| Author | Message | ||
     Phelan |
Today I bought a top secret OEM non-Buell headlight/fairing assembly to kick off my new look. You guys will have to wait to see what it is though  . | ||
| Uly_man |
I have had a number of dry sump bikes IE Two Ulys, MZ Baghira (Yamaha 660 engine), XTZ 750 Super Ten and a Aprilia RSV-R (Helicon engine like the R series bikes) and they all have this "oil level" thing? The reason for this is that the bike has a very small amount of oil in it and expands with heating it. This is what can cause a false level. A dry sump bike has a "oil amount" but this is from a dry engine fill. On a oil change there is still some oil left in the engine. Also air in the tubes and worse if you do not fill the oil (as you should) filter. The oil change "fill amount" can be tricky to get right and varies from bike to bike. On the Uly I fill the oil filter and then fill the swing arm to two XX. Run the engine for two mins, you will see the level drop, and fill to two XX again. I then run the bike until it is good and hot and add oil to about mid level on the dip stick. Works for me. | ||
| Buellmoose |
My first Buell Labor day 2015  Previous Owners Cee Bailey Wind screen Headed Grips 1'' Handle Bar Risers Head Light Protector New Relocated ECM Luggage Cool Kit (Scoop only) New Exhaust valve controller What I've done so far  DIY Foot pegs (1.5'' lower than stock adjustable tilt) DIY Fan Shroud    Manual/ECM fan switch plus fog lights  Holes in airbox and airbox cover  Primary gear reduction Had some problems changing primary gear. When I pressed in the new primary sprocket the magnets on the stator rotor came loose. Glued them back in with JB weld. Then when screwing the clutch cable back in the flange on the cable broke so I'm a week out waiting for a cable Good thing I have a DRZ 400 to ride  | ||
| Yo_barry |
2009 XB12X ... Installed the Kuryakyn LED voltage meter. I attached the meter to my front master cylinder and wired it to the accessory plug--same place as my GPS. Works great except that plug isn't on until the engine starts. I would like it come on when I turn the key on. I know others have used this meter. Where did you connect it? Barry Hollister, CA | ||
| Steveford |
94,000 mile brake fluid change. Exciting stuff, I know. | ||
| Phelan |
I secured a Bolt tail for my Uly thing. It'll ship this weekend. Should match pretty good with my Flexi-Glass front fender and KTM Duke II headlight setup. | ||
| Arry |
Yo Barry, It looks like you could hook to the brake switch circuit (orange?). This would come on with the key, I believe, and be convenient to where you mounted your meter. I haven't done this, just looking at the wiring diagram. | ||
| Phelan |
My LED volt indicator is wired into the 12v acc plug and it comes on with the key. Interesting that yours doesn't. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
To the best of my knowledge, '08 and later Buells have the accessory plugs switched on by the ECU. This means that they switch off if system voltage drops too low. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Correct, the later Buells switch that aux line on and off. There is probably a live voltage going to the run/kill switch that you can snag without running a wire all the way back to the ECM. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Hope all are a good having a good year allready! Decided to take advantage of a little down time and put that pesky lowering collar on rear shock this past week. Found out when mocking the thing up, that when on lift , there is no clearance clearance tween spring collar, collar and swingarm. Hook it up, and there is a bit of clearance. A bit of grind work was in order. Was In a rush so to speak and have no measurements with original collar on preload. I did find out that there was not enough oil in preload adjuster to get full travel. Only 7/32" and it took 11 clicks before any tension was felt. Put shock back in bike to check with weight on setup. Didn't like. Took shock back out today and recharged the preload adjuster twice. Extra work but second time had line full of oil and adjuster full. Now , I feel tension on adjuster at 1/2 click from bottom. And also have 3/8 travel in adjuster. Once bike is together completely and put a few hours on it well see if it was worth the trouble. Some pix for ya.      | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Fixed my steering head ground wires. You know, I looked at those when I had the front end apart last week. At the time, I thought everything looked OK but I guess that I stressed the wires when I had things apart. Then, on my way home, in the dark, my headlight went out. And the high beam would not work. Ground is common to both beams. Fortunately I have a set of driving lights. Not too powerful, but enough to get me home. Yesterday, when I removed the grounding screw I expected that some of the ground terminals would fall off. They did not. Well, at least not until I touched them... Now, the ground wires are gathered and crimped and soldered into a spade connector. That connector fits into a new, longer, heavy gauge grounding wire that makes a full loop before attaching to the steering head. That work would have been a LOT easier if done with the front end apart. | ||
| Phelan |
