be shot as Ironhead mentioned.
By the way before you take your bike back to the dealer you may want to replace your original hoses for warranty reasons. |
07xb12scg
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2007 - 09:22 am: |
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I will try that when the weather gets warmer and the roads have much less salt on them. I'm not that brave!
I appreciate tall the input. Please feel free to keep it coming. I am open to all solutions except the one that I received from the dealer and Harley. A new engine that is properly built should not eat oil at the rate of 1 quart every 1,000 miles. This is not the 1950s. |
Monkey
| | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 09:44 am: |
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my unsolicited 2 cents: I am coming in late on this-How many miles on bike? if its less than 5k miles it could easily still be a break-in issue-really. I ride with guys with oil head BMW's and those bikes will use oil until about 25K on the odo.I have had similar issues with 2 of my Buells and the problem went away on its own-really-I carefully tested if the bikes were using oil because of the weird dipstick level issue-it will "blow out" oil if the level is too high-I would heed the advice about the leaving a slightly lower level on the stick-ps-my Honda XR-650 with a dry sump has the same weird dipstick level issues. fwiw-11OO MILES PER QT-no big deal unless you are on a LONG tour and need to add oil in Bumf@%k, Egypt and cant find your brand of oil to add. pps-lots of "modern" motors can use that amount of oil in 1100 miles.-really (I know how ya feel been there-but its OK) |
