New Buell for me.

[34nineteen]

Hey gang! I just picked up a new to me 2006 XB12Scg.

She’s a total creme puff, but does need a little work. Especially in the joke telling apartment.

Buell -Knock knock!
34:19 - who’s there?
Buell -Knock knock!
34:19 - who’s there?
Buell -Knock knock!
34:19 - is that you, Rod?
Buell -Knock knock!
34:19 - dammit!
Buell -Knock knock!


Here are some pics from the previous owner. A really nice guy named Mark. He said he picked it up about 6 months ago with the plan to rescue it back to its former glory, but just didnt have time. From what I understand he has several really nice motorcycles and just wanted to dump this junkyard dog.

 

[Cooter]

I'm pretty good at putting $5000 into a $800 bike to make a $3000 bike:black_eyed:

 

[MOTORCYCLES247]

How much did you pay and does it really knock? Last time I got a motorcycle cheep was in the 60's when Triumph's and BSA's were 160.00 to 300.00. 500.00 in mint condition. Times have changed but I'm more glade technology has.

 

[mike lowary]

Dark Horse Crank Works. Ask for Andrew.

 

[34nineteen]

<sarcasm>I think it’s just spark knock. I read up a lot about it and it’s sounds the most reasonable. The fuel pump is probably bad, with low pressure, causing a lean mixture and making it spark knock. I also read on the Buelltooth site, that a weak mixture can be remedied with a race map. The website says they will give a race tune if I buy a Buelltooth. Are there any programs better than Buell Tooth? I mean, if I put a better muffler on won’t that even things out anyway?

Also, after talking a couple of friends, one knows a guy who’s brother had a Buell S2. He thinks all of the models were recalled with bad fuel pumps. Since it’s a recall, this should be done for free at any Harley dealer. So, I am going to the Harley dealer today to get this done. It’s all bull**** if you ask me. They shouldn’t be defective in the first place. Is there a better fuel pump than stock? Since it’s being covered under warranty, I am going to ask that they put a high performance fuel pump in. Maybe someone has a lead on one?

Also, it’s missing a bunch of parts that I want to replace. My friend above says that all parts were discontinued years ago. That’s also a BS move. How does Erik Buell expect us to ride these bikes if he’s not going to keep making parts?? Does anyone know a good source for Buell parts for cheap?

Here is what I need:
Left and right headlight casting pieces
Oil cooler scoop
Front pulley cover
Full body plastics kit
Frame pucks
Front isolator
Buell factory race muffler
And if anyone has a lead on a factory turbo kit, I’d appreciate that too.

Well, I’m diving into this headfirst and need to get the parts prepped and ready for plastic dip. Thanks all!</sarcasm>

 

[Cooter]

Pure gold:tongue-new:


Just kick it over and tie stuff up with shoestrings.

 

[34nineteen]

First mod:



Don’t wanna mix things up!


Actually, in all seriousness, it does have a rod knock. 2006’s were kinda notorious for giving up the bottom end prematurely, however I would have thought after 15 years all the bad cranks would have surfaced by now.

The first project was to clean the motorcycle. About an hour at the self serve car wash with a bottle of degreaser and an old toilet brush I bought from the dollar store. I sprayed the living daylights out of it. I even got all the grease out of the wheel bearings! Lol




Now I’m taking it apart slowly and bagging/labelling every thing. It will all be cleaned and refinished before reinstalling. I have a line on a new bottom end, and have the top end from my Sportster before converting it to a 1250. The bottom end has about 6000 miles and the top end has about 2500. I just need to get the heads rebuilt to button it up.

This bike has not been maintained well over the years. I dumped the primary fluid and got about 2 quarts (yes 2!) of soupy oil with a gray/brown/greenish light sludge.

More to come!

 

[34nineteen]

So, more tinkering with the beast reveals it needs a new battery. I have never seen such a dead battery in my life. I think a block of wood holds more current than my battery.



I figured out the wiring and it now starts and sort of runs. It will run on carb cleaner starting fluid. I’m pretty sure it’s my fuel pump not putting out enough volume and/or pressure. I hate replacing parts as a means of diagnosis, but in this case, it’s probably a faulty pump.

Do I:

Buy a $45 fuel system pressure gauge? And continue the diagnosis? So, the total is $45+$189. Best case scenario, I get the gauge and it verifies the fuel pump is still good. However it’s still a 14 year old pump that really hasn’t been treated well over the years.

Just buy a new fuel pump and call it a “known good part”? $189 for a quality kit from a quality guy. What’s his name again??

 

[mike lowary]

So, more tinkering with the beast reveals it needs a new battery. I have never seen such a dead battery in my life. I think a block of wood holds more current than my battery.

I figured out the wiring and it now starts and sort of runs. It will run on carb cleaner starting fluid. I’m pretty sure it’s my fuel pump not putting out enough volume and/or pressure. I hate replacing parts as a means of diagnosis, but in this case, it’s probably a faulty pump.

Do I:

Buy a $45 fuel system pressure gauge? And continue the diagnosis? So, the total is $45+$189. Best case scenario, I get the gauge and it verifies the fuel pump is still good. However it’s still a 14 year old pump that really hasn’t been treated well over the years.

Just buy a new fuel pump and call it a “known good part”? $189 for a quality kit from a quality guy. What’s his name again??

