| Author |
Message |
    
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, December 21, 2018 - 05:48 pm: | 
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Hey everyone. Its been years since I've posted, but I need some help and advice. Went through a nasty divorce and the ex was able to keep my 2005 XB12s from me for about 5 years. It has not been ran at all and I just found out that it has been sitting outside for about a year and half. Got the bike back yesterday. I have no idea what to do now. I'm not even going to attempt to start it cause it feels like its full of fuel and I have no idea how old it is. I've called a few places around where I live, which is Mobile, AL, but they aren't interested in working on a Buell. If any one knows anyone in the South Alabama area that would look it over and let me know where to start on this, I'd appreciate it. I am not mechanical at all, so I will need help. Junking or parting the bike out is not an option. She means too much to me. Thanks for any help! |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 12:14 am: |
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First drain all that old fuel, also did you have any issues before the last time it fired up. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 08:50 am: |
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Roger that on draining the fuel. I mean, I plan on draining every liquid out of it and replacing it all. No known issues the last time I fired it up. I am worried about dry rotting on any seals and gaskets though. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 09:03 am: |
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Just change the fuel with a tier 1 gas station. Check the oil level if it looks clean It probably will be fine. Best to change oil after bike gets up to temperature. |
Dualsportdad
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 09:35 am: |
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i would at bare minimum change the fuel pump assembly. you can rebuild them but since you mention you aren't mechanically inclined i'd assume that is not on the table. you should be able to find a harley davidson dealer that will do it for you. otherwise if you ever find yourself in SW Florida i'd be happy to help you get her back up and running. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 09:46 am: |
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Put in a new battery ,fuel crank it up and let it idle for 10 minutes then ride it close to house. Don't fix what isn't broken. If anything is messed up then those items can be fixed |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 09:58 am: |
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Don't attempt to start or even turn on red power rocker switch until fuel is changed.dont fill the tank with a full tank because you might have to change the fuel pump if it doesn't prime.half gallon or even less will be all that is needed. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 10:16 am: |
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https://youtu.be/CtwDvAd_Gmo
This link has how to drain and replace. You can drain by removing plug at bottom of fuel pump. Would be nice to know the thread size and put a nipple with a male side so you could put a fuel line to make draining easier. |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 02:17 pm: |
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Were it me, in addition to the fuel things:
When replacing the battery with new, take the battery negative cable loose at the frame end, and do a close inspection. If the machine had sat outside for any length of time, corrosion at the cable/frame connection will very likely indicate the same for the rest of the electrical system.
And pull a fuse or relay or two and look at those contacts. Cleaning and dielectric grease may well be in order.
Hope this helps, Dave |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 04:33 pm: |
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Great stuff everyone and thank you! Right now I'm having trouble just getting the seat off and I can't get the lock on the fuel cap to budge. Seat will click when I turn the key and lifts a bit in the rear. The front of the seat will pull up a bit, but the part near the key hole will not budge. Am I forgetting something? Put some WD-40 into the fuel lock and waiting to see if that will help. |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2018 - 08:07 pm: |
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On my XB, after the click and pulling up on the back of the seat, I hit the seat in the middle to force it to the rear. That seems to allow the seat to move back and up, and it comes off.
As to the oil, the inside of the engine 'sweats' with temp changes; the same process that results in dew on the windshield. Given the time it has sat, I would drain both oil tank and gearcase, fill with new, then run it on the road for 30mins or so, then drain and fill again. With a new filter each time. Cheap, compared to engine damage.
Hope this helps, Dave |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Monday, December 24, 2018 - 09:54 am: |
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Dave, thanks for the help. Completely forgot about hitting the seat. Thank you as well for the other advice. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 09:12 am: |
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Sooo, I can not get my gas cap to budge. Key goes in with no issues, but it will not turn. Not even a little bit. Frozen solid. Any ideas on how to fix? |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 10:28 am: |
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Any possibility that the gas lock is not the same key as the ign?
Other than that, the usual with penetrating oil, then off to the locksmith of choice.
Sorry, nothing else comes to mind . . . |
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 11:01 am: |
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I've had that a happen to a couple of my bikes over the years, some WD-40 worked wonders to restore it. Sprayed some on the key and then worked it in a few times.
