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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through March 28, 2009 » Update on bike with the chunk of piston missing. « Previous Next »

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Juniorkirk
Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 10:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

UPDATE!!!
original thread here:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/443093.html?1238033833
dont know how to bump it from the archives


Got a call from the dealership today saying that they got all the parts in and were about to start putting it back together. But there is a catch.

They were saying that they were doing some checks on other parts before they put the new parts and and finish her up when they found out that the flywheel was loose. Not sure what that means, but they said the best thing to do was to replace it. I asked about how it will affect it if i let it stay, and their expert guy there said that it will be ok unless i starting hearing a lot of noises coming from the engine. Since i don't have the extra $1,100 right now to have that done, i told them to just put it back together and call me when it's done so i can get it.

Here is my question to everyone out there (especially for those that work at dealerships).

How much does a new flywheel cost to buy, and how hard is it to change it myself if i had a good source for tools. I already have a service manual, but it doesn't really have much on specifically the flywheel and how to replace it. So some help with that would be nice too. If it's not too much of a hassle, and will take a good day of tinkering with it at a shop, then i'm down to do it myself, but if i need a bunch of specialty tools and all that other good stuff, then i might just have to take it back in there sometime in the future and have them take it apart again and do more work on it.

Thanks for reading this, and the help so far.
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Smokescreen
Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 11:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You have to split the cases to change flywheels. If you have the tools readily available and a keen sense of what you are doing, anything IS possible. New12R has split cases before if I recall right. PM him and ask. Couldn't hurt. If you are thinking of doing it yourself, why not ask the dealership to leave it disassembled? Would make things easier when you decide to work on it.(Just thinking out loud here)
I'll see if I can get New12 in this thread.

Smokescreen
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Juniorkirk
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 12:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That sounds like a lot of work just thinking about it. I guess i have another question now: What does it mean when they say i have a "loose" flywheel?
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Old_man
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 01:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Maybe the "loose flywheel" was what caused the piston to break by allowing it to rise too high in the cylinder.

I would contact Buell to see if they will help you.
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Smokescreen
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 01:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That sounds like a lot of work just thinking about it. I guess i have another question now: What does it mean when they say i have a "loose" flywheel?

A loose flywheel allows the whole rotating assembly to "walk" back and forth inside the cases. It always leads to some nasty s**t happening inside the motor. I had the same thing happen to my 2001 996. I also have a friend with a 748R that has had the exact same thing happen. Not sure what causes it, just know what the end result is, having to part out a great machine.
I only wish my repair bill would have been even somewhat close to $1,100. With a Duc, your looking at more in the neighborhood of $4K-$5K. Be glad Buells are cheap!

You are probably better off letting the dealership handle it if you are unsure you can complete the swap. Hope my $0.02 helped a little.

Smokescreen
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Hogs
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 06:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

JUniorKirk,

As you have said...I asked about how it will affect it if i let it stay, and their expert guy there said that it will be ok unless i starting hearing a lot of noises coming from the engine.

So LoL when ya hear the noises and that will be sooner than later...You will need a Whole NEW Motor again IS that what ya want???

I wdn`t ride that baby with the slightest looseness in them there wheels.. LAy it up till y get the funds..OR take it and get a Second opinion
on just what they are talking about...Where I live, A mechanic A good one that is Wd. not even consider putting a motor together with LOOSE flywheels just don`t MAKE SENSE PERIOD..!
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Prowler
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 07:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Another option would be to find a replacement engine (e-bay, etc), install it and then work on your other engine at your own pace. Replacements seem to run around 1K-2K from what I've seen. All sorts of bad things happen with a "loose flywheel". I certainly wouldn't be riding it in that condition.
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Mortarmanmike120
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 08:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

In my mind, the damaged piston is probably just a symptom of the loose flywheel. It is unlikely to be the other way around. Therefore it's probably just a matter of a short time before you have another damaged piston (at best.)

I'm not a mechanic, just a guy with some tools that likes to tinker so just my .02
Whatever decision you make as to who fixes it, it needs to be addressed.
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Hogs
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 08:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

EBAY may be your best bet, then ya really have no ideal how them engines are..

When they say Loose flywheel do they mean Side to side clearance on the RODS or up and down play etc.etc make sure ya get the specs. from them and what the specs. are allowed from the factory

BTW if ya need a set of flywheels I have a set I wd. sell ya they have 300 miles on them from a XB9...
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Juniorkirk
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 09:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well, they said that it didn't cause the piston to get damaged like that.