I can send you a fuel pressure tester. However, 200$ to KNOW your fuel pump is good? The first thing i did to my stock bike after i got it was replace the pump assembly, intake seals, plugs and wires, cleaned grounds. Did it need all that stuff? Probably not. I like piece of mind.

 

[34nineteen]

I like piece of mind.

I like your style. I dont care what Cooter says.

 

[RidetheLightning]

So, more tinkering with the beast reveals it needs a new battery. I have never seen such a dead battery in my life. I think a block of wood holds more current than my battery.

I figured out the wiring and it now starts and sort of runs. It will run on carb cleaner starting fluid. I’m pretty sure it’s my fuel pump not putting out enough volume and/or pressure. I hate replacing parts as a means of diagnosis, but in this case, it’s probably a faulty pump.

Do I:

Buy a $45 fuel system pressure gauge? And continue the diagnosis? So, the total is $45+$189. Best case scenario, I get the gauge and it verifies the fuel pump is still good. However it’s still a 14 year old pump that really hasn’t been treated well over the years.

Just buy a new fuel pump and call it a “known good part”? $189 for a quality kit from a quality guy. What’s his name again??

This is where I'm at. Finally got around to ordering rocker box gaskets, intake seals, O2 sensor, and have plugs, wires, pcv valves/grommets ready as well. Once I get that all on I'm going to probably just go ahead and order/replace the fuel pump, since I think it's starting to fade. I really wish it would just quit instead of dying a slow death and making me wonder. I'm also curious if it's always been on it's way out ever since I bought it last year, and I could be unleashing a monster...Anyways, once all that is done I think I'll feel man enough to ring up Fabio for the Hellfire exhaust system he claims will give me 140 hp to the wheels on stock tune...

 

[34nineteen]

Once I get that all on I'm going to probably just go ahead and order/replace the fuel pump, since I think it's starting to fade. I really wish it would just quit instead of dying a slow death and making me wonder.

I hear you on this. Nothing is worse than a part that still functions, but is fading enough to make the bike still work, yet not throw a code or give any real indication that its performance while adequate is sub par. Ask Cooter, as he found himself chasing various issues and it turned out to be an ECM on the fritz (but still working).

The only real way to verify this is to hook up a fuel pressure gauge and measure volume.

I think I'm in the same boat as well. My pump sounds fine, but the bike will not start without assistance and will only idle for 2-3 seconds before sputtering out.

 

[Cooter]

You KNOW I hate replacing parts unless they can be proven bad... because I'm cheap:black_eyed:



Even if the FP is ok, maybe the line has holes in it inside the tank, maybe a clogged sock? maybe a clogged filter? It's worth it to put your eyes on all that stuff for free. Check the wires too.

I have a fuel gauge kit I can send you (no hurry on the return), but I also have that correct fuel line fitting I can give you if you pick up a cheap gauge yourself.

That bike fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down:upset:

 

[34nineteen]

I'm thinking maybe you should send it to me. It could be helpful for those who say "but my fuel pump sounds fine" or "the injectors are getting gas". My guess (without looking) is that my pump is either getting weak or the clear flexible line is damaged which is just leaking pressurized gas back to the tank. The pump "sounds" fine.

No rush on this as most of my garage space is being taken up by my S1, which is hanging, waiting for engine parts to arrive. Once I get that back together, I can hang the XB to pull the fuel pump. Hopefully the parts will arrive next week, and I can get it built up the following week.

 

[Cooter]

Ok, I'll do that. Get a comprehensive list of wants and I'll shove it all in a box for ya. Need an OE dash?

I just got my new toy delivered! so I'll pull the pump on mine for a look see today as well.

 

[34nineteen]

In case you were wondering how those sweet Sportster pegs were fitted to the XB frame.




Some may ask where all the wiring is. So did I!



A little digging into whats left of the wire harness revealed this!



This is mainly whats left of the 15-ish wires that go to the instrument cluster. Whats left of the ignition switch plug, headlights and turn signals is a mess too.


The left side hand controls harness is not salvageable. Its pretty sun weathered and kind of broken too, so I'm just going to find a replacement. The right side one is doing a bit better, but probably should be replaced also. That Cooter guy told me about some (Kawasaki?) switch gear that works well as a replacement. So, I'm curious to see what he has in mind. If not, I'll source a set from eBay.


As I'm discovering, some of these parts are now obsolete through Harley and have been purged from the system or sold to VPI. I've been trying to source most of the missing plastics as they are some are still available new.

 

[34nineteen]

Since the front end is f-ed up and I dont have the (expensive!) modules. I'm at a bit of a crossroads as what to do. Part of me says F-it and do something custom. However, part of me likes the stock front end of the Buell. The flyscreen and dual headlights are signature Buell components... and if I had all the parts, I'd just put it back to stock.

However, I am considering this.

 

[Cooter]

The headlights ok, but please God don't do the rooster tail.

 

[thrstrmech]

pair of modules on ebay for 314 last I looked a couple days ago, another pair for 359 and another for 469, hmmm that headlight alone is like 300 bucks depending where you buy it from. windscreens on ebay range from 55 to 175 depending on color. left hand black module also on ebay for 100 bucks, didn't see a right one...found all these parts by simply searching Buell in the search bar.

 

[34nineteen]

Yeah, I found the $100 one already and may just buy it to be halfway there.
I have a translucent red flyscreen without cracks I will probably sell soon and order a new stock black fairing. Probably should just scoop that up now before they are all gone.