| Author | Message | ||
     Nillaice |
luckily this time it died at a good-freinds house, just as we were all geared up to leave for a quick jaunt before the sun went down. a hand-full of surprisingly tiring push starts, 15 min on a slow-charger all proved to be fruitless and futile. so i threw in teh towel, and strapped it down  i blew the stator it came with. (1st) got the harness, then blew the replacement (2nd), and now it's acting just like it did the last 2 times. my money is on that it fryed it again (3rd). i'm expecting to get it back sometime next month with a it's 4th stator. with just 7,500 ish on the o-do-meter electrically moddded are; BUELL® heated grips, DDM HID's on the low-beams, LED marker lights and an awesome XBLights tail light. the singular buell tech that wrenches on my bike agrees with me that all of teh electrical loads are tolerable, and allowed. if it's not being ridden, it's in the insulated and heated shed, on the tender. cruising RPM's between 4-6k. regular sweeps of the needle thru the quicker, right side of the tach-o-meter, and some stop lights on the way to/from work. i wanna absolutely love this bike and be able take it on long trips but dunno if i can trust it past a few thousand mile on each stator. what gives?  edit: noid pluged. solenoid left physically/mecanically installed, just disconnected (Message edited by nillaice on February 17, 2011) | ||
| Froggy |
How has the VR been holding up? So far those with a custom rewound stator have not reported any issues, but its hard to say if thats the real solution yet. | ||
| Nillaice |
whaddya mean 'How has the VR been holding up? ' please 'splain i havent touched it with a fluke (cuz it's got the neat-o voltage display) or done much to it other than the listed above. monitoring volts with the kickstand up was showing an average of high 13's up until a few days ago. specifically today; low 13's/high 12's, quickly dropping to/below 12.1 when spinning less than a few grand | ||
| Duphuckincati |
I dunno about your stator, but putting it in a HONDA! is bad form, even if they do match! | ||
| Zacks |
Wasn't there a request a while back for failed stators that have lived entirely on the mod? Don't remember who, or where it was supposed to go, maybe someone else will chime in. Sounds like you meet the requirements. | ||
| Fast1075 |
There was a post recently that said that a sizeable number of "failed" stators wer not failed at all...the issue was the regulator or wiring...unplug it, ohm it and meg it... | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
I hope it's not due to the '09-only white/blue color combo ... Otherwise I'm going to feel even better about buying the extended warranty for mine! Okay, I know that has nothing to do with, just calling out a sweet color combo! I've had one replaced so far, hope I don't hit your record. Good luck!! Mike | ||
| Stevek1125r |
The problem seems to be directly related to the color combo of the bike.... the black and blue ones are doing better than the white ones....  Trade me plastics and i bet te problems go away. pm for address  | ||
| Nuts4mc |
Electricity is kinda like plumbing – you fix one leak and another pops up a) How old is the battery?...has the tech tried a new one? b) are the battery connections clean and tight ( the Pos terminal comes close to the frame… (Especially if it’s not a HD battery) is the battery mounted securely?- wouldn’t want a dead short between battery and the frame when your leaned over in a left hander. c) the Voltage regulator/rectifier uses the sub frame as a heat sink… is it mounted securely ( nice and tight against the frame?) – touch it after a ride – how hot is it? – hot enough to sizzle spit – the frame (heat sink) should not allow it to get that hot - you’ll be melting wires/body work next! d) the heated grips are big resistors – kinda like a dead short – thats why they get hot… fix the bike and remove them from the circuit (easy to unplug) – ride the bike see what happens e) after market HIDs may have a bad ballast remove them from the circuit – see what happens f) A stator fails when the insulation on the windings breaks down and shorts to ground – two tools to test a stator is a MegOhm (or a megger) http://www.themegohmmeter.com/ and a HiPot ( no not the kind you smoke) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipot the test instruments check the stators insulation “strength” from shorting to ground – you live in an area that has shipyards and ships have generators – you may want to find a good motor rewinding shop and ask them to test a failed stator so you /and or the tech can have an idea as to which “leg” of the stator has failed – maybe that “leg’s” wire lead is shorted “down stream” from the stator’s connector as is causing your grief. g) don’t feel like the lone ranger – Honda had similar stator issues with their 2004-2005 stators on CBR1000rrs h)There is a shop in 'bama that rewinds the Stators for about $150 plus shipping PM me if you're interested Good Luck | ||
