| Author | Message | ||
     Unibear12r |
Up to now things have gone OK between me and my dealer, just one screw up, which they made right. But a new chapter has opened... Right after Laguna my 04 XB12R started leaking air from the front tire. About six pounds worth, over night. I searched over the tire for the puncture a number of times, checking the valve stem, used soap & water to no avail. So I found a tub I could submerge the wheel part way in. I find the stream of bubbles... comming from where one of the brake disk mounts meet the center hump of the wheel. Wow, 7500 miles and the RIM springs a leak. This Saturday will make four weeks that the dealer has had the bike. I figured they would inspect the wheel to see if I abused it, which I haven't. When I called to see if they were going to warranty the wheel I got a "I guess so as we ordered the wheel". When I had first dropped the bike off I was told a week and a half to get the wheel and it'll be ready soon after. After two weeks when I called they seemed kinda lost a first, then told me that Buell sent them a rear wheel and they had to reorder. Today, they still seemed lost, and the service writer said he'd call me back later today after trying to find out more information. Of course he didn't call back so I'll be calling them again tomorrow. And this Saturday I think I'll make the 100 mile trip to visit the dealer and see my bike. When I've talked to them they've been polite and so have I but I'm begining to feel a bit ignored and lost myself all the same.I was in a good mood about the whole thing until they didn't call me back. My impression has been that HD/Buell has been working to improve their dealer situation but it looks like they still have their work cut out for them. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Glen, Before you travel 100 miles to visit your bike, I might suggest that you call Buell customer service at 414-343-4056, and/or contact one of our members, "Court", who is often very helpful in suggesting solutions for this type of problem. In an ideal world, what should have happened, is this. You call the dealer, tell him about the problem. Either he has the wheel in stock, or it arrives in a few days. Only then you take the bike there, he changes the wheel out while you wait, (shouldn't take more than an hour), and you go home. ( Note: when changing the rotor over, make sure the dealer uses new mounting hardware). Simple no? You definitely need to find another dealer. I know good ones are very difficult to find: That is why I do all my own work. If this were my bike, I would drive over there with my trailer, and pick it up: I just don't allow guys who proven incapable to solve a simple problem to keep working on it very long. If you do decide to do your own wrenching, the first thing to do is order the parts book and Shop Manual from Daves, at Appleton HD, one of our sponsors. Phone is :920-757-1651. The Buell is a pretty easy bike to work on, and Daves either has the parts you need in stock, or in the rare case that he doesn't, he will try to located it for you using the parts locator computer program. I can't remember waiting more than a week for parts, since I started using Daves. Unfortunately the treatment you received is sort of standard Harley fare, but there is no good reason to stand for it. In the meanwhile, you might be able to use the bike if the air leak is caused by a slightly porous casting. You might be able to seal it with some kind of "Liquid Steel" expoxy material. I would be VERY careful about doing this, because the problem could be a crack, which could fail castatrophically when you hit a bump. Could be messy. I hate a big old mess:-) | ||
| Unibear12r |
Ooops! Sorry Jon, I havn't updated my bio sence they evaporated. Maybe I should post more often... I've done all my own wrenching on my S3 up to now but I've had my dealer do most of the work on the XB while it's been under warranty. I order the manuals the day I order or pick up my bikes.  I'm mostly just venting. I'm not at the point of asking for Court's help or even to call customer service... yet. The bikes rideable, I rode it up there. But I don't want to continue taking that chance, you are right it would be a mess if the wheel let go. Nor would any "sealant" be acceptable. When I called today and said who I was the same service writer came back on and said he didn't get any new information by the end of the day and apologised for not calling back even so. I've no problem with the people or even their work so far. But in a big computerized shop the work order is on computer, the parts are ordered on computer and then the work order is flagged when the parts come in. If the parts take a long time tho it's easy for the bike to gather a lot of dust unnoticed in the corner of a busy shop. I was told today that they are still waiting on the wheel. Furthermore I was told it is not stocked by Buell but is a "direct order" item, meaning that it is shipped direct from the supplier to the dealer. I've been laughing over that one all day considering where the wheels are made. This may have been the first time I've actually (in a way) been told I'm getting something via a slow boat from China!   | ||
| Izzinya |
Gentleman_jon In the meanwhile, you might be able to use the bike if the air leak is caused by a slightly porous casting. You might be able to seal it with some kind of "Liquid Steel" expoxy material. I would be VERY careful about doing this, because the problem could be a crack, which could fail castatrophically when you hit a bump. Could be messy. I hate a big old mess:-) COULD the shop use it as a reason to be an a$$ about warranty ??? if you try to perform your own repairs on a known problem could they be pissy about haveing to repair it under warranty ??? dont know just to be safe let them deal with it my 2c Izzinya | ||
| Wceviper |
Sounds like your dealing with the same place I am. I plan on picking my bike up tomorrow morning from the dealership and completing the rear cylinder work myself. I can't tell from your profile where your at. Buell, The BBB, and the owner of the dealership will all receive matching letters detailing my issue. | ||
| Unibear12r |
I'm down mid state from you viper. My dealer has done a lot better these last few days. That slow boat turned out to be very slow. Second week of October slow in fact! So my dealer checked to see if any other dealers had a wheel in stock and one did! Now a replacement wheel is in route and my XB may soon be back in the wind. | ||
| Unibear12r |
The wheel arrived today, having shipped from an East Coast dealer last week. They offered to have the bike ready tomorrow evening but I told them as long as it's ready Saturday morning. That's the soonest I can get over there to pick it up. Funny, I ride the S3 more but the XB12R speaks more to my soul. I've missed the XB more while it was down than I did the S3 when it was broke. It'll be fun to ride it home even tho it's a hundred miles of mostly superslab. | ||
| Court |
Uni Drop me a note with details and your contact info | ||
| Krassh |
I have had a similar problem with my '03 XB9S, but this has only started since I moved to the mountains. There are days when it holds air fine then there are days were it is down 5 to 20 pounds sometimes the front and sometimes the rear. Could the change in elevation coupled with some of the heat we have had in Southern California be responsible or should I be submerging my Rim? Mine is out of Warranty so if my Rims are messed up I guess I will be replacing them myself. | ||
| Mbohmann |
Loctite makes a wicking type product that is designed for this type of situation. It would have to be applied on the INSIDE of the wheel. I've used it to seal porous welds on heavy duty transmissions. All you have to do is brush it around the general area and let it sit overnight. IIRC, I've seen a similar procedure in a GM service manual for leaks on aluminum wheels. | ||
| Unibear12r |
HoooRaaaw, the Bear has his unicycle back. New wheel looks good! The smile is back!  Krassh I would be VERY surprised if your rim is leaking. First, from what I gather it is a very, very, rare occurance. Second, I would think a rim leak would be constant. Air and tire temps do effect tire pressure but I've never seen a 20 pound difference. Submerging your tires would bring you some peace of mind and couldn't hurt tho.... | ||
| Unibear12r |
I had a chat with Court today. He didn't have to solve any problem for me, but he could have if I needed him too. I've got to say he has a great passion for things Buell and two wheeled. He does a lot for Buell & Buellers in what amounts to pretty much an unpayed hobbie that takes up a lot of his time. Having put in 15 years as a unpayed Deputy I kinda know where he's comming from. Sides that he's a real interesting guy, even when he's not talking two wheels. I have to thank you for the time and care you give Court.  |
