| Author | Message | ||
     J_s_machine |
Riding my bike home the other day from work, I went over 100MPH several times, and went very high RPM several times. This is not unusual for me. The bike started making a hissing noise, almost like an intake leak, or a header leak. I got a SES light then, but it went away. It straightened up for a little bit but then it came back and came back way worse. I rode it for about 4 miles with the SES light and the engine running awful. I pulled up to a stop light and it was running so bad, it would not even idle. Now it absolutely will not run under 1500 RPM. and it was backfiring like crazy. I thought to change the plugs, because maybe they had fouled or at least 1 of thenm had, but both headers are hot, and the plugs are UNREACHABLE.. When I took the airbox cover off today to maybe get to the plugs, the airbox was saturated in oil coming through the breather. there was prolly 2 ounces of oil just standing in the box. the air filter is saturated. It does not run any better without the air filter (straight breather). It doesn't sound good to me, almost like major engine issues. It almost sounds like it has jumped time. When I was riding it, it had no pull whatsoever. It was like a was running on half of 1 of my 2 cylinders. It also had alot of trouble picking up RPM. What does this sound like? It is under a 2 year warranty, so I know The dealership will prolly fix it (haven't had any experience with dealing with a dealer on an issue like this)- I hope they will.. I just wish it was something I could figure out on my own because the dealer is 200 miles from me 1 way. I really hate to drive it there to get it serviced, leave it, and go back and get it for a small issue I could fix myself. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Sparky |
Did you or anybody do any work on the bike before you made these high speed runs? You'll have to change out the oil saturated air filter. The next step would be to determine what error codes the Check Engine Light has stored. That should be a clue to figure out the cause for what happened. | ||
| Punkid8888 |
I am not postive but I imagine someone else will chime in. It sounds like when your bike threw a code it went into a limp mode where it will shut down random cylinder to prevent full power and allow you to "limp" the bike home. I am not sure about the intial problem that caused the check engine light, but I would start with checking the codes. I would not worry about the oil coming out of the breathers. I imagine running on 1 cylinder would play havoc on crankcase pressure and mostly likely cause the excesive oil. So read the codes and go from their | ||
| Davy_boy |
I would change the plugs before I did anything first , most likely fouled from the oil then clean up the air box and filter then make sure the oil level is correct . Could have been over filled since you picked it up at the dealer . It's easy stuff you can do before you loose it for a couple of days at the dealer . Plugs are cheap and so is the filter .... If you ride you should learn a little about the bike and how to fix it . | ||
| Fd2blk |
First thing I would do is pull codes and see what the ECM says the problem is. I would not recomend just easter egging your way through trouble shooting, as you may add a new problem on top of what is already wrong (Message edited by FD2BLK on June 25, 2007) | ||
| J_s_machine |
Got it to the dealer today. It has a blown rear head gasket. The service guy said that it was prolly caused by heat. it does get very hot here in AL, being over 100 degrees some of the last couple of days. I don't know if anyone has had this problem before, but my XB gets terribly hot right there on the seat near the rear cylinder. Don't know if this is normal or not. The fan has worked fine every since I bought it, other than the fact that it just about runs constantly. No offense to whoever it was that said it, but I am no stranger to working on engines. I was just looking for some guidance with this particular one. Thanks anyway though. I don't know how the front spark plug is changed in one of these things, but The dealer is gonna do it anyway, seeing how they have to take the whole engine out. Luckily the warranty will cover the problem. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Got it to the dealer today. It has a blown rear head gasket. This is insane for a brand new bike! This is just insane. Now you have to worry about some HD mechanic tearing into your Buell's engine. More importantly, you have to worry about him not messing it up and actually putting everything back together correctly. | ||
| M1combat |
