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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through October 09, 2015 » Is it time? Decisions, decisions « Previous Next »

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Ktmguy
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 05:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This bike has had a top end ping rattle every since I have owned it. One of those things you dont notice when test riding because the throttle needs to be just right, etc.. That being said it has been over 3 years and hasn't gotten worse, and runs absolutely fantastic. I find myself however enjoying the bike less and less because of this noise, and simply letting it sit on beautiful days I could be riding, or taking short country rides when I could be taking multi day rides. Something has to change. So I have a few options.. I know I have a lifter that lets me know its unhappy every now and then. Usually when its in between cold and hot and sitting at a stop light. 70% of the time its nice and calm, but that other 30% of the time its likes to make racket.

The noise is in the top end, not a bottom end knock like a crank. So Is it rockers? Maybe Piston Slap? I have a hard time imagining piston slap with only 30,000 miles on it but I guess anything is possible. Only does it at low throttle inputs, but does it from about 2,500 rpm to 3,800 rpms at those inputs. Now, give it more throttle, and its not there.

Decisions.. I simply accept the fact that I need to do something, rotate the engine down, tear the top end off and see if something is out of spec. This seems the smart road. However complicating the fact is that this IS an 07 and knowing possible crank failure awaits me , should I even do anything to it? Which leads me to choice 2.. buy a low mileage 06 engine and swap it in. If I do this route, how will the tuning be impacted? I assume I could put my ehxaust ecm, filter etc on it and it should run just as good as my current motor , which is fantastic? Any Downsides going this route?
OR I could put the bike up for sale, for like 1900 bucks or so, and throw that money towards a strom etc..

In short I have loved riding this bike over the last 3 years but finding myself sitting out rides because of an uneasy feeling is not something I am willing to do. The bike has NEVER let me down, never failed to start, etc.

Input?
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Etennuly
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 05:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Get better ear/sound protection and ride the snot out of that thing. Heck, It'll probably part out at that price. Try ear buds with an MP3 or something.

Use a non-syn motor oil with a thick and chewy additive. It seems that as long as these engines run smooth, all of the noise they make is normal. I hear that piston slap kind of noise to, but it has been like that for the last 40,000 miles that I know of, and it was not prevalent to me until I wore my open face "hear everything" helmet one day.

I have had times where I worry more about other's Uly engines when they sound like a bag of marbles in a dryer.
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Jstav2012
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 06:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Its probably just some slight detonation, they do it more when its hot outside, and I wouldn't worry about it at all. Just don't keep it in the range where it does it. Mine does it if the bike gets heat soaked at a long stop light or something, and then take off at a medium throttle.
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Teeps
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 06:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm with Etenn.
Get some foam ear plugs and ride.

My '06 has ring/jingling noise in that rpm range too. It's made the noise since new, well new to me 800 miles.

Air cooled engines make noise, what you are probably hearing is what they call fin ringing.
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Sagehawk
Posted on Saturday, August 08, 2015 - 08:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I was having issues for 4 or 5 months with road king like that. S.u. told me to get out in garage and get that mf tore apart n see what's going on. That was at app 47000 miles and motor was totally carboned up. There comes a time when no sea foam, no chevron techRon etc., is gonna make a difference.solids are solids and they have to be physically removed. same for a lifter or oil pump gear that could be going bad. That's the beauty of these things. Rip em apart , fix it, ride the piss out of it, rip it apart , fix it, etc. I like it when she kicks my butt into gear to make me do stuff. Hasn't worked with bathroom renovation yet tho !
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Cyclonedon
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 01:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Fill the tank with premium gas the tale it out and run the snot out of it!
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Ktmguy
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 08:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Benn running Dino oil for a year now. I am familiar with th ringing and this is different. Definitely a rhythmic tick that is loud at times but agin goes away with more throttle. I may just suffer through it till winter since then I'll find better deals on a new bike if I go that route or if I tear into it or swap it I'll have a few cold months to sort it out. I just wish it had some other symptom. It runs fantastic. Is carbon buildup really a possibility? Is sea foam that good?
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 10:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The fuels we run carbon the crap out of these things. I changed my intake gaskets several years ago and found that about 10% of the bottom of the intake runner was carboned up solid.

GM had a top engine cleaner that would remove carbon as good as any I have ever seen.
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Electraglider_1997
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 12:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When I was at Sturgis this past week I noticed that Harley big twins mechanically are very quiet and all you hear is the exhaust throbs. My ULY sounds very noisy in comparison. Wish it were quiet but I take care of it by always wearing earplugs that make it sound pretty quiet.
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Phelan
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The bottom of the intake runner being carboned up is from bad valve seals. The 06/early 07 "black" HD seals are notorious leakers. When I pulled my engine apart, half of the rear intake port was filled with buildup. I believe this also affects the carbon buildup in the chambers as well. 3,000 miles later since my initial 1250 build (though the heads have been modified a few times with new seals each time), I no longer have any buildup in the ports, and the squish band on the pistons is bone dry. A little carbon in the squish on the heads each time, but not much at all.
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Arry
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 12:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The horn can tap against the inside of the "fly screen" (above the headlight). This can make a noise that's been mistaken for engine noise. Remove the fly screen and look for marring on the inside.
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Bluzm2
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 01:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Arry, good call. I bent mine back for clearance right after I got the bike. Totally forgot about that.

Re carbon build up.
I've used two different methods to remove/reduce combustion chamber carbon buildup.
The first is cost free. Remove your air cleaner and hold the throttle at about 2500 RPM. Squirt a steady stream of water down the intake. Not too much but enough to have enough moisture in the intake stream to generate steam when the mix fires off.
I use a squirt bottle like one of those red ketchup bottles you see at diners.

The 2nd method is the same except use Seafoam. This generates huge amounts of smoke so do it outside. Both methods are pretty effective. Won't do much for intake tract build up but it really does make a difference in combustion chambers.
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Ktmguy
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 05:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, I dumped some sea foam into the intake as Bluzm suggested. I also added 2 oz to the oil as was suggested on the bottle. I proceeded to run the crap out of it. I normally never see 3-4k rpm unless im running down highway in 5th gear.. My runs through the gears are very rare.. so For about 15 miles I never let it drop below 3500 rpms and often rode it around 4500 rpms.. Wow. what fun! Didnt really notice the noise as much, but that may have been because I was simply enjoying the bike and the pull on the arms. Who knows.
I am going to test out a used Strom on Tuesday that the Honda shop has here. I'll finalize at that time I believe. I cant imagine selling this thing though.. It really is a love hate relationship.. argh.
I still have that 07 crank issue hanging over me as well.
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 07:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hmmmmmm. Maybe you lug it too much. These engines are quite happy running 3000 to 4000 RPMs. Mine runs really smooth down low, it is easy to get it into that mode if you don't get it out of town often.

On mine it is quite noticeable what the ECM learns when running it hard and fast. The harder I run it the harder it wants to go!
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Phelan
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 09:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I hit 7000 on almost every ride. Maybe that's why mine is so clean : D.
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Ourdee
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 10:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

More Rs = more fun.
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Phelan
Posted on Sunday, August 09, 2015 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Exactly how I feel : ).
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