| Author | Message | ||
     Happster |
Hey folks, just picked up a '99 Buell on Monday, looking forward to talking and researching about it on the forums here! My bike is in desperate need of attention, but what's the fun in having a machine like this if it was for everyone? I traded my XL883 for this thunderbolt, and can't wait to get it back on the road again. Had a few minor "hiccups" the day after I bought it, but it is what it is. Apparently the guy I got it from bought it for his wife, and she never rode it. before that it was owned by someone in the armed forces, and I found some receipts from Okinawa and Guam in the owner's manual. If this forum is anything like the ones I've been a part of in the past, then I'm sure most everyone will scroll down for the photos. here ya go.   Since I took this photo, the clutch stopped working due to losing the clutch lever pivot bolt, thus snapping the drive belt at an intersection, and leaving the bike inoperable. parts are on their way. I have an oil leak, but I believe it is from one of the oil return lines, so I am going to replace them whenever this torrential downpour ends. The "modified" intake is going to get the boot soon, apparently it is made from part of the stock air box. I can't wait to get it back on the road. I drove it probably 90 miles home, and WOW. what a ride. I'm glad I got that in before it broke, because otherwise I may not know why I traded in the first place. I'm apparently a bit of a chatty kathy today, but either way, excited to be here. | ||
| Robertb1958 |
Congrats, Cool Buell! | ||
| Norton952 |
I have a 2001 S3, and doing some mods to it. I did not like the stock body work, the front fairings are cool but im back and forth as they look a little big and bulky as mounted. I got rid of my other body work, going a different direction. I am sure you will have fun with your project. Im unclear if that intake is a forcewinder with a wrap on it, or a cobbled together and improvised contraption. If it IS a forcewinder or reasonable clone, then i would be interested in it. (Without the wrap material) I cant seem to access PMs on here,, but once you figure out what you have Id be interested in discussing a sale of the intake setup. | ||
| Hootowl |
That intake is stock, but the filter didn't attach to it originally. It's a Helmholtz resonator. Reduces intake honk. It sat inside the original air box. Doing what the PO did is not unheard of. Looks like you've got the original style rear isolators. You should check them for tears, and the front as long as you're at it. Also, based on the photos, it looks like your drive belt is loose. That's a good thing. It's pretty common for them to be way too tight. You should be able to push down on the top of the belt and easily make it touch the swingarm. It has the front rotor from a later model year. Also a good thing. The 99 carrier and disk were bolted together, and it rattled after a while. | ||
| Hootowl |
And when you're searching around, remember that the X1 and S3 (99+) have the same engine, so if you find something about the X1, it's likely that it'll apply to the S3 as well. The M2 is real close too, only difference being cams and that it's got a carburetor. | ||
| 1313 |
Welcome Mr. Happy! I dig the colors on your S3! I guarantee you'll: - LOVE the bike - LOVE this place and - will smile like someone named Mr. Happy should the whole while! CONGRATS on a sweet bike! 1313 | ||
| Blks1l |
Quite a few Buellers in the Austin area, I am in Georgetown, and don't get into Austin too much, but I am sure we can get you fixed up relatively easily. | ||
| Mcelhaney14 |
Welcome to the forum and I look forward to seeing this beast get back on the road. They are nice bikes are pretty easy to work on for the most part. Although I hear that belt change can be a bit of work on all tubers minus the X1. | ||
| Whitetrashxb |
i'm in austin too... i actually saw this bike on CL since i've been snooping around at tubers for sale, but the custom colored frame caused me to shy away.... congrats and welcome! | ||
| Hootowl |
"minus the X1" And the S2, RS, etc. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Wait a minute, 27 years old and likes tubers! Who could guess that. That old lump and trans. are well designed and durable. You'll get lots of miles and  on your rides. Welcome to the Badweb. There are many resources here. And, check out our sponsors at the bottom of the welcome page. | ||
| Steveford |
If you're doing the belt NOW is the time to replace the rear isolators. P.S. Have a Buell "dealer" run the VIN and check for outstanding recalls. I'd lose that shock with the skinny shaft - maybe you can get it done for free. (Message edited by SteveFord on May 14, 2015) | ||
| Happster |
thanks a lot folks for the warm welcome, and good advice! I'm going to pick up the belt today. I will look into those isolators, I took a brief peek at one yesterday and it looked intact. I'll do a more thorough check once this rain lets up. I loved my sportster, but wanted something faster and more comfortable for me, and this bike fits the bill. what's cooler than modern technology combined with an old school powerplant? I may have jumped into this a little early, but I am super psyched to get this thing on the road and riding again! | ||
| Essmjay |
Another important fix on the '99 model is the throttle plate. The original shaft can break, possibly causing a WOT condition which can be hair raising until you spot a place to hit the kill switch and pull off. That happened to me. I don't know if that was a actual recall, or just an updated part. (Message edited by essmjay on May 15, 2015) | ||
| Essmjay |
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| Jayvee |
The bike has the saddlebag supports in the back, did the saddlebags not come with it? A long intake runner is supposed to empahsize torque over high horsepower, at least that was the theory 40 years ago. I'd like to get an S3T in addition to my M. Maybe one with a front fender... | ||
| Harleyelf |