"This is insane for a brand new bike! This is just insane. " At least it's the first one I've heard of... | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Well I would hope so! I'm assuming, and hoping, that it was installed incorrectly at the factory or was a bad gasket. | ||
| Jwhite601 |
"Well I would hope so! I'm assuming, and hoping, that it was installed incorrectly at the factory or was a bad gasket." Nah 07shorty, just like every post you chime on, you're just lookin for a reason to throw a negative comment(bitch & whine). You should just go trade your bike for a yamasaki, and go pester them on their boards. Can I get an AMEN? | ||
| Ridrx |
It's a machine...they break. Kid two doors down has an 07 R6 going to the dealer Wed. with a cracked head, 2600 miles. I ride a 12R and have had ZERO problems with it(aside from the lights...LOL)after 7000 miles of rain or shine riding(granted I don't do 100mph sprints in series...or any other way for that matter). | ||
| Skully |
It has a blown rear head gasket. The service guy said that it was prolly caused by heat. Interesting. It gets pretty hot here in Texas (when it's not raining!). I raced last July in 100 degree weather and had no problems what so ever. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Nah 07shorty, just like every post you chime on, you're just lookin for a reason to throw a negative comment(bitch & whine). You should just go trade your bike for a yamasaki, and go pester them on their boards. Can I get an AMEN? That's not true at all. This is a very negative thing. I don't have to go looking for it. This sucks when it happens on any bike. So I'm not allowed to comment on this? I always say, I do love my Buell even though I have problems with it. And no, Pastor, you cannot get an amen. | ||
| Sparky |
A blown head gasket could be caused by the lack of heat, specifically by not warming up the engine enough before hammering it down the road. Be aware that when cylinders get up to operating temperature, they expand so many thousandths of an inch. This compresses the head (and base gasket) to where they can withstand maximum conbustion pressure. If the cylinders are not warm enough and the engine is run hard, there could be insufficient clamping force on the head gasket to contain combustion pressure which could lead to a blown head gasket. So, examine your conscience. Do you always allow the bike to warm up to where the cylinder fins feel hot before taking off down the road? If so, good for you -- welcome to the air cooled motorcycle engine club. If not, well, you may have just paid your dues. | ||
| Concor |
Amen! Take the pup with ya you both offer nothing. | ||
| Glitch |
Good post Sparky. That's what I was thinking as well. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
Second the Amen, some folks just don't understand mechanics.If they did they could see the craftsmanship in our machines. | ||
| J_s_machine |
Out of the whole 5000 miles the bike has on it, I'e prolly started off with it not warm twice. I am aware of the whole metal expansion thing. Thank you for pointing that out as a possible cause though. I have a couple more questions. Does anyone have a problem with heat in their XB? Mine, before the blown gasket of course, ran very very hot in the back cylinder. maybe the front one did too, I just didn't notice it because I am not sitting on that one like I am the rear one. It would get so hot, that I could barely touch the frame/fuel tank right there around the head, and much less sit there comfortably. There would be times that I would ride for hours at a time and the fan would run constantly. Does this sound normal? I'm starting to think there was some sort of defect issue going on in the engine that may have caused this gasket issue. For the guy that said he doesn't do 100 MPH sprints, I mean what do we own Buells for folks? I can't help it. I was running with a guy on an 07 ZX6 Ninja, and he could not keep up. That is sad. I may be rough on my bike, but I do take care of it-(regular service and oil changes)...I expect it to perform that way, not like a pansy.. | ||
| 07xb12scg |
I have a couple more questions. Does anyone have a problem with heat in their XB? I guess most of us do a point since it's air-cooled. Tonight when I got home after a 50 mile ride I pulled out the dipstick to check the oil and it sounded like it was boiling! It was bubbling the Syn3! Now this was a hot day, but it was in the low 90s at most and I wasn't beating on the Buell at all. I was out for a nice cruise. Do you guys have this issue? | ||
| Ridrx |
