| Author | Message | ||
     Paroyboy |
Just got my recall notice for the front and rear wheel bearings on the Firebolt. It says that all 2003 Firebolt and Lightning models are affected. Guess there were enough problems with them to get the recall. Luckily, my bike is still at the dealer for service. Question is, will the dealers have the new parts or will it take a month or two like the sidestand? | ||
| Skully |
I called the dealership where I purchased my bike. They already have the new bearings and put my name on a set waiting only for me to bring the bike in. Keith | ||
| Ramon |
what was wrong with the bearings? | ||
| Court |
Whoa doggies.....the IS NOT A RECALL. Buell discovered, after some of the Firebolts were in service that the wheel bearings just didn't perform up to expectations. They tried others and found a much more durable product. In response to the "why do you have to wait till the next year for improvements?" cries of owners, Buell did a running change and started putting the new bearings in all the bikes back around November. In a proactive gesture to insure ALL XB based products performed to expecations, Buell issued a product upgrade (the one I posted here and on ATC a week or so ago) to get all owner's up to snuff. Parts should be available at all dealers and the improvement should be painless. Whew...you scared me there for a moment. Court | ||
| Kcfirebolt |
Hi Court, I took the bolt in for its 7500 mile last week, just before the word came down on the bearings. Buell went ahead and authorized the replacement and the dealership had the parts on hand. They also noted that the old bearings looked just fine. Otherwise, the bike has a clean bill of health. I haven't had a single mechanical failure in 7800 miles. I pleasently surprised and impressed. I expected some teething problems with a brand new model, but (kickstand aside)I haven't had any. I'm real happy with this bike. | ||
| Ramon |
Thanks for the clarification Court. | ||
| Prof_Stack |
The service bulletin mentions that the affected bearings have a black seal around them while the newer and supposedly better ones have an ORANGE seal. I bought my XB9S in December and it has the orange seal, but I'll make sure all is okay when I bring the bike in today for its 1K mile service. | ||
| Davegess |
Damn Court you beat me to the "is is not a recall" thing I'm really bummed now. | ||
| Blake |
Geez guys, admin posted the notice on the upgrade along with a copy of the service bulletin over a week ago in the Knowledge Vault - Wheels, Tires, Brakes topic. Patch fines for all of ya for not paying attention! Professor, If you have orange bearing seals and your bike was built on or after November 7th 2002, you have the new upgraded bearings. The old bearings have black seals. No worries!  | ||
| Court |
Actually, in my mind, this is nearly the opposite of a "recall". We, the assembled Hooligans, have been the ones demanding that Buell eschew convention by waiting till a model year to integrate upgrades. Buell, once the XB's got in the hands of you heathens, simply found the wheel bearings performed fine....for about 4 days. A bit of research and sourcing simply revealed a much more durable bearing that provided reasonable service intervals. Parts, thanks to some of the good folks at Buell, are readily available and the entire thing is a kinda cool "no brainer". Relax, have your dealer do the upgrade and go ride the motorcycle. Court | ||
| Chainsaw |
I was excited to read my "non-safety-related" wheel bearing replacement notice I got in today's mail. After reading on this board about the "early" bearing failures, I had planned on replacing them myself at 7k. Now my friendly local Buell dealer can do it for me for free! Maybe I should get that sidestand replaced too. I'm only just over 6k on it, not like I'm in a hurry. Called my dealer a few times back in February, they haven't called me back saying they've got the part...guess I should follow up on that, in case they never plan on calling me back. Not like I've bought 2 new bikes in 2 years from them. Hooray customer service! | ||
| Paroyboy |
OK, OK, my bad! Just re-read the notice and it does say "non-safety-related repair" not, recall. The service person I talked to said they would have to check to see if the parts were in. Maybe they are, maybe they arent. I never got a call back. Still waiting... (did I mention, patience is not one of my strong points?)  | ||
| Court |
>>>The service person I talked to said they would have to check to see if the parts were in. They are. | ||
| Epierce |
Got my "non-safety related repair" letter in the mail Thursday. Called my dealer. They were clueless. Said they would have to call Harley and call me back on Friday to see if there was a non safety related repair authorization for my bolt. Did not hear from them yet. Patience is not my virtue either. Also wanted to try to make a appointment on Monday, since I am going to have to travel the 100 miles to Knoxville on that day anyway and it would have been very convenient to take the bike and have the repair done on that day. | ||
| Paroyboy |
Actually Court, they arent! Just got off the phone with "the #1 Buell dealer of the year" and said they will have to be ordered and another appointment made. | ||
| Court |
Roy: I'd be on their ass like stink on shit Monday. Buell, as soon as this was decided, specifically waited to communicate the plan to dealers UNTIL parts were on hand. Parts were sent to dealers based on the number of eligible XB's they had. If your dealer does not have the parts, getting them there the next day should be a cakewalk. Any problem, be sure to call the good folks at Buell Customer Service. I'm of a mind it's not out of line to ask them to do what they are paid to do. It's shame they spend such an inordiante amount of time making up for the shortcomings of the dealer network. Court | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Sounds like business as usual to me. -JW:>  | ||
