New to the Buell world...need maintenance tips...

[50dro]

Just bought a 2004 XB12S with 3200 miles on it. It's completely stock. A few things I could use some help with:

1. Oil: Do I change oil (swing arm and primary) at least annually? I've done some reading on this forum and it appears that Royal Purple 20W50 is the preference for most people (for both oil locations). The manual tells me to "inspect & replace" primary oil at the same intervals as the engine oil. How do I check the level of the primary oil?

2. I'm getting a "sputter" at low RPM acceleration and it falls on its nose for a moment then comes back alive. I've since have added some SeaFoam to the fuel to try to clean the fuel system, but it's too early to tell if it helped or not. Would it be advisable to change the spark plugs to fix this? Which plugs work best of the Buells?

3. Any other annual (or other frequency) maintenance that I should be considering?

Thanks!

 

[Stevenc150]

If you don't have a manual you can get one. Buell.com gives you access to them also. You can get a few service manuals off this great site also.

1) You have to pull the clutch cover off, with the bike standing vertically, not on the sidestand, and check the level as shown in the pic below.

2) NGK Iridiums are highly recommended, Pt.# DCPR9EIX. To help with the low RPM stutter, you can do the breather re-route. It helps quite a bit and it's simple to do. Breather Re-route Thread

Welcome to the Forum! [up]

(Pic of Clutch Cover on the Left / Pic of what's behind it on the Right)

 

[50dro]

Thanks Stevenc150!!

I'll definitely be looking into doing everything you mentioned!

 

[fahren]

I can't get Royal Purple locally, so I don't use it, (use Molil 1 Vtwin 20w50) - BUT I really looked into RP, and their web site recommends max cycle 10w40 for Buell primary, and 20w50 for engine. I figure if they actually mention Buell, as least we should listen! Just a heads up for RP folks.

 

[Stevenc150]

Fahren's right, but I personally and MANY others use the 20W50 in both holes with no problems. But then again, I've seen posts of people using 10w40 in the Primary with no problems. Either way, they're both high as piss!

 

[fahren]

and oops - but I just re-checked the RP site and it's 10w30, not 40. Sorry!!! But I don't bother anyway. Stay with good v-twin oil, checked and changed often. Mobil 1, Amsoil, RP, harley syn. Whatever.

 

[50dro]

Thanks for all your posts! I've since researched the oil a bit more and found a local rep that will sell me the Amsoil 20w50 for $8.35 per qt. I thought that sounded pretty reasonable as compared to RP (I've seen as much as $14). On this site, it appears that Amsoil is probably most people's 2nd choice after RP.

I did see that Walmart sells the Mobile 1 V-Twin for just under $9 in case I couldn't find any other options.

I also spoke with a H-D/Buell Rep who recommended Red-Line oils. I haven't seen any posts on this forum that mentions this brand.

I picked up a Purolator filter too. Good, bad, indifferent? I've used them on other vehicles and don't have anything bad to say about them.

I also read some more on the "sputter" or hesitation. looks like alot of the guys on here are using ECMSpy to reset their TPS and do other tuning. Any thoughts on that? Easy to use? What do I need to buy? Just a cable? From where?

Sorry for the long post! thanks again for your help!

 

[TylerTech]

50,let me know if you get this issue resolved, I opened a new thread before seeing yours I have an 04 XB12S that is doing pretty much the same thing and I've already changed the plugs, oil, fresh gas, and done the breather reroute. I am thinking it could be a small bit of something in the gas path somewhere. It died on me today on my way back to work making a left turn at a red light at about a 15 mph roll with the clutch held in. I'm at a loss.

I will look more into the ECMSpy, what effectually can you do with it and whats needed?

 

[TylerTech]

Also I have the race kit, at least I know it has the muffler but it has the stock air kit. How can I tell the stock ECM from the programmable race one?

Since I have the race muffler I do not have the throttle cable going to the module in the air box (piece in the rubber cut out) but I do still have the module there and hooked up. Can that be removed?

 

[Stevenc150]

Tyler, a lot of the race ecm's have "For Race Only" written on them; however not all of them do. Either way, if you have the stock or the race ecm, they can be programmed. In fact, it's cheaper than purchasing a race ecm, to have Mike at Xoptiinside.com to remap your ecm to fit your bike and the mods that you've done to it.

The exhaust module under your airbox: all of that can be ripped off with no bad effects IF you use ECMSpy. There's a simple checkbox in the free program that allows you to tell the ECM Not to look for the exhaust servo. But, as it's been said, you'll have to buy a cable to hook your bike up to a computer.