Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: In over my head...Help!

Hybrid View

  1. #1

    In over my head...Help!

    Hey Guys I'm in over my head...

    I'm pretty new to bikes and Buell. I don't log in much but I've spent some ass hours in front of a computer on the forum trying to learn about my new toy. The only motorcycle work I've done is an oil change. My very first bike is an 07 xb12s with around 17000mi I bought from a buddy a year and a half ago. Its mostly stock except for the engine breather reroute(Big thanks to the guys posting on here for that one). Last fall I took it on a 170 mile ride and when I got there I heard a noise and a front exhaust stud had snapped off flush. Not sure what to do I took it to a buddies shop and we drilled it attempted an EZ out and broke that off inside as well (FML). Having to work the next day I tucked my tail between my legs, tightened up the other side, limped it the 170 mi home, and parked it.

    A week ago a neighbor gave me use of his shop to work on it. I took it for a test drive first (couldn't help myself) brought it back to the shop and heard a broken stud from the rear head....Yay! With full use of an old auto shop, many hours researching this forum, and enough farming experience to figure out lefty loosey righty tighty...I decided to tear into it. After I removed plastics I found the culprit. The front Exhaust mount on the bottom of the engine was completely missing. I figure the weight of the pipe plus all of the extra vibration was causing the studs to snap.

    Engine rotate then removed frame and front fork completely so I could put the engine/rear swing arm up on a table for better access. It scared the **** out of me but after doing about a Junior College degrees worth of research on the subject I decided that my baby was going to have to go through some surgery to removed the 2 broken studs and EZ out. Welded a washer then nut combo to the studs and wiggled back and forth applying lots of lube until they broke off then repeated for about 5 hours while simultaneously drinking beer for moral lubrication and watching the hockey game (Yes this guys got a dish hooked up in his shop!). They both finally came out clean!!! I was so happy I think I cried a little...then I drank one metric **** ton of beer to celebrate!

    While it was apart I got new Spark Plugs in it from ASB(the originals were still in it), drove an hour and a half to HD dealer for new studs/nuts, and did an oil change. Put everything except for the plastics back on last night and took it for a test drive about 11:30(again to excited to let it sit). Here's where my new problem starts. If I hit the gas to hard it kills it. It took me 4 tries to get it to 65 MPH because if I hit 3000 RPM it dies until I hold the clutch in down shift and baby it back into gear. When I got it back into the shop I revved it up in Neutral...same issue, it just seems to bog down like its flooding. I unhooked the airbox cover and looked in the throttle body and it revved up no problem...it ran like a top this way. so put the cover back down and it bogged again. While it was running I put pressure down on the air box cover and it killed the engine completely. At this point I'm assuming that its not getting any air.

    Now after suffering through that god awful sob story my questions are....


    1) Can an air filter go to hell sitting in a clean shop for a week?(I don't no if it has ever been replaced) Could it possibly be that simple?

    2) Is the lack of air just a symptom of a different bigger problem and removing the filter just treated the symptom not the main cause?

    3) Do I need to track down a cable and plug it in to a computer? If it's electrical I may be at a loss but it won't stop me from trying

    4) Is it possible that I just put Humpty Dumpty back together wrong? I didn't think so because it fired up right away and idled fine but I have no idea what I'm doing so it's definitely plausible.


    Any responses are greatly appreciated!! Just remember you're talking to a guy with one successful oil change worth of motorcycle mechanicry under his belt so dumb it down a bit.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Senior Member Chicknstripn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    High Point, NC
    Posts
    2,144
    Man give yourself more credit!
    Awesome job fixing the exhaust stud. That job was not for the faint of heart!
    First: Make sure you're NOT revving a cold engine. XBs don't like that and you'll find you're just fouling your plugs and making things worse.
    Second: is the throttle body snorkel positioned correctly? Anything obstructing it? The way the airbox is designed you shouldn't be able to choke off the air to the engine by putting pressure on it. Check that the air box base(not the airbox cover) has the factory spacers on the bottom of it and that there is clearance between the airbox lid(part that covers the filter) and the air box cover(the colored plastic piece that usually has a few Buell logos on it.
    Also insure your your throttle is adjusted properly.
    That's all I can think of.
    I'm sure other will chime in with other possibilities.
    Good luck!
    Last edited by Chicknstripn; 04-14-2016 at 05:51 PM.

  3. #3
    Senior Member williegoat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Glendale, AZ
    Posts
    888
    Just a stab in the dark, but maybe the airbox assembly is interfering with some wiring. The intake air temp sensor, the throttle position sensor and the injector wiring all all up there. Perhaps a loose connection or something is almost pinched and when you install/remove the cover or place pressure on it, something moves just enough. Maybe even the intake seals are moving. Retrace your work on the top.

  4. #4
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    West Wales, UK.
    Posts
    8
    Hmmm, sounds like maybe the air horn trumpet thing isn't sitting down flush enough on the throttle body and the top of the air box is closing off the air passage way?

    Just a thought as it can be a bit of a battle to fully seat it down there, no gap should exist when you run your finger down towards the throttle flap.

    Good luck, you've come quite far.

  5. #5
    Chicknstripn: Yes, I was pressing down on the "air box base" not the air box cover. I left the cover off for a test ride.

    I'll definitely double check everything on top there.

    I think you guys may have found my cause with the throttle body snorkle/air horn trumpet thingy. I'm not going to be able to check it until tonight but if that rubber was seated too high on the throttle body it would press up against the air box base cutting off all air flow. (especially when pressed on)


    I really hope it's that simple. You guys are awesome! I'll probably be sneaking out of work early to try out your theories...

    Thanks guys!

  6. #6
    Senior Member Chicknstripn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    High Point, NC
    Posts
    2,144
    NO! Ndbueller you're awesome because you're working on your own bike!
    That what separates the posers and squids from the real enthusiast.


    Well, that and a bigger bank account!

  7. #7
    Senior Member AZmidget91's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    1,664
    I would check for an intake seal leak, just to be sure. Start the engine and spray brake cleaner towards the throttle body from the bottom. Aim for where the throttle body meets the head.

  8. #8
    Senior Member ToneTheMoan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    LONDON ENGLAND
    Posts
    1,967
    ndbueller "in over my head-help!" mate are you kidding me you aint even in up to your knees! You so underestimate your ability, man if thats your 1st or 2nd job on the bike what the hell will you do for an encore! i am seriously impressed well done and keep going!!

  9. #9
    Senior Member wickedchop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,451
    I'm pretty impressed man, I'm probably one of the worst wrenches on here, yeah I can do my own oil and primary changes, brakes, caliper rebuilds, cables, wheels on and off bearings out etc. Broken stud would've sent me straight for the sledgehammer and the bike might have paid the price! Job VERY WELL done, way to go man. I hope it's an easy fix like these veterans on here are trying to troubleshoot for you. Let us know how ya make out. Again.....WAY TO GO!

  10. #10
    Senior Member Cooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Crawling up your skirt
    Posts
    10,877
    I'll also chime in with an Attaboy! That's a PITA job, looks like you did well

    I'm not sure if it was explained well enough, but theres a lip on the throttle body rubber that goes OVER the air box base plate. A small dull flathead screw driver with some WD-40 on it, makes the job easy.

    Let us know if that was it, and you have to post pic's. It's the rules

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •