| Author | Message | ||
     Airbozo |
I got my 2000 S3T just over a year ago and I have put 12,000+ miles on it (now has 17,662 miles) (I ride it to work almost every day). When I first got it, I had to have several of the gaskets replaced since the bike sat for many years and there were plenty of leaks. I've also replaced the shock (works shock) and just a month ago I replaced the exhaust (rebuilt V&H). The bike has always had an oil drip from the air cleaner (head breather ports), and I didn't realize how bad it was until recently. I had the top grommet on the oil tank leaking and oil was getting everywhere so it was hard to tell where the extra oil was coming from. I have since fixed that grommet and now can tell that an excessive amount of oil is coming from the head breather ports and drips onto my exhaust headers and side case (from the forcewinder AC). Over the past year I have also been kind of surprised that I am only getting about 35 mpg when I expected closer to 50. So I start with 2 questions; First, how do I start diagnosing the gas mileage issues? I have used ECM Spy to reset the TPS (which made a difference in performance). I also checked the afv (which has remained at 100%), but I have not mucked with any of the maps or other settings. Second, is it possible to tell if my umbrella valves are bad without pulling the heads, or could there be another reason that excessive oil would be coming out of those ports? A couple of things that may help; In order to start the bike in the morning (and sometimes in the afternoon) I have to use the manual throttle adjuster to get the bike to idle while it warms up (I thought the ECM would auto-adjust this based on engine and air temp (ECM Spy does seem to show valid temps). On my way to work I am on twisties, where I have no stops except when I get on the freeway and after exiting to surface streets, taking off from a light has some lag in throttle response and it's almost like the bike is either not getting enough gas or too much (not sure how else to explain it). Thanks in advance for suggestions and info... | ||
| Oldog |
1. check the plugs to have a look at color and condition, because of the way the buell ddfi system works you can be over rich or one cylinder runs correctly ( rear ) and the front is off with respect of mixture, on the oil from the head breathers, Umbrella valve is old and hard? | ||
| Airbozo |
Thanks Oldog! I have not worked on my own bikes in many years (not enough time), but I am re-learning a lot, especially since this is my first non-carb bike. I suspect that the umbrella valves are shot since the bike sat for so long before I bought it. How hard are they to replace? Do I have to drop the engine? | ||
| Arizona_buell |
No engine removal not even the heads . Tank and rocker boxes come off. Might as well pull the pushrod tubes and replace those seals if you are doing it up.. | ||
| Airbozo |
Cool, sounds like something I can do in a couple of hours then. Now I have to get the parts... Looks like the rocker boxes will be easier to remove than the ones on my sportster. Thanks for the info... | ||
| Jolly |
recommend switching to XB style as long as you are in there, the design is much better than the older ones. breathes out of a PCV style valve out the top of the rocker instead of through the breathers on the side of the head, much more efficient design. I also switched my push rod tubes over to the collapsible style (solid stock push rods), much better seating design and very easy to install. sold by zippers or NRHS. I did a full write up when I switched mine over, my stock design were leaking and I wanted something better...no issues since the change out. I'm happy with the switch and can recommend it based upon my experience with it...others have had no issues with installing new seals on stock style push rod tube covers, but this design is like the push rods on a big twin and they seat and seal better. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/714295.html?1371451238 | ||
| Lakes |
A catch can with breather hoses going to it, would eliminate oil from around filter. i've got a 2000 M2 but expect heads are same. when my heads came off to service, some of the valve stem seals had lost hold of head and was letting oil into chamber. put new valve stem seals in & notice after a long run no noticeable oil usage . i have a carb so can't help with gas mpg | ||
| Airbozo |
Jolly, thanks for the info. I have been researching the XB setup and a few things came up; One is the fact that there was a recommendation to use 2 front rocker covers to make sure the rear PCV valve clears the S3 tank. Has anyone done this and can they speak to the clearance issues? The other option is to grind some material from the valve itself, again has anyone done this and do you have pictures? I am also interested in doing this mod to my 95 sportster. I have a few concerns though. Since my engine has been modified with the S&S 89" Stroker kit, there is very little clearance between the rear rocker cover and the top frame bar even after being moved over 1/2". Just getting the stock rocker cover on and off is a real pita and I have had to do it several times to grind some material off the inside of the cover so my rockers don't hit the cover (they are still touching and have caused another crack to form around a couple of the mounting bolts). Are the XB rocker covers taller than the stock ones? It sure seems like it, but it also looks like it would solve my rocker clearance issue on my Stroker engine, but if they are too tall they would not fit on the engine unless I adjust the frame again (not going to happen). While I am doing this, should I be on the lookout for anything else? I would hate to have to open up the top again in the near future. Thanks guys! | ||
| Blks1l |
As far as the clearance with the breather, I had no issues on my 00S3 though it is close, I used a front and rear cover. When my bike was still fuel injected, I was also having to dial the idle screw up when warming it up. I would also think the XB and the XL rocker boxes would have the same interior and exterior dimensions. | ||
| Steveford |
I had the XB covers on an 02 X1 and had to file down the l/h corner on the front cover. There wasn't any problem with the PCV valves contacting anything that I'm aware of. I can measure heights tomorrow if need be. | ||
| Jolly |
my bike is an 02 S3T and I had no issues with it fitting, I did buy the kit from Al at American Sport Bike so one corner was already filed down and then polished....as for what else to do??? well, if your going to do the rocker boxes, buy a nice catch can, and you think you might want to swap out the push rod tubes, (though honestly I would only do that if you have a problem, otherwise leave well enough alone???) then reach out to zippers or NRHS and get a set of those...then you might as well swap out the oil pump drive gear to the new hardened gear if that hasn't been done...any desire to under cut the cam cover??? I sent the one on my X1 and my S1 to NRHS ...looks cool but does nothing for performance...if your exhaust is off send it out to JET HOT to have it ceramic coated....paper gasket under the rocker boxes should be upgraded to "new" style metal ones...... "hey I think Ill do an XB style rocker box swap" has a few "hanging projects" that could all be done at once! | ||
| Airbozo |
Thanks for the input one and all. I'll just go with the front and back covers. I can do the filing and polishing myself. I hate dumping any oil, so I will go with a small catch can and tuck it away. I've already changed the gaskets. They were leaking when I bought the bike. Thanks to help from here that was the second thing I checked. The tires were first, they were the original tires and you could tell. I was nervous even riding around the block. This bike had not even had it's 5k service when I got it last year. The difference in the rocker covers I was referring to was based off of a picture I found on the site DonCasto.net. It didn't seem that the spacer was that deep though. Here: http://www.doncasto.net/S2Manu15.jpg You can see in this picture where my rockers have been hitting the original cover on my Sportster (I've since ground new covers down to give more clearance): http://imageshack.us/a/img541/6375/b4ff.jpg I will probably get an extra kit to see if it will fit since the area the rockers are hitting is not present on the XB covers. No other leaks right now though. |