For the guy that said he doesn't do 100 MPH sprints, I mean what do we own Buells for folks? Uhhh...corners? Nothing wrong with speedy sprints, just not my forte any more. It was bubbling the Syn3! Probably heard the oil draining down through the motor? I don't think Syn3 will boil? | ||
| Davo |
J_S, See if you can pull a code and post the results. Procedure: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/256097.html Check the boot connecting the throttle body to the airbox. Does the engine fall on its face when you rev it up? (Message edited by davo on June 26, 2007) (Message edited by davo on June 26, 2007) (Message edited by davo on June 26, 2007) (Message edited by davo on June 26, 2007) | ||
| Stealthxb |
Do you have intake or exhaust mods? If so, have you made the appropriate enhancements to increase fuel delivery? Have you verified your head pipes are tightened to spec? | ||
| 07xb12scg |
Probably heard the oil draining down through the motor? I don't think Syn3 will boil? I honestly don't think it would boil either unless it was some junk generic brand oil. I certainly hope Syn3 wouuldn't boil. But would it take about 45 minutes to an hour for the bubbling sound to completely stop if it was just oil draining back into the tank? | ||
| Cgocifer |
"For the guy that said he doesn't do 100 MPH sprints, I mean what do we own Buells for folks?" "Uhhh...corners? Nothing wrong with speedy sprints, just not my forte any more." I mean really, these are SPORT motorcycles, not cruisers, not touring bikes! Do I advocate speeding around town on public roads at 100mph or over? No, of course not, but occasionally, when there is a clear, unobstructed road, I may let it out a little bit. Also, track days are great, and I don't plan on putting down the straight at 65mph. I would hope, and I'm sure the Buell is built to run at high speeds. Mine is fine and its seen 100mph and higher on numerous occasions. I don't think your sprints were the cause of the problem. Something else created the issue that was most likely highlighted by your high rpm, high speed jaunts. | ||
| Ridrx |
I mean really, these are SPORT motorcycles, not cruisers, not touring bikes! Riding a road with a posted limit of 25-35MPH at 60+mph(I stretch it out from time to time, just on a smaller scale  .) is far more exciting to me than triple digit speeds. My statement was... Nothing wrong with speedy sprints, just not my forte any more....meaning at 40 years old I have no desire to ride that fast on the deer infested, gravel covered mountain back roads of lovely N.Ga that I spend my saddle time on. For those who live in areas with roads to sustain a good rip down the tarmac...more power to you, it IS fun. I just don't do it much anymore, that's all. Never implied the Buell wasn't capable of sprints, but imagine I'm not alone in my preference to the 'tight stuff' either(LOL).  | ||
| Punkid8888 |
As for the Heat issue, up hear in NE we got our first real heat wave and my fan has been running a lot more. yesterday it was 95F in the after noon, I filled it up with gas at 8pm (88F) and after filling I noticed the fan was still running (usually it shuts off just before I finish filling) so I went over and talked to my friend, calculated my fuel economy, calculated his fuel economy (he got 72mpg, Ninja 250) and finally as I am putting my helmet back on, the fan kicks off. So with the heat they do run a lot more You said its an 07, how many miles??? Because if it has relatively low milelage the bike will run very warm becuase the whole engine is still tight. I have heard a lot of people say that the fans run less once you get closer to 7000 or 10000 miles | ||
| Cgocifer |
Ridrx: Not bashing, not throwing stones. Just making a statement so that others don't get a misconstrued idea of what we're discussing here. The orig. poster had a blown head gasket, some were speculating that it may be due to his enthusiastic sprinting. Just wanted to squash any ideas that these bikes are fragile and can't take some high speed sprints. Yes, twisties are the main fun point, but coming out of the twisties can be fun too. On track days, I go as fast as I comfortably can to improve my lap times and to show that a Buell can be competitive with other bikes, especially with less experienced riders in the saddle!   (Message edited by cgocifer on June 27, 2007) | ||
| J_s_machine |
it has 5050 miles oil was changed at 1000, 2000, 3000, and at 5000. I run mobil 1 v twin synthetic. Whatever oil was in it from the factory was what was changed at 1000 miles. I love the turns too, I just can't help myself on long back roads where there is a straight you can't see the end of. Granted, these things are not very comfortable at speeds past 70mph, cause the wind just about beats you to death! |
