| Author | Message | ||
     Buellfighter |
Have to admit when my Buell was stolen I was broken hearted and haven't been on this site since! WOW, it is so great to be back in the Buell community!!! Looking forward to posting pics as the restoration is taking place. Going to take my time and first get the 3 years of thief of it! Going to be fun to ride her again!! WooFreakinHoo!! | ||
| Buellrobot |
I had a gsxr 750 ripped off a few years ago in brooklyn. I got a certified note from NYPD more than 2 years later and the gixxer was waiting for me at impound with the key still in the ignition. The ••••••• who had it had ditched it on the side of the road in Staten Island and it got towed. It had unfortunately been down and was a little thrashed... ended up selling it. If you don't mind me asking, would you share the story of how/when/where it was stolen? I tend to think of Buell as a "less likely to be nabbed" bike, but I'm still fairly vigilant with mine. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Buellrobot, I work at the University of North Texas in Denton about 35 miles north of Dallas. 3 years ago I walked out to the parking spot on campus I always park at with other motorcycles but on that day mine was gone. Although I'm sure someone must have seen what happened no one stepped up with any info...just disappeared 3 years later on April Fool Day I get a call from the University police, who I know quite a few of, and they let me know there was reason to believe my motorcycle may have been found. They gave me a phone number to a wrecker company in South Dallas and I gave them a call. They told me they had been called the night before to pick up a bike found to be stolen and was now in their possession. They told me the VIN came back to my name but said not to get my hopes up because there wasn't much left of it. They said if I wanted it I would need to bring 200 dollars and I can have it. I asked if they would please send me a couple pics to my phone to verify it was mine and it there was enough left to make it worth picking up. Once I received the pics I was ecstatic at the fact that although the bike didn't have the body work on it it was all in a pile next to the bike! Other than the loose body work the bike looked complete...minus battery and ignition switch. I arrived at the wrecking yard in south Dallas the next morning, payed the man and he took me to my bike. WOW, it was like being reunited with an old friend! While I was standing there a Dallas police officer walked up and began telling me how they were checking serial numbers and VIN numbers at a questionable establishment when my bike hit as a stolen bike out of Denton! They gathered the bike and parts and called the wrecker. I got the call and the rest is history. I have quite a bit of work to do including removing the •••••• spray paint job the their did on it. Need to get an ignition switch, a battery, some mounting hardware for the oil tank just to begin with. Hoping the motor is okay. The bike does not look like it has been run at all, just stored and covered in 3 years worth of dust dirt and grime. I will post pics during the restore! I am one happy lucky guy!!! | ||
| S1owner |
Kieth I have 3 oil tank well nuts if you need them | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ken, can you measure the diameter of those? | ||
| Buellfighter |
Thanks for the offer of the well nuts! I may take you up on it! Ft bstrd mention they may be available at lowes and sent me a link! A ignition from American Sportbike was mentioned and I will need that for sure! I did remove the spray paint from the tank to bring back the original finish but it has quite a few scratches and am really wanting to remove all paint from the tank down to the black plastic. Any suggestions to remove the stock paint would be appreciated! Worried that paint stripper might damage/melt the plastic? Thanks all for the kind and helpful comments and replies!! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Ken's got some good insight on tank painting. If the base paint is in good shape (no bubbles), I think you'd be better off sanding it smooth and priming on top. Ken may have better advice. I'm having mine painted as we speak. We'll see if this strategy pays off. My thought is that if you have a tank that isn't bubbling, the base coats are probably pretty good and well cured already. If the problem is fuel vapors coming from the inside of the tank, then the existing good paint should seal them in. Ken, thoughts? | ||
| Buellfighter |
Looking to remove all paint from tank and rear tail section. Wanting just the plastic like the KTM MX front fender and the Acerbis headlight I'm using. Just the raw plastic and wet sanded fine Emory cloth if need be! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I have a box of them if you need any more. | ||
| S1owner |
I agree if you want to paint the tank if it is solid no bubbles I would Sand and use it as your base! But you want to run raw then elbow grease and sandpaper. Here's Rick-a s bike raw s2 tank always liked the look   | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I've seen a gorgeously done carbon look vinyl cover for the tanks, one I saw was made locally on a S2 cell like Rick's. | ||
