| Author | Message | ||
     Dago |
13,000 miles and she (my beloved 2004 xb12r) is toast. During the last session of my last track day, I heard a knock coming from the motor. Scared, I finished the session, boxed her up, and put her to bed. I started her up the next day (as if a night’s sleep would help) and the same knock was there. So I trailered her to my mechanic who at first thought it may just be some nut on the inside of the tranny case (I don’t remember what nut he said it was now) that worked its way loose. Today, he took off the cover to find nothing wrong. Evidently this was all he needed to deduced that the knock is “coming from either the top-end or lower-end of the motor”, and that “it has to come out so he can tear it apart to see exactly what‘s wrong.” This will cost “in the $700 range to know for sure.” This sucks. I’m interested in hearing possible solutions from people who’ve been here before. I obviously need to get it fixed. I’m leaning towards taking the motor out myself and shipping it to _____________. 13,000 with no problems, UNTIL NOW. <grumble, grumble> | ||
| Olinxb12r |
Are you out of your warranty? That really sucks man! | ||
| Dago |
Yeah. I'm out of warranty for sure. | ||
| Reepicheep |
What he was thinking was probably a loose crank nut. It will let the rotor magnet cup bang around, sounds like a loose crank. Make sure he really checked that... | ||
| Dago |
Holy Cow! I just got a call from my mechanic who told me that after he tightened everything up and put it back together the noise is now gone! Could I be so lucky? He said he "rode the •••• out of it in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd" and no longer hears the knocking. Sweet! | ||
| Peanut_man |
Sweet, some thing musta been loose in there. Glad to hear it's all OK now.  | ||
| Olinxb12r |
That is awesome! Nice to dodge a bullet when you can! | ||
| Daves |
Those things sound like the crank is going to come out in pieces at any minute! Tighten them up and it all goes away. Great news! | ||
| Fdl3 |
ANY possibility to find out EXACTLY what was "tightened"?! | ||
| Dago |
It was the crank nut, as Reep suggested. Thanks Reep! And kudos to my mechanic who called me back to tell me that it wasn't going to be any big deal at all. He had the perfect opportunity to screw ole' Dago here.  | ||
| Mountainrider |
great news. | ||
| Fdl3 |
Is the crank nut the same as the compensator sprocket nut? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I suspect the easy way to tell that it is the loose crank nut letting the rotor bang around is that it stops under load. Kind of a banging ring in neutral, load up the clutch and it quiets right down. Good news! And good for you for spotting and dealing with it quickly. It makes it a non issue. Go too far with that thing loose, and your crank splines get chewed up, at which point it really is a motor KABOOM! Love that good news! | ||
| Imonabuss |
There is no compensator sprocket on an XB, but the nut he is talking about is the one on the crankshaft primary chain sprocket. Needs to be TIGHT! | ||
| Cataract2 |
Wew. I was getting worried reading this. Glad to hear it was simple. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
190ftlbs to be precise...I am wondering also if the primary chain had stretched enough to start banging around as well making it sound even worse. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Man, I got really worried at the beginning of the thread. Great news Dayglow. I'm glad your mechanic is a good dude. Buy that guy a case at one of those Texas drive through beer stores. | ||
| Kevinfromwebb |
Dago, you better take it for a 'short' ride saturday and make sure it's okay... Kevin | ||
| Rageonthedl |
190ftlbs to be precise You were precise till i posted this...lol....  | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Thanks Rage, I will write in the update for my service manual | ||
| Rageonthedl |
yep. im gonna post that up so all can see who dont read this thread | ||
| Norcalbuell |
Ok I have 04 12r with 13,0000 miles on it and i just developed a bad knock coming from what sounds like the front cylinder, It started off as slight metallic type rattle noise when i let off the gas and it progressively got worse and now sounds like aluminum bat ting/knock....The severity of the knock has made me not ride since friday and i have yet to call my HD dealer which i bought it from.. Please tell me I have the same problem  ... I have been getting depressed thinking about the month or so it will be down due to major motor work...Nightmares i tell you....If i dont ride the girl at least once a day im a grumpy man...I had read a thread a while back ago regarding the same type noise as mine started out as. I think it was Reducati that posted it and he had about 12.000 miles as well on his 04 12r and the dealer said it was a loose connecting rod at the front cylinder...Dont quote me on that until i find the original thread but he basically got a new top end on his bike .... Thanks again Guys Chuck | ||
| Dago |
Norcal, mine was a distinct knocking sound that gained volume and frequency as the revs and my road speed increased. For example, it knocked louder while moving down the road in idle than it did while standing still. There was no clang, ping, or rattle of any sort; only a knock. I hope you get as lucky as I! And that's a damned good idea, Spatten. I'll buy a 12, give him 6, spark one up, and have a nice sloooow riiiiide hooooome.  | ||
| Benm2 |
Dago, did he loctite the nut, or just tighten it? Seems stupid to ask, but if he didn't loctite it then it may happen again. Trackdays are hard on Buell motors (let the flames begin  ). Mine came loose too, once, and was helpfully solved by other Badwebber's experiences. Truly a great Buell resource. If it comes loose again: 1. Remove the nut, and thoroghly clean it. Remove all old traces of dried loctite, but don't use a steel brush, maybe brass, patience, and a nut pick. Wash the nut with diswashing soap in really hot water, and scrub it with Bon-ami & a toothbrush. Lastly, clean it one last time with Brake-Cleen. 2. Clean the threads on the crank end with a toothbrush & brakecleen. Nut pick too for old loctite. Skip the bon ami here... 3. Red loctite 262 inside nut threads, and on the crank threads. Tighten soon, don't let the loctite sit once you get the nut on. Tighten as per above. Paranoid overkill I suppose, but it hasn't come loose twice. PS: Check your exhaust header studs. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Norcal... does the sound go away if you load up the clutch? It is not a bad fix, do it quick before those splines on the crank get chewed up. | ||
| Norcalbuell |
It did a little when it first started but know it gets louder with rpm...im calling dealer right now to get it down there thanks guys | ||
| Jackbequick |
If anyone wants to make their own locking bar, a piece of 1/4" to 5/16" aluminum 1" to 1-1/2" wide and 4" long, with the ends slightly rounded works fine. Jack | ||
| Dago |
Round two... I just went to pick my bike up to find that the knock is still there. It's not nearly as loud or pronounced, but it's still there. I questioned him about how tightly he tightened it. He said he put about 215 ft lbs on the compensator nut and applied ample red loctite. It seems evident to me (according to Rage's pic above) that the nuts needs to be tightened further to meet factory specs. Here are my questions for those of you in the know: 1. Was the nut originally torqued at the factory to 240-260 ft/lbs? 2. If not, and the factory only torqued it to ~215ft/lbs, is everything inside there like a repaired wrecked car now (it operates just fine, but it'll never be the same again)? BTW Spatten, I bought the beer but didn't give him a damned thing. The knock is still there. | ||
| M1combat |
Did they also check your primary chain? | ||
| Djkaplan |
A bent pushrod will cause a loud knock, too. |
