XB9S Engine Knocking Sound?

Hey everybody, Intro post is not a good one. Bought a 2003 XB9S for cheap, had a knock when I bought it. I was told that it was the oil pump drive gear. Previous owner said he had a mechanic look at it to confirm the issue. I bought into that theory seeing as they are known issues on the 03. So I bought the associated gaskets and new brass drive gear. Did all the work and well there is still a knock. Since I can now hear it better for myself I'm suspecting a crank or rod bearing. When I pulled the cams during the drive gear work I didn't see any issues there. FWIW the drive gear was wearing, but not majorly. I took video today of the knocking sound. Can someone with more experience help confirm what I'm thinking is wrong?

Thanks guys!

Embed wont work here is link http://youtu.be/8_ep_syu-yU

Does the bike have mods and if yes then list them please. Could be a very lean knock problem or a rod knock.

Check the primary chain adjustment, if its loose it can make a knocking noise also. Welcome to the forum[up]

Could also be a loose comp bolt. They upped the touque on it to 240-260ft lbs

I bought into that theory seeing as they are known issues on the 03.

Click to expand...

really... what issues are you referring to? Recalls? Known problem with the '03 was with the "SL", side stand pin shearing. '04 had blown fuse issues for the horn and ignition manufactured between June - August '03.

Have owned my '03 9SL, now S... for 7 yrs, bought it with 2500 miles at the time, she now has over 63k and running the original belt, just recently replaced shift forks and ordered clutch plates. Overall, the engine looks great, bearings and bearing surfaces look like new. No wear indications on the gears either, pistons, cylinders, valves all good.

Think the previous owner didn't disclose everything, with that said, she's your bike now...there's more to just riding it at this point. Why not take the time and go over her top to bottom, front to rear. Yes, it sucks having to tear her down, but that's how you'll learn about the bike and walk away knowing the problem was found and repaired properly. I don't know everything, nor have all the answers, but I'm willing to learn and ask questions and or for help. Download the manual from the link provided below the Buellxb header or from buellmods.com, if you need part numbers, let me know, I have the '03 9s parts catalog and supplemental for the "SL".

BTW, welcome to the forum

Will try to answer everyone in one post.

Mods would be the race kit (muffler, k&n, ECM)

Checked the primary chain made a small adjustment and no change.

Bike has been sitting, for a while so maybe I should look at flushing it. To be honest not real familiar with pinging in person keep my bike in good shape that pinging has never been an issue before.

To thestmech:

I would consider the oil pump drive gear a known issue since the aftermarket sells "performance" brass drive gears. It was wearing more than normal, there were groves in the face of the teeth.

I've already got the manual dowloaded too. I will likely keep you in mind for if and when I need part numbers!

Damn that's not good.... That's definitely a mechanical knock. I have a 03 as well and I thought mine knocked bad rchuff has heard mine and many other harley riders said its a harley that's what they sound like....

Yours needs the bottom and looked at for sure

bummer, have you disassembled the oil pump, cleaned and inspected? starts on page 3-79 in the manual...oil pump wasn't an issue...the performance one you refer to is part of the Buell Pro-Series equipment to include the race exhaust noted with dual ports and race ecm.

Change your oil...what weight is the oil?

I have a xb9 that I put Suzuki oil in and it bled the bleeder valves on the oil lines dry..caused the motor to knock

If you don't know what type of oil is in it...use Mobil 1 and change the primary fluid and oil. Made my knock go away.

Just an idea. Good luck!

03's did have a known issue with the oil pump gear (it was made from a crappy metal) in 2004 (Or was it 05?) they came with the brass gears (I swapped mine out a couple years ago to be safe, the old one looked okay for 20k though)

My lifters are making tons of noise, but sad to say for you, it is not the same sounds you have.
I was hoping to watch the video and think, oh that's just the lifters... but I think that is something a little deeper in the bowels of your Buells belly :-(

Im telling you before you do any thing you need to check this. Its easy to do and can make a hell of a banging noise if it came loose.

The picture would not load. Here is a link I found (sorry about it going to BadWeb)

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/155801.jpg

Nemoxb I will check that first. Thanks!

Motox6 it's not oil related, changed the oil during the pump gear fix, and even again after the first fire up just incase.

Thrstmech I did check the oil pump while I was in there.

I will change fuel this week since I know it needs it, and check the sprocket nut. Then if no luck it's time to pull the motor!

Read about the nut torque update, I'm in the process of fabricating the locking tool, have plenty of material to make several of them. Have to wait 'til the new plates arrive to rebuild the clutch pack before trying out the tool.

Hopefully it's just a loose nut and no other damage...if you do have to split the case, LSHD1.com has the complete seal/gasket kit for $117 and highly recommend replacing the cylinder base gaskets with cometic ones, got those from NHRS v-twin performance in Colorado for $23.

my bike sounded just like that when I got ecmspy and I tried to set my tps and messed it up the first time. It was knocking like that till I figured it out it was running very very lean. Maybe that is what the guy before you did and could not figure it out. I hope it is not a rod knock.

I needed to order an ECMSPY anyway. So before I pull the motor I will Re-check static timing, I did it with my multi meter but maybe not right, TPS reset, check the Nut torque, and fresh fuel. It does have a pinging type ring to it so maybe it's pinging not knocking. If all that fails, time to pull the motor and rip into it.

Update. Recheck static timing, It was off some, but didn't help. So It has been hard to start and keep running. I know there was some old fuel in there even though I added a couple gallons of fresh. So I drained the tank today. Will get fresh fuel tomorrow.

I'm not sure if it means anything but when I crank the bike and with fuel pump disconnected, I get no knocking or pinging sounds, just cranks like any other motor. Maybe it is pre-ignition pinging. The fact that it doesn't start or stay running tells me something fuel or electronic related is still out. I ordered an ECMSPY cable. I till reset TPS, and add fresh fuel and see what I get. Also I drained the primary and will pull the cover and check the nut in there too since I have some time till the cable arrives.

Hay josh keep us posted i'm hoping it's pre-ignition so you don't have to pull your motor.

add some Seafoam to clean the system