| Author | Message | ||
     Flaco_3 |
I am new to Buells. This is my first problem on my 2008 Uly 12XT. It has <2000 miles on it. Tonight I was loading up the bags for a trip I am going on tomorrow and when taking the bike out to gas up the engine light came on. The bike had been sitting for 2 weeks. The light didn't come on until after I had shutdown at the pump and filled the tank. Once I got it home and in the garage I flipped through the service manuals. After shorting pin 1 and 2 on the diagnostics dongle and getting the engine light to flash me the code (21) I pulled the air box cover and began checking the cables and wires that deal with the exhaust valve actuator. I tried: -Pulling the mechanical cable with no results -unplugging and plugging back in the wire to the servo motor with no results This is a stock bike so I am confused at to what may have caused this. Can someone provide me with ideas on how to repair? Is this an unsafe condition to ride the bike? What if any are the adverse effects? One thing I did notice is that when the ignition is turned on, the right hand switch is in the "run" position and the ECM completes the self check, the engine light comes on and the servo on the breather box makes a clicking/humming noise. Is that normal? Could the servo be bad? Thanks in advance for the help. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Having never owned an XB, this is all guesswork.. Sounds like either the exhaust valve or cable is binding, which will damage the servo eventually. The clicking noise might mean that has already happened. The fact that the check engine light comes on makes me think that there is a sensor telling the ECM which position the exhaust valve is in, so as long as it's stuck the fuel delivery should be adjusted accordingly. I would suggest somehow disabling the servo until you find the problem in order to prevent further damage. You are losing power somewhere with the exhaust valve not moving but as long as the ECM knows which position the valve is in, you'll be getting the right amount of fuel for the level of backpressure at any given time. | ||
| Dano_12s |
Sounds like the actuator is faulty.Mine has done this also.Should not harm anything.Have dealer verify problem.Then ride bike til part comes in.I run a drummer,the exhaust valve is not used. | ||
| Ironken |
I have a servo off of my '05 XB12S that was removed after 3,000 miles. If you need one and this one will work....send me an e-mail ironken2001 at yahoo dot com. We'll work something out. | ||
| Tarshi |
09 12scg I never see the actuater work during run from day1. (Tried many situation but nothing to move) I had same problem. Remove exhaust wire from actuater then turn on the ignition. After this happen, I modified to valbe open all the way. It is not bad. | ||
| Froggy |
I believe they had a bad batch of the actuators on the 08's, your not the only one that had it fail. Its no biggie, get your dealer to put a new one on whenever they can, worst that happens is that you loose some WOT performance. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Wire it open...you dont need it. I went through 3 new actuators, and gave up on the P.O.S. design. I have had it wired open for 5,000+ miles with no problems at all. No warning lights, and better top end performance.  | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Mine went out and had to be replaced. Be careful you don't twist the throttle to fast as the vavle may stick in the closed possition. Not a mechanic but to much exaust with no exit doesn't sound good. I had a really loud backfire. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"closed" when referring to the exhaust valve on an XB doesn't actually mean closed. There are 2 paths through the muffler than the exhaust gasses can follow.. one has increased backpressure to increase off the line torque and cruising speed efficiency. The other path decreases backpressure to maximize power in the midrange. | ||
| Flaco_3 |
Thanks all for the input. I took it in to the dealer today and it was determined that the electronic module that controls the valve is bad. The dealer set the valve in the "open" position and sent me on my way until the new module comes in after which the bad unit will be replaced. Long term I am considering switching to a Drummer. Cheers. | ||
| Packrat |
You'll like the Drummer +1 !! | ||
| Fung |
Just had my actuator replaced. o8 xt dealer replaced not big deal. rode it till part came in. | ||
| Deanbush |
The servomotor gear pulley assembly is the achellies heel. remove the servomotor remone the screws and pulltop off. you will see that the servomotor gear drives a plastic pulley that actually pulls the cable. this pulley has a very thin tap on it that ingages the servo motor gear. while pulling on the cable to remove it from the servomotor you are puling back aganist this and basacially after only several cable removels the tab no longer ingages the servomotor gear properly and basacially the gear will move and the cable will not. I have personelly done this while opening up my air box and installing ceramic coated headers. I believe this part is designed to fail so buell can sell more or cause service repairs. I fixed mine permently with a simple small screw.thier is a very small square hole just past the tab, I finished cutting out the little tab so it would not cause the gear to bulge out and I installed a very small screw in this hole and the servomotor pulls the cable for the exhaust valve perfectly.  | ||
| Rnr |
Hey gang, Having similar problems, did the fix pictured above, but the actuator cycled once, and hasn't since. Anyone got a working actuator? If I can't get one, what is the answer? |