| Bud |
Heck even foreign dealers got them, how difficult can it be Ps. I’m off tread here , anyone had a almost broken oil line yet ?? (feedline ) Mine was badly worn against the rear muffler mount, it was already slightly leaking? My dealer noticed it, performing a service check Mist my eye , had the muffler off just 3 weeks ago , I did not see it. Gr,m | ||
| Csg_Inc |
Ok Just a quick question. Called my closest dealer to check on availability of parts. They were sure they did not have them but would order me some asap. Thirty minutes later they called back said we have a set here. So I talk to service to get an appointment they say they need to see if they have the "Special Buell Tool" to install the bearings so that we do not get it apart then have to wait. I say great call me back. I knew better than to say that honest. No call back so two hours later I go to the dealership and ask if they have the tool and if they have a "Buell certified for Firebolt" type available to do the job. Well the "Tool room" was closed for the day so he will call me back first thing this a.m. but no they do not have any "Buel certified" types any more but hey all of their "Techs" can replace a wheel bearing. I say well I do not want then to screw up the belt when they pull the rear wheel. He says no problem. So my question since he still has not call me back with availabliity of the tool question or available scheduling for a tech to do the work. Should I find another dealership that has both the parts and a "Buell certified" tech or can any of the regular HD monkeys do the job? DAVE | ||
| Davegess |
A good Buell dealer should have the tool with out question. Lack of same would make me doubt how serious they are about being a Buell dealer. Having just one trained tech would not surprise me as they don't sell that many Buell but not having the tool would set me off. Dave | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Dave, What dealer are you talking about? -JW:> | ||
| Csg_Inc |
DaveG I agree but in this case they have none. Not one Buell certified tech on staff. JW Without giving you the name of the dealer. Let me just say again I went to my closest dealer. (Hint same city as me.) DAVE | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Dave, If it's Hacienda HD in Scottsdale Arizona, I wouldn't give them the sweat off my nuts. -JW:> | ||
| Blake |
CSG Why are you trying to protect a dealer who doesn't bother to support his Buell customers? We need to know this kind of information. Spill! | ||
| Jim_Witt |
Blake asked: Why are you trying to protect a dealer who doesn't bother to support his Buell customers? Blake, Of course I could be wrong but I'm sure he's not protecting them, rather his XB9R that's probably still under warranty. I know when I beat up Hacienda here years ago (and Randell from corporate) my service experiences became even worse than they already were. From my experience in the last 5 years, a good reliable Buell dealership is a rare thing here in Arizona. The primary reason there's not a new Buell in my garage. -JW:> | ||
| Csg_Inc |
Blake Yes JW put two and two together and came up with the dealership name. Man that guy is good. I was not directly trying to protect the dealership, but the end of last year I got and e-mail and then a letter from the owner thanking me for my support for the year (purchases) but then it went into a threat to the existance of the Hog group if anyone bad mouthed the dealership or any of the departments at the dealership. Actually I like the parts guys. they have gone out of their way to help me in the past. JW Yes I do have the extended warrentee to protect but not with that dealership. I learned my lesson after the first bike I purchase their and have not and will not purchase another bike their. The original question was can a regular HD Tech monkey change out the wheel bearings or do I go to another dealership that has "Buell Certified" Techs? Thanks DAVE | ||
| Chainsaw |
Csg_Inc: Wheel Bearing Tools: The Firebolt Service Manual calls for a special bearing removal tool "Bushing and Bearing puller Part #B43993-7" AND "Wheel Bearing Remover and Installer art #HD-44060" The HD tool is the puller, which they WILL have, the tool is the same for removing bearings off of Sportsters. The B4 is the bearing installer, which looks to a be Buell specific long ass screw dohickie. So they may not be lying to you, but why wouldn't they have it? I'm guessing it's a 10 dollar tool. I'll call my dealer Tuesday to schedule mine. Hopefully they'll have the stuff. If not, I'll post my bitchin' right here! | ||
| Chainsaw |
...my guess is regular tech monkey can do it. | ||
| Dynarider |
However if that "tech monkey" is not aware of the "do not twist the belt" drive belt deal you could end up with a premature drive belt failure. If they dont have the tools or even the slightest bit interest to actually call you back I wouldnt go there. Would you have a Volkswagen beetle mechanic work on a new Lexus? | ||
| Court |
There are a number of folks who have changed their bearings or had them changed already. Given the lack of "I can't get my hands on the special tool" complaints, I am surmiziating: 1) It ain't tough to get. 2) It ain't tough to duplicate. 3) It's less necessary than perhaps the instructions represent. 4) Buell owners are a quiet reserved bunch, imbued with nearly infinite patienace and unlikely to complain when they can't get something promptly from the factory. Please keep us posted on your experiences. This effort has been well planned and coordinated within Buell and there is no reason it shouldn't go off flawlessly. Court |
