| Author | Message | ||
     Smadd |
The isolators have gone south on my '98 S3(but only after 50,000 miles). I'm still researching whether to do the job myself or have a dealer do it. But I'm wondering if Buell still stands behind the replacement, and will do it for me. Anyone know? My isolators were among the first replaced (in '98 or '99)and are definitely not the latest, improved incarnation of the isolator. I suppose the longevity of mine can be attributed to the fact that I'm not a heavy person. So... does anyone know Buell's stance on the isolators? Should I call Buell customer service? Thanks! Steve | ||
| Loki |
If you do decide to handle it yourself: -odering the kit, check the rcv'd isolator part numbers before leaving the shop. A couple of us ended up with two rights. You really need a left and a right to do the job. -check out the pricing on the four parts really needed(two torx bolts, lt isolator, rt isolator) I was kinda shocked after I had ordered the kit. | ||
| Dullorb |
I do know that when I bought my 98s3t within a couple weeks the isolator failed even though the recall had been performed. At the time I got it fixed free of charge. Don't know about what they might say nowadays though. | ||
| Jst |
I had a set done on my '99 under the B-016B service bulletin last Sept. There was no question about payment. I got the upgraded ones for free. Of course they did screw up and put the original bolts back in | ||
| Crusty |
I bought the upgrade kit last summer for my 2000 M2. The kit comes with two isolators, Torx bolts, a new sprocket cover and the hardware to put it on. As I recall, the new isolators were something like $48.00 each, while the kit listed for $64.10. The guys behind the counter were amazed at how cheap the kit was. Buell has always had great prices on upgrade type parts. When they came out with the upgraded front brake rotor, they priced it at $104.00. Everybody else gets big money for floating rotors. When they came out with a decent long distance seat for the S3, it cost something like $160.00 (200 bucks less than a Corbin, and more comfortable to boot). If you do have to pay for your isolators, you'll still be getting a damn good deal. And if the old ones lasted 50K, the new ones will probably last 100K. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
My isolators are disentigrated on my 97S3T. Luckily the bike is still under warranty. When were they recalled? JT | ||
| Jst |
Impulse, I don't think the isolators were ever actually recalled, just improved. | ||
| Blake |
Yes, for a while Buell was offering free good-will upgrades to the new improved versions. Don't know if that is still in effect or not. Mine are toast too. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I don't want to talk about Isolators!!!!! BUSTED ISOLATOR ROAD REPAIR NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART But does show the lenghts a fellow Buell Owner will go for another. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
So, How far can you ride on bad isolators? I wouldn't even have known mine were bad if Bads1 and I wern't looking for rust on my bike. My iso's have little covers on them so I had never looked at them. Sure enough one was ripped and shredding. JT | ||
| Smadd |
I just buttoned my bike up last night after replacing the isolators. It took quite a long time... but most of the time was spent sitting on the garage floor scratching my head! LOL Next time... 3 hour job... tops! It isn't too bad... once you've done it. Now I'm hoping these last another 40,000 miles or so like the last ones did!! Another item I attended to was the swingarm. I noticed movement seemed a bit rough when I had it apart, so I cleaned, lubed, and adjusted it. What a difference! My bike hasn't handled or rode this well in a long time!!! I'm a happy camper!!! Thanks to all for the help and info you offered. DaveS, Al L, and all... and Pammy... for her usual sound advice *and* for letting me pick Scott's brain... Buell tech extrordinaire! BTW... the local dealer happened to have isolators in stock. Unfortunately, I discovered these weren't the latest, greatest ones that come in the "kit". (You would have thought the parts guy would've figured out there was a newer kit available. I found out after the fact at this website. Perhaps if I would've spent a little more time researching here, I would've known beforehand.) But I already had 'em... and figured if I installed them correctly and got the same mileage, I wasn't going to complain. JT... when they get really bad, you'll hear awful "graunching" noises at every dip in the road, and the bike will turn into a "Flexible Flyer" with regards to handling. There will be WAY too much play in the rear... not safe. Replace 'em! Steve | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I had the covers on as well so really could not determine early in the tearing. I figure that they must have started to go somewhere near Wisconsin last August on the way from Newfoundland. Looking back the bike handeled poorly in the Battletrax I ran and then on the way back home while going through Detroit every large bump in the road was like someone was pounding the frame with a hammer. I guess that was the isolator bolt smacking off the frame. As for handling when it got that bad - oooooooo - hold on as it got very interesting. My isolators were initially replaced by a recall while the bike sat on the floor for the first 3 years of its life. So I am on my third set, once again while on the road in Ontario with a torn isolator I stumbled across a Harley/Buell Retailer and ask for the isolators and was charged almost $200 Canadian for the two of them. These were the old style ones...I manage to get in contact with Ozz666 down in Buffalo and he informed me he had the kit in his garage waiting for them to go into the S3T. I returned the ones I did not use and it was like they did not even know the kit existed. As you can see from the pictures on the above link it was a very inconvenient thing to replace 4000km from home in a strange land. But thanks to Ozz and his hospitality I got up and running again. Took us about 4 hrs to do it. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
My bike is presently sitting at Hal's. One of my isolators was completely ripped through. It's going to be a week or two before it's done since they have to wait on parts, but the good news it that I bought an extended service plan with my bike and this repair is going to cost me a whopping $50! It'll pay for itself when the paper gaskets go. They are also replacing the oil and final drive fluids with Redline synthetic. I also have a 2001 shift linkage sitting at the house waiting for the bike to return from the shop so I can install it. So riding, shifting and the engine itself should all be a lot smoother. JT | ||
| Cj_xb |
Hey JT, I just picked mine up this afternoon, got a new tire since the one I had got a nail in it and went flat !! I also had the oil and filter changed, and got the Redline synthetic too. Must have talked to the same guy you did !! LOL CJ  | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Kevin is the maint. guy that I dealt with. See you tomorrow, JT | ||
| Mfell2112 |
I think I am gonna use Hals myself as long as my bike is under warranty. Mike | ||
| Impulse_101 |
Talk to Kevin in service at Hal's. He'll probably laugh when another Buell with bad isolators stops in. You might want to call ahead because they don't stock the kit and they are full up on bikes in the shop right now. JT |
