2003 XB9S Transmission Trouble

[MichaelP15]

I need help diagnosing a few problems...

Background I rode my bike for 700 miles this weekend and over the 3 days I had a lot of problems. This bike is new to me, now after the weekend I have put 2000ish miles on it since march when I got it. It is a clean bike and the previous owner didn't mention any problems. Overall it has over 15,000 miles. The first 1,300 miles were trouble free except for the trip and clock resetting every once in a while. This is not my first bike either I have been on street bikes for 5+ years and dirt bikes 10+ years and have had zero problems.

The first problem is the bike does not want to go into neutral but only sometimes maybe 50% of the time. It will go in stretches where it will not go into neutral at all but as soon as the bike it shut off it will click right in 95% of the time. Also in stretches the neutral light wont come on even when it is in neutral and this does not correspond to it not going into neutral. Last but not least this morning when I when to start it up I pulled in the clutch and tried to fire it up and it started going forward but the engine was just turning over still with the clutch in (Couldn't get it in neutral). But throughout the day today it shifted perfect into neutral everytime.

Second problem, the bike will cut out every once in a while maybe 1 or 2 times per hour but only for a second then it will keep running strong. Except once it had a very very loud backfire and died so I took a look at it and everything looked good and no lights were on so I tried starting it and it fired right up and ran almost normal except it started cutting out and backfiring after this point where before it only back fired maybe 1 or 2 times until this point. But yet again today in the last 200 miles home it backfired 1 time and there is no rhyme or reason that I can see.

Thank you all in advance for all the help!

 

[motoqueiro]

see if the gear box oil is at the correct level, or better it swap it for new one, check for play on the gear shaft, if problem persists you can have some bent forks inside
the cuting out, do a reset TPS and see how it goes

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Sounds like a normal buell to me.

 

[MichaelP15]

I just checked the oil and it was at a good level, I will have to change it maybe this weekend. What is a reset TPS? I was thinking maybe a fuel filter for a reason to it cutting out? Is there anyplace to get a service manual or schematic of the bike? Thank you!

 

[Negative]

Sounds to me like a classic case of the clutch dragging for one ... you need to adjust your clutch cable to correct that first ... that is putting pressure on the gears and preventing it from sliding into neutral ... that should help that problem out ...

As far as the backfiring and popping ... check your battery terminals ... look for chafed wiring in obvious spots ... check the spark plug wires for a good connection (at the coil and at the plugs) ... and ........... as much as I hate to say it, I guess a TPS reset wouldn't hurt as a nice waste of time ............ because I hate that people just automatically throw out "TPS reset" to every single engine problem ............

 

[thrstrmech]

Try the clutch adjustment first, maybe all you need...with that said, the PO didn't mention any problems! depending on how she was ridden, you may have shift fork(s) issue at the beginning stages of wear or further damage. Being that you haven't had the bike for long and new to you, check for codes...just for piece of mind. Do a TPS reset. it's not going to hurt the bike unless you do it wrong. Download the service manual from the link below the Buell xb header or buellmods.com to help with the process if you haven't already done so. Get ECMspy and the cable also if you don't already have it or try to find someone nearby that has one and willing to help you out. Let us know what you find or didn't find.

 

[MichaelP15]

Thanks for the help! I will let you all know what happens.

 

[chrispudd]

03's had a sidestand switch that acts up and causes it to cut out anytime you hit a bump. I disconnected it and bypassed the switch. Connector is above the muffler but you can get to it from what i remember. Hope you get er' sorted out.

 

[Negative]

^^^^^ Also an EXCELLENT suggestion and one that honestly never even thought of right off the top of my head ... I need to remember that for future reference ... haven't had any trouble with mine yet (luckily) ... one of the ONLY sensors that hasn't given me shit ............................ yet