| Dannybuell |
Nuts4mc - heated grips are big resistors, I never thought of it that way. excellent post... | ||
| Nuts4mc |
Warning...Thread HiJac -Lt. Dan - here's what I use on my rally bike - gotta have hollow bars tho - developed on SnoMobiles http://www.pollyheaters.com/ph400.htm just big industrial Wire wound resistors...they get real hot - that's why you mount them inside the bars - brush guards keep the wind off the gloves and help keep the digits warm + Polly Heaters good for below freezing air chill temps. | ||
| Nillaice |
most excellent!, but don't have time to write a thorugh answer right now (Message edited by nillaice on February 18, 2011) | ||
| Bueller4ever |
My dealer replaced the VR and the stator, even though the VR tested good. Stator was shorted to ground(there diagnosis). Mine lasted 6,000 miles. Like Nuts said, Honda had their fair share of failed stators and it wasn't just 2004-2005 fireblades. I think getting a good stator is a crap shoot. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Just found out my stator is toast on my 09 CR. Bike has been in the shop since early december for the clutch fix. Just was going to get it back today and when they went to test ride it the stator went out. Might be another few weeks without it. Not sure what the mileage is but it should be about 3000 miles. | ||
| Ratsmc |
It only took them 4 days to get and replace the stator on mine. Of course it took an additional week because they forgot their Buell guy was on vacation. | ||
| Nillaice |
a- battery was replaced with the last stator. 'bout 6 monts ago b- batt post bolts are snug and pristine. rubber strap is tight as a snare drum, and positive post sheild/guard thingy is still in place. c- didn't know the subframe was the heatsink for the VR. neat. i'll have to check it out when i get the bike back. d- heated grips are out of a Buell® box. riding with them on or off only shows a 0.1 volt change, if at all. more often than not, i don't see a change in teh voltage display. i'm not gonna baby the bike to keep it on the road. if grips are the cause, it is not the 'problem'. the technician agrees with me that they are not an issue. "hey, your bike will chew up the valve train if you put this Buell® oil in it, so ya gotta use VALVOLINE." is the oil the Buell® the problem ? e- i checked the HID's current draw a few months ago when i started seeing batt voltage lights. both had about 6 amps IIRC. the technician agrees with me that they are not an issue. HD even sells HID's as an add-on item. g- i can't think of any more sympathetic ears than other 1125 owners f/h- the problem with living in such an industrial area, is that even though there are several shops that COULD re-wind my stator, most are too 'big' to deal with me and my one piece. there is a huge powdercoating shop 2 miles from me. website looked good, and seemed profesional. but they were more than annoyed with my phone calls once they realized i was just a joe-nobody. i might just look your 'bamma brothers for a stator re-wind one teh warranty runs out. until them it is free. i went back to the dealer the next morning after dropping it off. the tech let me in to the shop, and we checked the stator leads with my fluke, and backed it up with his. good resistacne phase to phase and no shorts to ground. one pin connector from the stator to the relay harness was charred. dunno what is up with that. but it looks like the stator is not melted. batt voltage was 11.6 and diddn't have the CCA's to turn it over. put it on the charger. called me back the next day; they got it up and running, but it wouldn't charge below 4K RPM. they are gonna call tech support tomorrow for help. i'm not gonna try to micro-manage, and get all up in their way. i'll let them handle it. i think tech support and the buell trained tech will make further/faster progress than i. i'll ask questions when they know the answers, and have fixed the problem | ||
| Wbrisett |
I have exactly 3100 miles on my completely stock CR (actually, I do have the high bars, but I don't count those) and last March my 1125CR had the HD recall for the stator done. Today while out running errands, I watched my voltage go from 13.5v to 9.9 before it simply died and I had to call my local motorcycle recovery service. I dropped mine off at HD since it should still be under warranty, but I don't have a great feeling about this if folks are up to four stators. Wayne | ||