| S1owner |
Yea theres a guy on this forum that made a wicked carbon cover for an Manta tank also lot of work. I dig the raw black look cant wait to see. I think you could use stripper just rinse asap with water and dont get it in the tank! | ||
| S1owner |
I went to measure the well nuts and the metal thread insert is gone so here is the part number toro fuel tank bushing 46-6560 these were given to me by a fellow badwebber so thats all the info I have | ||
| Buellfighter |
Thanks for the help, all! Spent Sunday (Easter) cleaning and cleaning until my fingers were numb! Still feeling like a kid at Christmas to have her back! | ||
| Buellrobot |
Keith, if you're looking for this type of well nut, I found one at a local lawnmower shop: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/751405.html?1414599199 Good luck getting things back together. Here's the part no's for the exact well nut (I found mine at a TORO dealer): AMF/DYNAMARK/NOMA 42690, BOLENS 173-8433, MTD 735-0149, MTD 935-0149, OREGON 07-392, PRIME LINE 7-07461, SIMPLICITY 1654930, SIMPLICITY 1654930SM, SNAPPER/KEES 1-2337, SNAPPER/KEES 7012337, STENS 125-336, SUNBELT B1AC17, TECUMSEH 33679, TORO/WHEEL HORSE 10-4047, TORO/WHEEL HORSE 46-6560 | ||
| Jim2 |
I'm glad you're reunited with your Buell! I just installed an ignition switch I purchased from Al at American Sport Bike . As Al states in the description on his web site, it is not exactly the same as the factory ignition switch but it is a much less expensive part and it's new. I had to relieve the back-side of my dash panel to make it fit. Al also mentions this on his web site. It was easy to do with a rotary tool and you can't tell because it's all on the back side. You will also have to clip off the round connector lugs it comes with and crimp on new spade lugs. I bought some good stainless spade lugs from Ace or Home Depot. They are in the pull-out drawers with all of the specialty hardware including the rubber grommets you are after. Then I had to relieve the slots on front of the factory plastic connector to allow the new spade lugs to connect. It was easy. None of this was difficult to do but it's not direct plug-n-play. The accessory and run wires were reversed. The solid red with black stripe on the ignition side hooks to the small solid red on the bike side. The small solid red on the ignition side hooks to the small solid red with black stripe on the bike side. It's easy to tell with an Ohm meter and you won't hurt it if you get it wrong it just won't work right then you'll probably notice and correct it. My Buell is an M2 cyclone it might be different for yours but the switch is a good switch and can be made to work for half the price of a hew HD one. | ||
| Buellfighter |
Jim2, thank you for the info on the ignition and install! It's good to be back in the Buell community and the responses to my questions have been answered! I'm still in the process of cleaning the 3 years of dust and grime from her but is coming all perfectly!! | ||
| S1owner |
as Blumz says it never happened with out pics! | ||
| Whitetrashxb |
im very happy your bike was retrieved. i remember when u posted it was stolen. this brings me a little hope that one day my S1W that was stolen in Austin 4 yrs ago will one day come home. Enjoy your time getting re acquinted | ||
| Buellfighter |
 she's come a long way since getting her home! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Looks great! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Pretty good shape considering. Mechanically sound? | ||
| Blackm2 |
Looks like someone has been doing some running. A lot of bibs! | ||
| Buellfighter |
Blackm2, those are from Mountain & Road Bike racing! All things two-wheeled! | ||
| Buellfighter |
Ft, still need a battery, ignition switch and oil tank mounted but first I'm removing all the black spray paint! She's coming back to life | ||
| Buellfighter |
    Pic of her before being stolen, recovered 3 years later, home but covered in black spray paint, dust, dirt and grime, all spray paint removed and a thorough cleaning! Now to gather ignition, battery, tail light, well nuts and oil lines, seat recovered and a few other minors! Then fire it up! So good to have her back!!! | ||
| Two_seasons |
That is a very beautiful S1 you have Keith. Keep this thread going with your progress from time to time please. | ||
| Kalali |
Shaping up nicely. What brand air filter is that? Looks more compact than a K&N. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Awesome story! Good thing you reported it as being stolen before even though you didn't have full coverage on the insurance. You might've thought it was pointless at the time since you wouldn't get a pay out, but it was definitely worth it in the long run. That's great you've got the bike bike | ||
| Buellfighter |
Moshen, it is a K&N filter but I trimmed it down to my liking! Josh, true about the insurance. Glad to have the bike back than any payout I would have received! |
