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Thread: buell xb12scg engine swap????

  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Jul 2010
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    Need info on retrofitting a later model Thunderstorm engine into my 2005 Buell xb12scg. Will this swap work and what's the necessary mods if any? Motors look like the mounts will match, but the oil lines and some of the electrical components appear quite different. Custom oil lines required? Later model xb ecm required? I'd rather find another xb12 2005/2006 engine in good shape for a direct replacement if possible-anyone know of ay such engines available?
    Thanks for any help that you can offer as I want to get back on the Buell!

  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    Apr 2009
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    you can use a new engine and just put your old headers on it to take care of the ECM deal

    all of the motor mounts match up across all years of XBs, the heads, jugs, and back end of the cases externally never changed

    if you got a new model engine you would also need to get the oil lines for it, but the swing-arm is the same so you can just buy the oil lines themselves and put them on without doing anything custom

    The fuel and ignition systems changes don't affect the motor itself really, you can run the old ECM and sensors on a new engine just fine. But there is only 1 O2 sensor on the old models so simply swapping headers fixes that problem. Everything else is a direct swap over.

    any specific questions about the differences in the models besides the general one?

    there are a lot of extra XB engines that show up on Ebay and Buellsterparts

  3. #3
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    Thanks for the info Thorivola.
    My concern now would be dealing with the later Thunderstorm engine having the self adjusting ignition timing and that particular circuitry. Will my 2005 XB12s ecm and wiring work or do I have to ubgrade to the later ecm and wiring for the ignition timing control?

  4. #4
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    Isn't the only model with 2(o2) sensors the 2010?

  5. #5
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    Not sure if this is totally correct but I"ve scouted out several 2008/2009 engines for this planned swap and they both had dual O2 sensors on their exhaust. I know I can switch back to my original single O2 sensor exhaust and use my stock ecm. Just not sure about the later Thunderstorm self adjusting timing control and wiring hook-up?

  6. #6
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    it should be plug-and-play

    the self-adjusting timing should be sending the same response to the ECM for firing off the plugs as the manually adjusted one

    as long as the plugs mate, you're fine

    I believe all post 07 have dual O2 sensors, in 2008 the bigger crank pin was released and with it the new ECM and oil lines in the cases

  7. #7
    Senior Member
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    Aug 2010
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    I hate to bump an old thread like this.. but hey this one is only 3 months old.. and I have some burning questions.

    In order to swap an 09 xb12 motor into my 04 xb12 would the wiring be plug n' play if I use my old header/o2? Seems from what I just read here i think this should work.

    How about the oil lines?, would the 09 oil lines work with my earlier 04 swingarm? If not how would I get this to work?

    ANYTHING else at all I would need?

    Im just trying to clear this up, and find out EXACTLY what is needed to swap an 09 motor into my 04 before I buy a motor and get myself in too deep.

  8. #8
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    Also, couldn't you just have the oil lines spliced together to make one component work with the other?

  9. #9
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    Aug 2010
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    Has ANYONE actually done this? I'm getting conflicting information from a few forums and I really need to know if i should buy this 09 motor.


    PLEASE help if you have ANY information guys thanks!

  10. #10
    Senior Member
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    the 09 motor should drop right in......all you need is the 09 oil lines....the swingarm is the same through all years so the new lines will screw right in. other than the newer oil lines just use all your old sensors and bolt that bad boy up.



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