I've seen it debated a few times on what to spray, some say WD-40 makes it worse in the long run, some say the same about graphite or some other things, but for what it is worth the last time I did it was at least 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem since. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 01:08 pm: |
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Froggy, I've tried the WD-40 and haven't had any luck. Any idea what may be causing it to stick?? |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 01:21 pm: |
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Duelsportdad, how far from Mobile are you? |
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 01:24 pm: |
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For me I assumed it was the tumblers in the lock getting gummed up from years of rain and whatnot, and a few squirts of WD40 was enough to clear it all out. I'm not sure what it the issue in your case, but like Akbuell said, are we 100% sure this I the right key? |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 01:33 pm: |
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Yeah, I'm sure about the key. Turns the ignition and unlocks the seat. There is only one key right?? Its been awhile.... |
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 01:37 pm: |
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Yep all those locks share the same key, assuming nobody with another Buell is playing a joke on you and swapped the gas caps. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 02:19 pm: |
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LOL! That would suck, but I don't think that happened. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 02:21 pm: |
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Gonna try more WD-40 and maybe tapping the cap with a mallet till something comes loose. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 03:41 pm: |
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A can of Airkroil if I got the spelling right is very good. Spray a lot into the key hole and use key and manipulate until it starts to move repeat and if you have room let it soak for a couple of hours. Also transmission fluid is very good if soaked over night |
Court
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 04:22 pm: |
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My experience has been that, even in the case of a totally non-compliant lock, that allowing the penetrating oil to sit for a bit . . 30 minutes to an hour . . . and then kind of "messaging" the key in the barrel of the lock has worked.
The "key" (no pun intended) is to resist the urge to think force has anything to do with it. Gentle . . . wiggle . . . wiggle . . . wiggle and patience . . are your friend. |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Friday, January 04, 2019 - 05:25 pm: |
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I might want to try a few heat/cool cycles with a hair dryer and penetrating oil before the mallet. The big issue I have had is waiting hours before trying again. Overnight between tries is better. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Monday, February 04, 2019 - 12:17 pm: |
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Finally got the fuel cap off. My new fuel cap key is a flat head screw driver, but it works for now. Next question, once I drain the fuel out of the bike, what do you all recommend to flush out the tank with? Like I said earlier, the gas has been in that tank for close to seven years. |
Akbuell
| | Posted on Monday, February 04, 2019 - 01:24 pm: |
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While not the easiest solution, might do to pull the fuel pump and look in there. At least that way you will know what is going on, and gives you an opportunity to inspect the fuel pump.
Might try kerosene. A less volatile solvent than gas . . .
Hope this helps, Dave |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2019 - 07:30 pm: |
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Well, old fuel is out. Put about a gallon of fresh fuel in the tank. Tried to turn it over, and she did try, but I never did hear the buzzing sound for the fuel pump when you flip the red switch. Then she started clicking and the engine light would come on for a few seconds and then go out. Gonna test the battery tomorrow and make sure I have enough juice. One weird thing though, the gauges needles would push up to about 12 o'clock then fall back to zero when the clicking started. Think this is just a battery issue?
(Message edited by clydesdale6 on February 06, 2019) |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 05:30 pm: |
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Charged the battery all day and it tested fine. Bike tried to turn over, but again, no buzzing sound for the fuel pump. Motor isn't getting fuel. Connections to the fuel pump look good. Is this possibly electrical? No clicking after several attempts so I think the battery is good to go. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 11:34 am: |
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Is the motor turning over |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 11:37 am: |
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If not with car engine off use jumper cables to the buells battery. |
Clydesdale6
| | Posted on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 11:23 am: |
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Tried to jump the bike off of the truck battery. Nothing. Pulling the fuel pump and bringing it to a shop to be cleaned and or repaired unless someone else has another idea. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 05:28 pm: |
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Is the starter turning the engine over when you push the start button. You need to be specific as we can't see or hear what's happening. |
Gabby_duck
| | Posted on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 05:30 pm: |
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321-591-3955 text first and identify then will accept call. |
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Old/New XB12S