| Nillaice |
im still on my 3rd. not yet on the 4th sorry to hear your charging system gave out on you. mine seemed pretty sudden too. keep us updated on what you find out to be the cause of your issues. | ||
| 1125rcya |
I can't wait until 2012 comes around and HD see's how many man hours and 1125R stators they have replaced + 5 more years of this...Joke is on HD  | ||
| Nuts4mc |
Nillaice- sounds like you have tried and covered all the bases and have a strategy to go forward - the only thing the tech hasn't done is change the VR - you might suggest it - I have posted enough about changing that component.... Over the years of development that the Buell team has spent to get this far IMO only 3 things that are a challenge to owners: a) Fueling, b) Clutch slave cylinder, c) charging system - HD/Buell has stepped up to fix a & b - here's hoping they fix "c" before the warranty runs out Good luck back there! | ||
| Fast1075 |
There is nothing wrong with the stator if it passes the resistance and ground tests...the "charred" connection is the direct result of overheating from a poor connection... I would get it running and check the stator with the engine warmed up to eliminate any possibility of it having a thermal fault...if they didn't repair the burned up connection, it may not make enough power at low rpm to keep up with the power demands. | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
HD just needs to do the right thing and issue a real recall when they do get the stator developed properly. So the people that did not buy extended warranties can have this problem fixed after the manufacturers warranty runs out. This is issue is not normal wear and tear I think most people understand that fact. I have been one of the lucky one's to have mine fail only once. | ||
| Wbrisett |
When I dropped my bike at HD yesterday, they looked and found that it had the recall work done already. What I don't recall is if they did anything else to it. My guess is this will be my first replacement stator. But with only 3,000 miles on the bike and only 7 months left on the warranty, I'm going to be out some serious change soon if it fails again. I did contact Erik Buell Racing, to see what they recommend, but haven't heard back. I have to think that they don't have these issues with their racing bikes. Wayne | ||
| Freezerburn840 |
Wayne nope they do not have the issues we are experiencing with the race bikes. I have already contacted Erik Buell Racing last year on this issue they are hoping that HD R&D team can figure out a solution. Maybe they have a different answer or solution now. I know a lot of people just forked over their money and had a custom shop rewind it with better materials. | ||
| Wbrisett |
So, HD called me back. As suspected, the stator has bitten the dust. New part is on order. One thing the service writer mentioned was that despite doing the recall work last year, they didn't touch the stator, which surprised him. I don't know the details of the service program/recall, but did it involve doing anything with the stator itself? Wayne | ||
| Dannybuell |
Wbrisett - As I understand, stators are replaced on an as needed basis, there is no program or recall on this part. | ||
| Zacks |
Danny, you know the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? If it's the same dealer doing your work - I don't know who they are and they may be the best guys around - ya gotta wonder is all I'm saying. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Zacks - "... expecting differend results?" exactly! It is either the dealer, HD, or both. My stator failed at 2200 miles almost 9000 miles now. Using the stock ECM it does OK. you are right, ya gotta wonder! Hopefully a pattern is seen and/or someone learns something along the way. | ||
| Zacks |
I'm with ya. Mine failed about 2200 and had it replaced in 3 days, so can't and won't complain about the service. Should it fail again, I'd consider taking it to another dealer to give them a shot. On a side note, I notice that you're listed in Portland. Got my XB from Columbia when they were dropping their Buell license. Actually, they were pretty much forced to by HD. Used to get the evil eye from the techs and sales around here when I'd bring that by until I bought the 1125... | ||
| Nillaice |
called today. they said one of the re-call harness connectors had failed, and that it now has a new re-call harness. ready for me to pick it up they are gonna have the lo-jack tech see if he can put a different lo-jack system that draws less current. sounds to me like more treatment of the 'symptoms' and less fixing of the 'problem' -sigh- next time i'll ... post up and complain some more. |
