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Sdecp
Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 03:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have always taken my X1 to the dealer for maintenance. For some reason, I always felt like they could do a better job than I could do. After reading a little, it sounds like some people do not trust anyone with their bike. When I look back at the money spent, I really should have learned how to do most if not everything myself. Can anyone give me an idea of what maintenance I should do myself and maintenance I should take the bike to a shop for? What tools should I slowly start purchasing to be ready for just about anything I will see?
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Phelan
Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 03:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Torx tools, torque wrenches, and blue loctite : D. If yours were an earlier Buell like mine, it would be mostly allens rather than torx. It depends really on what you feel comfortable on doing. If you know how to use a torque wrench, read the service manual, and navigate this site, pretty much anything can be done with the right tools. If you have the funds for the tools, I'd reccomend at least the following:

torx tools and the reversed torx (can't remember the official name)- prices vary

FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL- $40-60

front triple tree stand and rear swingarm stand- $100-150

torque wrenches, best if one of each size drives (1/4", 3/8", 1/2")

socket sets and open end wrenches- price varies a bit


With these you can do a bunch of regular maintence and mods. I would even go as far as buying a bead breaking tool, a piece that covers the lip of a wheel during mount/dismount (I can't remember the name right now), and a balancing rod that can be set on the rear stand, so that I can change my own tires. It's simple work that I used to do a lot of on cars when I worked at WalMart TLE. You can get tires cheaper on eBay than most local businesses pay their suppliers.

As far as which tools to buy, I'll be honest- I buy cheap tools, most of which from Harbor Freight. I'd rather have a lot of cheap proper tools for the job than a few expensive improper tools. I paid $32 for both my torque wrenches, and $7 alltogether for the Allen set, adjustible end wrench, pliers, and +&- screwdrivers that I call my toolkit and keep in my fairing bag. Since mine is an older bike with allens, I can do almost all my side-of-the-road repairs with this simple set of tools.
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Buellistic
Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 07:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

A FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL and PARTS BOOK for your YEAR and MODEL are the best start ...

Have always done my own work and have
108.822.1 miles as of the last ride ...

If you need any "INFO" feel free to ask ???

"MAY THE LONG LASTING BUELL BE WITH YOU !!!"
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Sdecp
Posted on Saturday, November 28, 2009 - 08:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thank you guys! I wish I had started sooner.
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Pkforbes87
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 01:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I would suggest doing all work yourself, unless you come across something that requires large expensive shop machinery on a job that you will rarely be doing. (pressing bearings is the first thing that comes to mind)

Everything else that can be done with basic hand tools will pay for itself at least by the second time you do the job. I've realized that even if I have to buy tools for a job, the cost of new tools is less than what labor would have cost me at a shop.

I'm a lot more at ease about riding my bikes hard too now that I do my own maintenance. I know that virtually anything can be fixed cheaply and quickly using the manual - even if it's my first time tearing into a specific type of maintenance. If it's my first time, I just go slow, follow the manual explicitly, and double check every single step.
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Phelan
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 03:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

+1 on the bearings. The wheel bearings are really easy to press in/out with patience, back/forth method, long screwdriver and rubber mallot, but most others are nearly impossible without the right tool. I rebuilt the transmission in my dad's Dyna, which entailed pulling and reinstalling the inner bearing race, and the Jims tool puller/installer was $212. I'm glad my dad bought it and not me lol. But it's one less special tool we may need to buy down the road.
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Mark61
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 08:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You can live without the front and rear stands if you have an engine crane/ cherry picker, over head hoist. Takes a little more thought into blocking and steadying things while working on the bike...

mark61
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Terrycoxusa
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I took another brand of bike I had to the dealer for warranty work. It took 3 trips and after listening to their excuses I finally had them give the part to me and I installed it myself. Almost all dealers sell multiple lines of products, bikes, quads, watercraft, and the mechanics are constantly leaving looking for better pay somewhere else. They won't know much about your Buell. I bought a shop manual for my S3 and do my own work, except I don't have the expensive diagnostic tools to read and reset fault codes. Also, if I ever needed a transmission rebuild, I would have that done at a Harley shop.
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Richsm2
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 01:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

stands: (until I buy the hf lift for which I have a coupon at $279 found in cw dec 09 issue.
for the rear :a screw jack at the left peg and a jack stand at the right peg.( or?)
for the front: two adjustable tripod stands( usually sold with rollers on them) and a barbell bar( steel bar or heavy pipe) under the frame neck. lift with comealong off rafters( or in my case additional beam (2-2x4s nailed to form 4x4-off the side walls).
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Ducxl
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 02:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

One thing the Service techs will ALWAYS beat me on time.I usually go the long way and disassemble more than required.One of my best tools is the digital camera for documenting disassemblies.And my one and only Harbor Freight tool(GREAT ONE) the engine hoist.I can hold any bike any way i need.That bearing tool above has been VERY useful too.Torque wrenches'

Some book may help called "zen and the art of motorcycle maintainance"
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Ebutch
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 03:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I lean,t from old days (Shade Tree Mechanic)1959 Cushman,Pasemaker 1966 BSA Lightning,1970 BMW R60/5, 1970 BSA Thunder-Bolt,1971 BSA Rocket-Three,1971 BSA Thunder-Bolt 1968 BSA lightning. Chilton shop manual,fact parts book then.now 1996 Buell Thunder-Bolt,1999 Thunder-Bolt and Factory shop man.+ Shade Tree.Over 500,000 miles

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Buellistic
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 04:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"HARLEY-DAVIDON Dealers, making MECHANICS out of BUELL Riders since 1986 !!!"

WHICH HAS BEEN UP-DATED TO:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Motor Company, making MECHANICS and PARTS MEN out of Riders since Thursday 15 October 2009 !!!"
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Ducxl
Posted on Sunday, November 29, 2009 - 04:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think i can make it.
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Totalnutah
Posted on Saturday, December 26, 2009 - 04:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

if you do it yourself , you know it was done right.
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