I hope you at least pulled the headlight and beak out of the way? | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Nope, just worked around them. It wasn't too bad. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Sold it..Thats what I did. Couldn't handle the issues anymore. Was spending more time trying to decipher noises and running issues than riding. Over 4 decades on Bikes, and I'm at the point now, where I just want to ride. I want my tinkering to involve things I WANT to do (other than routine maint.)to the bike, rather than what I must do in order to get another weekend of riding. | ||
| Arry |
Ktmguy, What are you going replace the Uly with? Your name gives a hint. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Arry, I have owned more than my share of KTMS.. I'm really interested in the AT right now.. However I like to see the first year finish up and see if there are any glaring issues from real world riders with the bike before I jump on that ship. I bought a left over 2014 Versys 650 for a steal and will ride it for most of 2016, or until I am confident that the new AT is what it promises on paper. I will say going from the Uly to the Versys is like going from a Cummins Turbo Diesel to a 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma.. I Instantly missed the Buell engine, well Lets say I missed the "performance" of it. | ||
| Arry |
I tried searching KTM AT, but don't think I found what you're referring to...? | ||
| Ryanco |
I imagine he means the Honda Africa Twin. | ||
| Ktmguy |
Correct... Africa Twin I will say that when it wasn't being a headache the uly was without a doubt the most fun bike I have ever thrown a leg over. I may find myself with another someday. | ||
| Sagehawk |
I checked at Clute Honda dealer yesterday. He has two Africa twins ordered, has no idea when he will get them and both are sold allready. They will be like the KTM 690 enduro. I saw my first new one a month ago. A used one 3 years ago that was high mileage and really rough looking. I can imagine the new husky 701 will be the same. I'm not the kind to buy sight unseen again. But uellymae is pretty settled in garage still and running good. | ||
| Ourdee |
I've tried other bikes. But, keep coming back. | ||
| Phelan |
Big Ugly is just sitting in the garage right now, somewhat in pieces. I've been struggling to find motivation the last few days to even look at the parts I'm working on. So many irons in the fire, deciding what to work on next. I need to measure and cut the bolt subframe and take it to my welder, as well as cut the undertail to clear the shock. I need to remake the headlight brackets so I can mount the gauges and push the headlight slightly further out so I can reposition the angle enough to be within the adjustment range of the headlights. I need to shave the pin on the brake light switch so my front brake light works again. Not to mention I have new suspension on the way, and I may be changing fuels soon. I need some warm weather. | ||
| Sagehawk |
We must be having your warm weather phelan. In 40's now. I'm not so proud to say I've done nothing today on buell. getting new roof tomorrow so had to clear around house all of wife's baubles. Went to coworkers yesterday and picked up 12 bags of mulch for compost and flower beds. So, today all that got cleaned up, picked baggy of bay leaves for cooking, listened to aces play stingrays again, drank whiskey n had a cigar. All In all, I've accumulated about 2.5 billion buell points to date for riding later. I mean, how else is a 41 year marriage to work, right? | ||
| Phelan |
Lol, that's the truth. I'm a few years behind you, working on our 4th year of marriage. But it's a great journey. | ||
| Atc_no_more |
I pulled my muffler a couple weeks ago and left it in the garage. Have been waiting for weather to take it outside and prep it for painting. Got that wx today. Heard some rattling inside of the muffler when I took it the work bench. What the heck? Started shaking it and out came kernels and kernels of dried corn. Thought I'd gotten rid of those mice that had taken up residence in my garage, but apparently not. Do you think the muffler gets hot enough to make pop corn...if I had reinstalled it without discovering the stored maize? | ||
| Ourdee |
I think you need to check the wiring under seat and airbox. Mouse urine will stink to high heaven when heated to 350 degrees or more. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Thought I left a rag in mine once during a motor roll. Got one of those harbor freight cameras and went in that muffler to make sure my ocd was in low mode and not outrageous mode. Sure enough, nothing there, but , there's a whole lot of room in those mufflers actually. Get that brainworm going, and you'll think about it a lot. | ||
| Phelan |
Some times it has to get worse before it gets better, right? Here's mine at the moment. I've been playing with the bolt subframe to find out how much I need to shorten the top rails to make the plastics line up right (answer- ~3/8"), as well as removing some parts that are going to be painted and/or reconditioned. Today I should receive my 08 XB12SS forks and shock. I also need to remove the swingarm at some point to replace the swingarm bearings. I may also replace the rear isolator at that point as well, we'll see.  | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
Made a fuel bottle carrier to bolt to the saddlebag. 4" pvc and a cap, then drilled 47 holes in it and painted to match (in the basement cause it is 30 deg in the shop). -Mike |
