| Author | Message | ||
     Spatten1 |
I was preparing for a track day Friday, and noticed that I have oil seeping from my rear base gasket, covering much of the primary area. I don't wash my bike much, because it runs just as well with bugs on the front, so it may be a very slow leak. I cleaned the area and am now keeping an eye on it. If the leak stays a slow weep, is there any danger in doing nothing about it? Will the gasket weaken and blow out at some point? Is this caused by running high RPMs, building high pressure pulses in the crank case? This bike only has 4k miles on it. I ride the XB about 1k miles per year, doing about 6 track days and limited street riding (because the roads and drivers are both horrible in the Philly area, ask Sammigs about his shoulder and the truck on his side of the double yellows). Is it too much to ask for this engine to run on the track a half dozen times a year? | ||
| Beachbuell |
I too had a base gasket weep that turned it a leak at about 5K miles, it was repaired under warranty. I was told that it is from not letting your bike warm up to operating temp properly before riding it. I do not just start the bike and ride right away, but I also don't wait there for 10 minutes either. The XB usually idles there for a few minutes while I put my helmet, gloves and gear on, then I ride. Anyhow, will they let you put your bike on the track with a known oil weep/leak? I thought it was mandatory that your bike had to be in prime condition, meaning no leaks of any kind (oil, coolant, any fluid)? I can tell you that repairing the base gaskets is a major job on these XB's. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Thanks for the info. I cleaned it up and it is a very slow leak now, so I wasn't concerned about it getting on the track. I am really pissed to know that it will start really leaking soon. Great design. Very impressive. This is total BS. I thought moving from the X1 to the XB would end the torture. | ||
| Glitch |
I ride the XB about 1k miles per year  | ||
| Spatten1 |
Wow Glitch, great observation. I ride most of that AT THE TRACK. I used to ride 10K-12k miles per year on the street when I lived in SoCal and there were good mountain and canyon roads, and you could split lanes at lights. Here in PA, the roads have much traffic, and are in poor condidtion. I also have to wait to get rear-ended at every stop light since I can't pull up to the front. No thanks. Anyway, it does not change the fact that my base gasket is leaking after 4k miles which is total BS. I've had about 15 Japanese bikes over the last 20 years with zero engine problems. This is my second Buell. The X1 was an engineering abortion. The XB has had primary chain problems, belt problems, and now I have to pull the engine. Please Glitch, please steer this converstaion into a personal attack on my riding habits instead of addressing the fact that I'm screwed, again. I've had two Buells, and am pretty pissed off right now. | ||
| Glitch |
You took that as a personal attack?  I simply thought you made a typo. You must be stressed! My bad, I apologise for stressing you further. I have no answer to your leaky problem, I myself am in the middle of fixing a base gasket on a Blast that has less than 6K. Sorry to hear of your misfortune, and hope to hear from you soon with regards to some good luck headed your way. At least I do know it's an easy fix, though time consuming. No special HD tools, just patients, simple tools and the manual are all you'll need. | ||
| Sokota |
Base gasket leak sucks. Try re-torqueing, also a last ditch effort : clean area well [brake clean ,compressed air, etc] using Permatex Ultra Blue gasket sealer, finger force it into affected area , wipe off excess let cure overnite. Hokey a bit , but Ultra Blue is not the ordinary silicone sealer. Mucho luck  Aay , if thats 3000 track miles....maybe not much of a complaint | ||
| Spatten1 |
Thanks for the idea Sokota. I'll give it a shot. I'd guess about 1000 miles on the track. I was still riding more street until last spring, soon after I bought the XB. Then I just decided that it wasn't really worth it anymore if I could ride at the track. Not racing mind you, just riding at a good clip in the intermediate group. I have too many responsibilites to ride more than 8/10ths most of the time, rarely on the ragged edge. I just like seeing the 80% get quicker over time, if you know what I mean. Maybe a Buell engine just shouldn't be ridden hard. If that is the case, I should consider a different mount for the track. I am moving to Colorado in August, so I may be a road rider again. Will have to wait and see what riding opportunites will be local to me. Better than Philly I'd bet. I really like the Buell engine on the street. I think it "feels" great. My problem right now is that I want something that is bullet proof, and now I'm paranoid about mechanical issues again. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Thanks Glitch, I am pretty wound up about it right now. I just can't deal with a tear-down right now. New job coming, move, two kids, dog, cat, wife that deserves attention, etc. I just want plug and play. |