But looks like i'm just gonna have them put it all back together and im gonna take my bike to the auto skill center and just start tearing her apart and take my time finding her out.

I might have missed it, but is there a section in the service manual that shows how to take the flywheel assembly apart, cause what i've read in there, it only shows how to take the assembly out of the motor. Or is the assembly all one big thing that comes as one piece?

I really wish that the piston was the only problem, but it looks like this bike will NEVER be in top condition again. Guess i should have foreseen this, every Harley i've been around seems to need worked on almost all the time, guess my Buell is taking after that inconvenient Harley trait.

Hogs, will the 9 flywheels fit on my '06 12R? If so how much you asking for them?

(Message edited by juniorkirk on March 26, 2009)
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 04:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

From what I read in my '05 manual, there is a refurbish program available for the flywheel.

No idea if it is still there.

I would suggest that a loose flywheel would contribute to your piston issue if it isn't heat related.

I would also be nervous about running the engine with a known bad flywheel. However, I might try and run it. I'm like that.

Odd that the dealer isn't putting up more of an argument about putting it together. With a known loose flywheel problem, I would not warranty my work and would ask you to sign off before I started re-assembly.
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Juniorkirk
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 07:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm debating with myself with what i'm gonna do with my bike....here are my options i'm thinking about:

1.) Get the bike back and take it to the Auto Skill Center on base here and start taking her apart myself and replace the flywheel, while the whole time with that, i'll be without a mode of transportation.

2.) Ride her until she finally dies and start parting her out to all you guys here on BadWeb, pretty sure a lot of you would love to get a hold of some used XB parts. After i part her out, go to the dealership and get me a new bike and make sure to get the extended warranty this time.

3.) Say "F*** it" get her back in the condition she is and let her sit until i get the rest of her paid off and then sell her as is and go get another bike.

This $hit is really starting to get me down about my bike.....
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Hogs
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 07:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

1: I believe ya need special HD/Buell tools to put it back together, And I bet ya will find you may need other parts than what ya think,always turns out that way....

2: yup maybe you can get a few bucks for her parted out not sure how much ya expect to get maybe 1500.00 give or take and alot of pain in doing so...

3: Might as well do #2 if ya are going to just let it sit...OR sell as is to someone may get abit more than 1500. give or take and less Headaches

Just my take on it All the best
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Juniorkirk
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 08:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

the crappy think about it is, i still owe $3,700 on her, so i'm pretty much screwed until i get her paid off.
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Kaveman
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sounds to me you were ready to dump $1500 to do a repair to a "questionable" engine. I would get the bike back and take a chance on a "fleabay" engine at close to the same price as your current repair. You'll get plenty of experience doing the swap and have your bike back sooner. It's all a crap shoot, but hey... What else can you do!
Another $.02
Kaveman
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Juniorkirk
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 10:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i was just gonna have them take it apart at first and pay them for the few hours it took them to check it out and get it back, but when i went back and they showed me that piston and how much damage the head had on it, it was worth having them just fix it with it already apart.

I'm already out about $1,600 on it right now, i dont want to go out anymore, but if i want to get her in top shape, then i'll have to put in as much, if not more than that a SECOND time. I'm in the military, so i don't get a ton of money (unless im overseas, and i'm not right now) to throw around, things are tight for me as it is, and this just makes my life more of a burdon.

I might just get her back and start seeing what i can get for her if i start parting her off and see if i want to take that path. Right now, i want to get her paid off so i can say i 100% own the bike, and so i can start putting that payment money away to save up for a down payment on a new bike, and the extra for the extended warranty.

I'm just in the slumps with all this crap going on with her. And it's hard getting around on foot each day to go to work and everything.
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Rhun
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

new crank assembly is $595 $695 for 08. Buell price. You might contact Hoban brothers (related to dark horse, I think) they rebuild cranks and or do work on them.
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Froggy
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 12:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Do I smell a candidate for a XBRR motor swap? : )
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Id073897
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 03:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm already out about $1,600 on it right now, i dont want to go out anymore, but if i want to get her in top shape, then i'll have to put in as much, if not more than that a SECOND time.

A full blown engine overhaul in an independet shop might easily cost $2000 in parts and about 40-50 hrs of labor (depending what needs to be replaced/done of course).

PM me for details if interested.
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