| Author | Message | ||
     Rogue_biker |
My friend and I went riding this weekend and I brought along my new-to-me 1125R. The bike’s last major service occurred 8 mos. ago and it has only been ridden intermittently since then. Since I got the bike, I’ve ridden it around my neighborhood to make sure all is well, set up the suspension, make sure all the parts I replaced were locked down, and generally just to get used to and familiar with the bike. This weekend ride was the longest where I got a chance to really ride the bike hard in and around the Socal mountains and desert. I was leading my friend down Palomar Mountain, north-east of San Diego, and the 1125R was purring like a kitten. This bike is very easy to ride fast and the road we were on was just made for sportbikes. All of a sudden, there was a loud, whining noise emanating from the engine. I slowed and pulled the clutch in but the noise persisted. I could also feel some vibration on the pegs. Not good! I pulled over immediately and my buddy and I carefully looked the bike over. Between the two of us, we were very mechanically inclined and work on our own bikes regularly. It didn’t take long to figure out that the noise was coming from an Allen Bolt to the right and behind the drive belt idler wheel. Not yet sure what this bolt secured but it had worked its way out and it began contacting the belt and that was the source of the high pitched whine that increased/decreased with vehicle speed. All we needed was an Allen wrench to re-tighten, which of course neither one of us had! My friend had to ride his bike to town and find someone there (on a Sunday) who had the tool needed. Luckily, there was someone in the nearest town who worked on motorcycles and this guy had dozens of Allen wrenches! We got the bolt tightened and all was good again. Upon coming home, I went over the are where the bike’s bolt came loose. Sure enough, I found another very loose bolt that secured the muffler. This other bolt had to line up with one of the idler wheel lightening holes to access it. It was so loose that it was about to hit the idler wheel! Holy Crap! I shudder to think of the damage that would have done if it came loose enough at speed! My plan now is to put the bike up on the stand and check every major fastener for correct torque. I will probably loctite these two bolts that came loose, along with others. I will consult the Oracle (Service Manual). Lessons Learned: 1) Any time you get the bike back from someone, including that Buell dealership you trust, double check that all fasteners are on and tightened to spec. 2) Carry a toolkit with enough tools that fit the most common fasteners on your bike. The OEM toolkit is inadequate! 3) If the Oracle says Loctite a particular bolt, then Loctite that sucker! | ||
| Dannybuell |
I am still learning point #1. | ||
| Avalaugh |
That exact bolt came loose on my bike or so i thought, turns out it had a fault, upon removal this is what i found had happened. That humming vibration noise felt like gearbox to me at first, i was shitting a rebuild    | ||
| 1125rcya |
+1 on point 1) | ||
| Phwx2 |
I have never taken a bike in for work and rarely have my cars worked on. But, I can't think of a time in the last 20 years when I didn't find missing or un-torquered fasteners on my cars when I get them back. Nothing pisses me off more than paying someone to do a job and then having to finish the work myself. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
I've had that happen in so many different ways I now just check everything after they service the machine. It keeps me safe. And somewhat less annoyed. | ||
| Smit3833 |
I found SD Harley to have better buell techs than Biggs FYI. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I can tell you what happens if the bolt behind the idler comes out. Cost me an apology to someone on the production line at East Troy and a belt. I had a warranty claim on a bolt causing the idler to stop turning and burn up a belt and a new one was on the way. Turned out "I" didn't tighten the bolt when I pulled the muffler and I called and told CS it was my FU. I had to tell them, didn't want somebody taking heat for my screw-up. That belt tho, was so limbered up, it is now my "spare" under the seat. Z | ||
| Tbowdre |
With the title of this thread and the line "I was leading my friend down palomar mountain" i thought uhh oh. Glad to hear that is not the case!! Man I love that mountain, on a weekday. Kinda surprised nobody had a wrench at the bottom. |
