Way to go Ian! (I feel like I'm talking to myself here) IM SO JEALOUS!!! Glad it went well. I'll be pulling the rest of the stuff off of my bike today. I figure I'm going to replace my plug wires too. Scrub her undercarriage. Wipe and clean anything I can see. Polish the header (maybe replace cuz its dented). I have actually gotten compliments on the dent though.. Today I'll shop for an upper end gasket set. I have a new set of Conti shoes for her, so the wheels are coming off......Yeah, EVERYTHING is getting cleaned. Now to see if I can do it in under a week! I guess that depends if all bearings and whatnot are good, and how long it takes to get gaskets. I'll do some pics too.
Bearings? Obviously you are doing a lot more than just pulling the head. Send it out for a balance and lightening since you have so much to deal with it
Iman501, I've heard that you can use the fuel vent or over flow hose for putting it in. It was one of the hoses that you pushed out of the way to get to the plug.
I'll have the engine rotated by tomorrow morning. My first step is going to check the minor diameter of the threads in their existing condition. If its not too large, I will chase the threads with a rollform tap, as not to remove any material, then recheck the minor diameter. If it gives me 70% or better threads, I'll clean out the cylinder and run it. It appears to me that the quality of the material the casting is made of will allow roll forming the threads. If it does not work............OFF WITH THE HEAD!
I still gotta change my tires too! YIKES! A good rain this morning is going to wash all the crap off the road. I've had a lot of work lately, and have not been able to work on the bike. Gotta feed the family. I'll probably get on it tomorrow. Engine is almost ready to rotate. The good weather is motivation to get it done. Just got my plate renewal card in the mail. $23.........I love Wisconsin.
Engine is rotated down. There is no easy way to get to the plug hole, so the head is coming off. I'll be getting the gaskets today. Never been inside one of these before. Very well thought out. It's a hellalotta fun tearing this bike apart. Looks a little nekked right now.
Both spark plug wires are worn in spots, so new wires too. Rubber plug for the CA emissions can..................well, I dont know if that is sealing anything at all. Looks a little beat.
I went to get the gasket set today, and had a chat with the Buell mechanic at Uke's. I was told to try reforming the threads. So, off I go to find a roll form tap.
Welcome to my world! I've got my XB9SX with the engine rotated down and the cylinder heads off. Thank you broken exhaust stud! I highly recommend replacing those while you've got the heads off. Apparently its mostly likely to be the front upper one that breaks, but might as well change all four. While I'm at it I ordered the Cometic Top End gasket kit and the Screamin Eagle cylinder head studs.
Why? Because I grow weary of 5psi boost and now's a great time to go up to 10psi with the stronger gaskets and studs.
Also will be drilling/tapping the intake for a line to go to the blow-off valve, painting my header black and installing larger injectors.
Whitexc.....Blow-off valve? Boost? Are you supercharging your bike?! If so, I think you should start a thread on your bike!!!!! Ourdee, I appreciate the offer, but I'm working on the bike while my machine is running, so I'm doing this in between actual work. One bolt here, one there. If you do get bored, and want to stop out and see what I'm doing, you are more than welcome. Well, the thread chasing went off without a hitch. I wound up using the old plug from the front cylinder. I cut a notch in it, and blended the notch into the threads. It looks like a standard plug chaser, but with one flute. 20deg. of turning at a time. Back and forth, back and forth. Took about 1 hour, but a lot of elbow grease, and a little high pressure bearing grease did the trick. By the time I was done, I could thread in the new plug by hand, with very little slop in the threads. They actually feel just as good as the front cylinder. Go-nogo thread gauge tells me the sizing is still good. Both NGK Iridiums now have a happy new home. I'm totally elated! Time to start bolting her back together. Got loc-tite, anti-seize, and my torque wrenches. Spark plug wires are shot. 1 spot on each worn through the rubber insulation. I'll get a set of those next week. I need to go to Uke's and shake Mike's hand anyway. That good fella saved me a lot of time. The only hitch I had, was that right now it's very difficult to find a 12x1.25 thread chaser. I would have had to spend money and wait to have one shipped. I got lucky this time around. Time to change tires! I have two big tire irons, and I'm doin this the old school way. Probably oil too. Thanks everyone.
The ones here in Antioch only had 14 and 18mm. NOW, I went to put on the clutch cable, and the little plastic spacer that houses the drum in the lever broke. I'll try to find one today, if not, I'll make one.
I thought I read in another thread where someone cut up a plastic milk jug and used the pieces to keep from tearing up the powder-coat on the wheels. I use dish soap for lube when spooning tires on.
I don't have that kind of ching!!!! I was under the impression that DMtaft had some boosting going on with his bike....I agree we should see it and read about it.
Whitexc, you’re under the right impression. Gunut75, no I’m not supercharging my bike, that’s because I already turbocharged it over a year ago. I made a thread on another forum a while back but only recently started posting on this one. I guess I could make a thread, maybe I’ll wait till my bike is back together and I’ve put it on the dyno.
I’m running a GT1549, 5 psi boost (soon to be 10psi), ECM spy tuning, innovate wide-band O2, boost gauge, AFR gauge, no intercooler or water injection with no problems (at least at 5psi), blow-off valve, installing larger RC injectors for the soon to be increased boost. I originally designed the kit to be completely bolt-on, which it is, so I could sell it, only 2003-2005 bikes could use it though.
Engine is back up in place. Front wheel is off for a tire change. Muffler is painted, with new fancy trim rings on the end of the outlets. Catch can mounted. New shifter and brake pedal are in place, and I'm workin on a front pulley cover. Must be close; I'm gettin a stiffie! .................................................. ........................almost there!