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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through June 10, 2009 » Ground short in >200 miles XB9SX -- is this what to expect? « Previous Next »

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Zanon
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 08:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hi guys:

My brand new 2009 XB9SX developed a ground short, and the indicators stopped working after less than 200 miles.

Buells have bad reputations for reliability. I guess it's deserved.

Is this something I should expect that keeps happening? Does this mean I have a lemon? If something keeps breaking every 200 miles, do I get a refund?

I'm glad it's under warranty, but I'm really unexcited about losing all these riding days. Even worse, getting to and from the dealer is a pain, as they don't seem to give loaner bikes. Dealer doing the repair is Peninsula HD in Redwood City. Dealer I bought it from is Faultline HD in Fremont.

Any suggestions?
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Brumbear
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 08:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

ground short? I am not sure what you mean they lost ground and stopped working or shorted out and blew a fuse ?
The bikes are very very bullet proof there are many here with over 60K a few over 100K and at least 1 with over 200K.
I wouldn't get to worried the bikes are built quite well.
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Birdy
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 08:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had a "Ground" problem on my bike when it was new....dealer had pulled the battery to charge it and pinched the wiring putting it back in the bike didn't take long until it "Ground" through the wiring!

Once fixed I've had no more wiring problems at all over 15000 miles to date.
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Andymnelson
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"Buells have bad reputations for reliability"

What makes you say that? I have not heard such things, other than from people who know nothing of Buells. The older tube frame Buells (which I ride daily) shake and rattle like crazy, but like anything they simply require a little attention to detail and maintenance. My XB is far and away the most reliable machine I have owned (all of my previous bikes have been late model Yamahas, Hondas and a Triumph). Plus the XB requires far less maintenance than any of the others, and when it does it is buy far easier and cheaper to work on.

It's a reliable little beast, don't let a little wiring mishap turn you off.
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You bought a bike with a bad reputation for reliability and didn't ask about lemon laws or refunds!!??

Never heard of dealership offering loaner bikes as a practice.

Or, give us some real information and we can help you with it, probably quicker than a dealer.

FWIW, my Buell is the most reliable bike I've owned.
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Froggy
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 11:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)


quote:

Buells have bad reputations for reliability.




They do?


quote:

Is this something I should expect that keeps happening?




Once whatever it is gets fixed, then no.


quote:

Does this mean I have a lemon?




No.


quote:

If something keeps breaking every 200 miles, do I get a refund?




No.



As for your issue, it could be something as stupid as the screws on the battery terminals not being tight enough.

Have you ever bought something like a toaster and brand new out the box it didn't work? It happens, get it fixed and continue on with your life.
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Andymnelson
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 11:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

oh, I misread your post. You said "Buells have bad reputations for reliability", I would agree with that, at least that's their reputation in my house. :-D
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Ramm
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 09:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Zanon,

I just got my bike back from the dealer. I also have an 09 xb9sx. I had the EXACT same problem with the grounding.

I was also getting an arching or something between the battery cables or something. Didn't really understand what he was talking about there. Thank god for warranty.
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Zanon
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 12:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hi Ramm:

Do you have any additional details on what was wrong? Such as where the short was, or what they did to fix it?

I'm worried it will end up being in the shop for a week.

Arching? Sounds bad. What were the symptoms?
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Scottsts
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 12:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It is very frustrating when you buy a new bike and have immediate problems. I'd be pissed too.
Buells are well made and you shouldn't expect any major problems along the way.
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Mmcn49
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 01:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The Buell wiring harness is wrapped in soft poly cloth, not a hard vinyl or PVC. There are several chafe points where the harness is run; most notable is at the battery’s negative terminal.

You need to isolate all the chafe points. Until this is done you may have recurring problems.

Wrapping the harness with spiral wrap or split convolute tubing will go a long way in eliminating these problems. You need to do this yourself, don’t rely on the dealership.
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Saratoga
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 02:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

There was some kind of ground strap TSB for my 09 Ss right after I got it. The dealer got a fax from Buell once they sold me the bike and called literally the next day and asked me to bring it in.

If it's any concilliation, I had some PITA problems with the exhaust valve and CEL within the first week of getting the bike. It took a while to figure out, but once they did everything has been hunky dory.

(Message edited by saratoga on June 04, 2009)
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Ramm
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 02:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Zanon, mmcn is right. I had chafe problems.

The symptoms I was getting was hard to start, and idling would vary from 1k down to 500ish back up to 1.5k-2k.

Your warranty should cover it, I didn't pay a dime for them to diagnose it and fix it. The dealership I went to actually has really good mechanics and know about buells.
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Ronbob43
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 10:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

At 2.5K miles my 09 XB9SX had the lights stop working on the way to Latus motors for me and my buddies to do a test ride. I shut it off to see if a "reboot" would fix it-now no starter. After a bump start and a ride to the dealer I was told there was corrosion in the headlight sockets and starter switch and a blown fuse. They said they applied bunches of di-electric grease. Did my 1800+ miles of rain riding cause this? Is this only a nice weather bike?
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Zanon
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 06:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"Wrapping the harness with spiral wrap or split convolute tubing will go a long way in eliminating these problems. You need to do this yourself, don’t rely on the dealership."

Thanks for the advice -- I'll do this.

-Zimran
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Zanon
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 10:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Woohoo! Am back in business
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Xb984r
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 11:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yes the tube frame Buells, especially the S1/X1 lightnings had a bad reputation for reliability, the XB pretty reliable. Most likely this is an isolated incident.
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Hotrod427
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 11:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The horn just died on my '09 XB12Ss, with only 1525 miles on the clock. Either the spring in the switch broke, or the contacts welded- not sure which at this point. Called my dealer (Wild Prairie Harley Davidson/ Buell) and they said Bring it on in. I don't think it's uncommon to find minor problems with any new product, especially one that is mass produced on an assembly line by a human being. For one, the switch wasn't made by Buell, but rather a supplier of theirs so Buell would have no way of knowing the thing might be defective in a very short time of use. These things can happen even with the best of quality control departments. Heck, ain't that the reason they give us a warranty in the first place?
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Just_john
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Had exactly the same problem with mine.
It's now done 10,000 miles without a fault
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