Engine noise driving me crazy!

[zeus87]

Any ideas? Mobile 1 20/50 twin in both holes. I swear it seems like it came around after the oil change 1800 miles ago.
2003 Xb9s engine noise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVOIFS1Xs9Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player)

[dmp0001]

get a loud exhaust, then you won't be able to hear it!:D

[motoqueiro]

mine does the same, but the thing is, it's not always???
i think it's a lifter, but...

[zeus87]

The Race muffler isn't enough... haha

[mc4life27]

its hard to tell excatly what the sound is but i do believe i have to same odd sounds and its been like that ever since i have owed the bike and it has over 23,000 miles on her.

[boostleak]

This is how my bike sounds when it gets a bit hot, doesn't seem to affect performance any, and isn't an issue at anything above idle. That said, I dropped my bike off at a shop the other day to have the charging system and battery checked (found I had a bad battery), and the mechanic said it sounds like my bike is going to grenade the engine any moment. He left the bike running for 30 minutes while stationary (something I NEVER do), and he said it started sounding this way after 15 minutes. I just know it sounds this way after a ride. I was concerned about the noise when I bought the bike, but after having several HD techs, Buell owners, and former Buell salespeople reassure me it's "completely normal", I was fine dismissing it as just that. This mechanic, who has owned several HD's, currently owns a pristine X3, and works on bikes every day, now has me a bit on edge. He says he's NEVER heard any motorcycle sound like this, and that it "just isn't right".
This is the last thing I need, this bike is one of the few pleasures left in my life after losing nearly everything I own in a divorce. An engine rebuild or replacement just isn't in the cards.

[unionthug]

try a different oil. My bike likes 20/60 Redline

[netty2424]

Zeus, mine does the same thing. The sound doesn't translate the same through video, but I can tell exactly what sound you're referring to from hearing mine. On video it sounds more like a ticking, but in person it almost sounds like a knocking?

I also took mine to HD of Dallas and asked specifically for the mechanic there that owns a Buell. He said they are just loud clunky engines and that everything sounds ok.

I thought for sure he was going to tell me I was going to have to put a bullet in her and put her down, but instead he said to just ride the piss out of it. Should be fine.

It still drives me effing insane. Don't hear it while riding because of my exhaust, but it's always there on start up and idle.

If you ever find out what it is outside of help from the forum, please share! Sorry I couldn't help!

Richard

[zeus87]

Thanks guys. Oof, I wish there was a cure... it takes away from the ride hearing the "noise" at stop signs, while cruising etc. I don't know how I would feel if I was looking at this bike for purchase and it sounded like this. Hopefully one of us will figure something out. Thanks again

[zeus87]

Boostleak - ride it and enjoy it, things happen for a reason with the divorce .... good things will come from it.

[DrogeN Omen]

i have noticed this sound also, same as in your video Zeus87 but only after changing to NGK spark plugs but at the same time i also changed from semi synthetic HD oil to Mobil 1 + Mobil 1 oil filter...

definitely can hear a ticking sound. i have tightened up all my bolts but can still hear a kind of rattling ticking sound.

apart from the engine noise bike runs fine.
any one have any other suggestions?

[BKKBuell]

I have the same noise when my motor is warm... With all different kinds of oil and brands... Mobil1 10W-40 and Shell Advance Ultra 4 15W-50... It got better after I but a hawk muffler on as I hardly can hear it now

[CowboyKS]

Couple of thoughts.
First, my XB12S w/ 2200 miles sounds like the worlds badest Briggs and Stratton engine. Noisiest motorcycle I have every owned - and I love it.
Second - between your ears and the cylinders are literally 2 pieces of plastic (top of air cleaner and air box). I've got a roll of Dynamat (see other threads) that's going to end up lining my airbox cover
Third - it's a pushrod engine with hydraulic lifters. it doesn't get any more basic or any more noisy.

I'm going to live with it until she "blows". The Harley dealer (Dillon's in Omaha - good guys) put Harley oils in her.

[okey]

I dont think that mine is as loud as that because i still use mineral based harley oil but i definately have that "tick" and have done since new. I have 13k Kms on my bike and it feels as it did from new. I just put it down to a Buell way of life :p

[adrenalinmoto]

Most Buell motors are noisy especially if you are used to a water cooled bike.
make sure that you check and adjust the primary chain properly, as this causes a lot of noise if it is loose. Run at LEAST a 20/50 oil and don't be persuaded to run anything thinner (even a synthetic). The Buell is a big hot engine with a very small oil capacity, so don't skimp on oil and change it very regularly.


Wear ear plugs :)

[user_deleted]

i mentioned this before but i think it has to do with harmonics of the bike. a mostly enclosed motor lying between huge frame rails and under an airbox. every buell i've ever listened to in person sounds pretty much like mine and is noisy.....in comparison to liquid cooled motors. nature of the beast i think.

[liquid51]

Might want to check your plugs too, just to be on the safe side. Maybe switch to a colder plug. Could be your case too Drogen, especially seeing as how you started noticing it as soon as you put the NGKs in.

Seeing as how it starts happening more when the bike gets nice and warm, keeping a cooler combustion chamber makes sense. My bike tends to do the same thing, and it's a lot noisier after a long ride. I'm in need of some plugs and I'm pretty sure the bike has NGK DCPR8EIXs in it now. I'm going to switch to the 9EIXs and see if that quiets her down at all.