Put a primary chain tensioner on your "to-do" list. They re-designed it to a much better part than the one that came with our bikes. The old style tends to come apart and lodge the shoe portion at the top of the primary case. Welcome Mr Happy, you are in the right place! | ||
| Happster |
thanks y'all for all the input and advice! fellow Austin riders, I look forward to seeing y'all on the streets! would love to meet up sometime when there's a chance. I am guessing that the intake being modified the way it is is causing my rough idle and low end sputtering. It stalls out at lights sometimes.... and by sometimes I mean the majority of the time. it's very inconvenient. I think when I get some money together I am gonna buy one of the Hammer performance ham can style intakes, and then tune it from there. Thank you Hoot, I actually got this bike because I am a fan of the evo sportster motor. my '99 883 sporty was a tank. Never left me in the wind. I'm sure once this thing gets the love and attention it needs it'll be the same way. I will give the HD dealership here a call tomorrow, and see what they have on my bike. I wonder if recalls on bikes this age are still honored? I will take a look into the throttle plate, as well as the isolators and chain tensioner. I actually got ALL the original fairings, fenders and bags. the PO believed that green bikes were bad luck, so he repainted the bike and frame. I actually really like the original color, I may have it resprayed at some point.  I can't imagine many of those original buell soft bags are still around, but I found it with the original owners manual and an ECMspy disc and cord in it. | ||
| Jim2 |
You should restore the intake/airbox to original. Great in the rain and not many around. | ||
| Steveford |
It'll be a real nice bike once it's squared away. When you're doing the primary chain tensioner you might as well hit the alternator lead rubber plug with Hylomar and do the same to a new starter gasket. Do NOT use Mobil Gear Oil in the primary as it will eat the alternator rotor in short order. If that happens, get an Accel replacement. What exhaust is on that? There's an updated Y hanger for the front you want to use and unless the muffler is stock, you'll want to make sure you've got the RACE ECM in there. A TPS reset would be a good idea, too, and I'd install new intake seals. I had a 98 S3 and that motor and other bits now lives in and on my S2 so all is now lost. I don't know how handy you are, mechanically, but if nothing else we can give advice on what to look for and have done to the machine to get it so you have a fun, reliable, great handling bike. | ||
| Happster |
I know my lack of knowledge is showing here, but I searched for photos of exhaust for my bike and I couldn't seem to find the one I have. maybe I just didn't have the right search terms. here is a photo.  where do you guys find all these parts? I am having a hard time locating any. | ||
| Happster |
Here are a few more closeups. I talked to harley and they said they couldn't get me isolators. mine seem to be in good shape though. are they the old style?   here is a pic of what I don't like about the air cleaner. it looks sketchy, and it makes me worry it could leak.   | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I believe that's a Buell pro-series slip-on. The slip-on would attach to a stock header which only goes from the heads to the front of the engine, unlike a race header which would also turn the corner to the bottom of the engine. (hard to explain without pictures) I think that muffler was built by Supertrapp. | ||
| Phelan |
Phillip is right about the muffler; I had one at one point as well. Cool bike, I love the black and red combo. | ||
| Steveford |
Those are new style isolators to go with the cast swing arm. They look okay in the photos (assuming the mounting bolt it centered in the frame hole) but I'd replace them because you'll have it all apart for doing the belt. | ||
| 1313 |
Those are new style isolators They sure look like the old style isolators to me... Here's American Sport Bike's listing for the new style isolators. Happster - American Sport Bike is one darn good source for parts! 1313 | ||
| Kalali |
Looks like the old style and the bolt doesn't need to be perfectly centered. It's still OK if it sits near the lower rear corner. | ||
| Hootowl |
They are indeed the old style, and are either completely shot or are in upside down. | ||
| Hootowl |
The bolt should not be centered, it should be at the bottom of the opening in the frame. Since yours are in upside down, I'm guessing that the bolt is at the top of the opening, and is probably bouncing off of the frame when you hit a bump. But, as mentioned above, since you're replacing the belt anyway, you'll be in prime position to replace them. I do not recommend that you reuse the old ones. It's only a matter of time before they tear on you. The new ones are much better. | ||
| Happster |
thanks for the info. I am about to order those isolators. It's a shame my bike didn't get cared for properly. Guess I'll have to pay for the mistakes made in the past. the top priority is to get this thing back on the road. I am going to keep an eye out for one of the bigger shocks, and also I am going to head over to a bike parts place near here and see if I can't scrounge up a few other parts I would like. what components am I missing for the stock intake? what parts will I need to replace? will it flow well enough combined with the supertrapp pipe? Do I need a race ECM? I have the ECMspy stuff, but have ZERO experience with it. does anyone in my area have some knowledge or some time to meet up and talk buells? I am hoping after I replace the belt and isolators, I'll be able to ride it despite its rough low end and idle. If I can avoid that completely, I will. I found this website, seems to have a lot of information. wish I had found it sooner. Badweb is mentioned, but I don't know if y'all have it bookmarked. I do now! http://www.doncasto.net/DonCastosS3ConventionalWis dom.html#Primary Chain Tensioner |
