Grinding Sound

[TimmyJ]

I took the bike to work; it was the end of a hot day and I started her up and left her on for two minutes to warm up, after about three blocks I hear this grinding sound. This seriously spooked me, so I pulled into a gas station and immediately shut her off. Turn it on again after a minute and it's still there. I checked the oil and it was half way up the add section. I dumped a half a quart of oil I had left at the house and ran it for a few minutes. The first 20-30 seconds the sound was still there, then it disappeared.

1) What happened? 2) Could the grinding sound really have been from the oil being at that level?
3) Did I just do some minor damage to my engine? She still seems to be running fine after a short 20 minute ride.
4) How did my oil drop from just above the add line to half way in 500 miles?

I hope I didn't seriously screw myself on this one.

Tim

 

[go cytocis]

I highly doubt being 1/2 litre low on oil is going to cause your symptoms.
Is the grinding sound present only when the bike is moving? Failing wheel bearings make an awful sound like you describe...

 

[user_deleted]

agree with go. in actuality you could run the bike 1.5 quarts low for several minutes and not have an oil starvation issue though i do NOT recommend it. adding 1/2 quart/liter and having the sound disappear was coincidental IMO.
am betting the sound is in the driveline being primary drive side or belt pulley or wheel bearings. post back when you diagnose it.

 

[TimmyJ]

The sound was still there in neutral. Doesn't that mean it can't be the wheel bearing?

My stator just got replaced; maybe something is loose?

 

[davidwick]

My thoughts are its related to the stator replacement. especialy with it still happening in neutral.

 

[buellfighter]

Wouldn't the wheel bearings make noise regardless of neutral as long as the bike was rolling? or were you stoped when it was in neutral?

 

[user_deleted]

My stator just got replaced; maybe something is loose?

timmy: believe you just solved it. it is the stator rivets/bolts hitting on the rotor. i'd bank on it. whoever installed the new stator probably wasn't aware of it but the replacements have a clearance problem between the stator and housing which rotates around the stator. if you start the bike again, get some heat in the motor, have someone sit on it holding it upright, and listen to the area at the front of the primary cover it will be loudest right there.

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...s-CityX-XB12Scg/New-Stator-Doesnt-Fit-From-HD

 

[TimmyJ]

There are 2 possible fixes:
- grind a little off the offending bolt heads
- reuse the plastic piece from the old stator on the new one by drilling out the rivet
You'll find more info if you search. Good luck!

There's truly nothing to be done but these two options?
I tried googling this but I can't find anything else on it.

I'm pretty sure after they replaced my stator they threw away my old one since the plug was leaking. Can the rotor get damaged from it grinding on this?

Thanks for all the help

 

[TimmyJ]

My battery died.

I'm at my wallets end with this bike. Regular and stator have already been changed. How can a brand new battery just lose its charge?

 

[go cytocis]

There's truly nothing to be done but these two options?

I was the OP on those two options and they are the only two I am aware of...

My battery died...How can a brand new battery just lose its charge? 

Coupled with the grinding sound, the dead battery would also support a stator problem.

I'm at my wallets end with this bike.

Motorcycles are a great lesson in budgeting for operating costs when making capital expenditures; be thankful it's not a boat or a plane! (or a wife!)

 

[TimmyJ]

So I'm making a laundry list.

-Grind down stator bolts.
-Replace battery.
-Check connector 77(added after several hours of reading on badweb)
-Check connector 46(who knows?)

Anything else?
@ cytocis
Any idea if the rotor grinding on the stator bolts can cause permanent damage to it?
I have enough money for it, it's just going to hurt if I found out that I replaced the VR and the stator for nothing. A boat and a plane are out of the question, but I'm tying the knot next April, haha.

Thanks

 

[go cytocis]

Anything else?
@ cytocis
Any idea if the rotor grinding on the stator bolts can cause permanent damage to it?

I'd do quick resistance & voltage output checks, per the shop manual, on the stator and VR while you are checking the 46 & 77 cons. That'll tell you if the grinding damged the stator beyond salvage, and if your VR is still ok too.

 

[Doc13]

Timmy,

Pull the primary and remove the stator...take it to Harley and they will ask to keep the damaged one and ship out a brand new on that is put together via an epoxy...or you can do it yourself...the rivet and plastic will do no damage to the rotor but you will want to get in there and clean everything out. This happened on mine as well...Hit up some Buellers in your area if you don't have the tools or experience.

Ken

 

[TimmyJ]

Sad to say, but I know no one and all I've been doing is taking it to dealerships because everyone in my area refuses to work on Buells. I've been building up my own set of tools, but I don't have space to take it apart and keeping it laying around the condo nor am I confident enough to do something like pull out the stator.

If you know anyone in the Socal area by zip code 90045 and would be willing to help a beginner I'd be glad to pay for troubles.

 

[Doc13]

Timmy,

The only issue in pulling the stator is tools...It's so simple....I'm sure someone on here will help you out...do some Google searched via for BuellXB members in Cali.

Ken