[user_deleted]

it's combination of lifter bore clearance having opened up a bit thru the miles of usage and and a bit of cam lobe wear. nothing to be concerned about. don't forget that this is an engine architecture that dates back to 1957 and i can tell you that i've heard this ticking/tapping/whirling type noise in tons of high mileage sportsters thru the years that are still running strong.

[zaxrex]

That sounds tame compared to my 12 :(

I have all kinds of squeaks/rattles/thumps/clicks from my motor... not sure how much longer it's going to last. The P.O. must have ridden the living **** out of it since it only has 12K miles...

[jasonxb9]

I run Lucas v-twin air cooled synthetic 50w in mine and it got significantly quieter, than when I bought it, it had hd synthetic in it then. I'm also going to change to the ngk 9eix's next weekend.

[newyorkbuell]

mobile 1 is your problem IMO its the worst oil out there, switch to amsoil and run it hard.

[nativeXb12Rbuell]

If you go back and search and read through alot of the other oil threads here.
You willl see that there are quite a bit of other buellers that have had the same problem with mObile 1 oil(& some others too) make it a bit louder or that they didnt notice how loud the buell was until after a oil change Some of this in my opinion from my experience is that after an oil change or maintenance or having work done on the bike you inspect and walk around the bike to make sure all is ok to go ride so now you are looking at the engine with your head down next to it and now you can hear it better ( i. e. sounds louder than normal or louder than you are use to or louder than can remember since it may have been a while since you been on your buell) now that you notice it you continue to hear it and your brain cant ignore it or zone it out yet until it/ you get use to hearing it alll the time.


But no matter what it better safe than sorry with your engine & transmission. Check it and change it regularly.

[anrkizm95]

AMSOIL

[garyphantom222]

My xb9r does it also but I just got used to it,only time it sounds a bit louder is if it has been sitting for a while.

[jimijeans]

After you log some miles you will notice the noises the Buell Engine and many other Engines makes due to Open Exhaust and other mods will appear AND be louder. If you don't make any changes at all to the complete Engine area then the Exhaust and Air Cover keeps the Noise level down pretty well. I have just a hand full of customers that have Not Changed nothing more than an open Air Filter(K&N or other).I'll do something to the customers bikes and test ride the Machine, Man it's almost freaky how Quite the Bike is.
Once we do the Mods and Changes from Stock the Noise level changes.
With the Older Buells you could get some lifters and some gaskets since it is an older model Engine and MayBe that will help. If the Engine has a lot of Miles then change the parts. If the Engine does not run badly or Skip(miss)at higher RPMs then better
Oils such as Ams Oil w/ A Synthetic Stabilzer per oil Change helps with Some or the noises. Amsoil 75/90 in the Transmission helps a Little w/ the noise but no cure for total noise. With the Lighter Materials being used for Building Engines,noise levels are higher due to this, cheaper making of our Vehicles Nowdays. Ride Safe.*Jimi

[thumpin1203]

Our XB motors get a lot of their HP/Torque through aggressive cam profiles.. which do in turn create increased valve-train clatter. Follow me here.. the cams are gear driven and after full case expansion at operating temp(this is why our primary chains get tighter when hot)the cam gears clearance, or spread, creating a low growl.. then each lifter has to mechanically fluid-lock per lobe stroke, this is heard as a click.. some noise is transferred to the pushrods which act like tuning forks, and amplify.. then transferred to the crosshead rockers actuating the valves which can be heard dropping to their seats with authority due to radical lobe profile.. more hollow "back-clacking". Then factor in normal operating temp. piston slap.. more dull clacking.. Just my theory, but some XB mills may have cranks that "oscillate, slightly" creating a wrist pin and/or big-end thrust "clack".. then on through a three row chain, driven by a sprocket design dating back to the industrial revolution, bouncing back and forth over a uhmw shoe creating a "whirring" sound.. all this is sent up through a hollow "drum" of an airbox..
The good news is, these engines are overbuilt and can take this mechanical "orchestra" with aplomb.. we're just stuck having to listen to it when the mill is hot.. the jury is out on the oil brand debate though.. I see HD's happy medium with 20-50.. but in a full synthetic, as these engines need flow for bearing surface saturation/heat transfer and a viscous "body" of 50-60 wt for clearance absorption.. also the sheer durability of a high-end synthetic. I use mobil 1 v-twin 20-50 and did notice a slight noise increase in coming from the factory fill HD oil, I may try the AMSOIL 20-60wt. someday for a comparison

[brumbear]

If you think water cooled are quieter you haven't heard a rotax yet!!! My xb was ticky but the 1125 is a sewing machine at best

[christianmb]

I have found that if you are idling these bikes a lot (city driving, traffic...) the oil doesn't last long at all, and might be causing your noice to be worse than it is. Since Mobil, Castrol, Lucas... are all highly refined fossil based with additives so they can advertise "synthetic" they are more prone to breakdown. Amsoil, Redline and select others are complete synthetics, so they are not as prone to breakdown. No matter what the oil though, our bikes torture any fluid you put in it.

[zaxrex]

Amsoil, Redline and select others are complete synthetics, so they are not as prone to breakdown.Â* No matter what the oil though, our bikes torture any fluid you put in it.

True, especially in the high temps of an Air-cooled bike.

However, synthetic oils tend to have finer molecular structure and tend to sneak through piston rings and valves much more than dino-oil. Older bikes/cars running synthetic oils tend to burn more oil.

[thumpin1203]

My xb was ticky but the 1125 is a sewing machine at best

?? Brumbear, do you mean to incinuate that the 1125 is quieter, or noisier?