stripped drain plug / bad dealer visit

[frankrizzo]

I ended up using a ratchet and 12 point socket to install this, but it worked out pretty good: nice steel threads.

Used some grease on the end of the tools to catch as many chips as possible. Then flushed the oil through a few times and finally put in new oil

swingarm drain after thread repair

 

[RT Performance]

Nice work looks great

 

[brisbon]

if you simply tighten with the proper single allen head wrench you cant physically overtighten it unless you absolutely try to.

that bushing style timesert is pretty cool ill admit sure beats a helicoil.

 

[sprinklerdude]

I put a heli coil with an o-ring and torque it about 10ft-lbs no leak works great to change oil

 

[isogear]

I stripped mine too. ASB also says the torque spec is wrong by about 2X. I've got 26K on it in 13 months.
But I was also deep into pondering how hot my oil gets - I ride year round, including tours in the very hot Western states, blasting at 80-90 mph for hours in 90+ temps...
So I bought and installed an Equus temp sensor, which fits into a new slightly larger drain plug (all in the kit....about $30 including nice backlit analog gauge), so I tapped it out, drained it a couple times, and it's better than new. It uses a larger O-ring - 1/2 X 1/16. And I only do a 'snug-snug' tighten. No leaks. And now I have oil temp ( at least in sump area of swing arm) on the cockpit. Equus makes good gauges - I've personally visited and used them to manufacture other gauges for me and my company.
And I've got the fuel pump issue too. Only when it's really hot out and the bike is fully hot. It makes a terrible noise when starting up, but only then. When I told dealer about it, they admitted that there is a 'tech-bulletin' acknowledgeing it, but they say it is still OK, even when making the terrible noise at the point when you turn the bike to the run position before starting. Mine has stopped doing it as of September ( last hot rides) so I'll wait till probably May to see how it manifests itself again.

Al, owner of American Sport Bike ASB, will confirm the drain pulg issue with you, and recoomends the time-sert solution too. I've looked at the design and it is a good way to go.

 

[RuiP]

just stripped mine performing an oil change. ****

 

[PwrHse]

The time-sert works well . The first oil change I did the threads came out upon removing drain . Must have been over-torqued from dealer . 09 xb

 

[okey]

Mine also stripped. I noticed a thread pull removing the plug and i was so paranoid i read the factory workshop manual ( $100.00) cost. I did not get anywhere near the 26 ft pound like suggested in all my literature and watched silver shards pull out. I searched a lot and thanks to frankrizzo's advice i ordered the timesert 0122a kit and with the help of a mate installed the insert. In Australia i could only fine one supplier who wanted $280.00 for the kit but i had one shipped from an ebay vendor for $125.00 delivered within a week. [up]

 

[RuiP]

So about $125 to fix it? What a pain in the arse.

 

[Zeroflat24]

I wouldn't listen to mr 30 year diesel mechanic. I have been wrenching my whole life. You can repair that swing arm with a simple tap and die set without breaking down and spending hundreds of dollars on a new swing arm. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with a self taping drain plug or a heli coil. I've seen heli coils in car/ truck drain pans last 50k miles time and time again.

 

[crxtasy169]

If you followed the book on torque specs and it stripped they have to replace it. That is a manufactures torque spec they set for techs or anyone with some common sense to do their own work. If you followed the manufactures procedure word for word then they have no choice but to replace it call the better buisness beauro and file a complaint and then call a lawyer. Nail them to the wall I work at a dealership and I'm tired of seeing piss ass Harley dealerships pulling this crap and getting away with it. Don't stand for it!!!

 

[RuiP]

Yes I would love to go to the dealership with it, but I'm not so sure they would handle it since I stripped it myself.

 

[Ebeo1]

I'm in this club too. [sad]

 

[RuiP]

I used a ton of thread sealant and so far it seems go be holding up.

 

[frankrizzo]

FYI I no longer have the time-sert kit to lend out or sell. The first guy I leant it to (Francis Gonzalez, 12redline on the forum) disappeared without a trace. Amusingly, I picked up the shipping to help a fellow bueller out and only asked that he send it back when he was done. No good deed goes unpunished...

In regards to getting HD to cover it under warranty: I'm sure google has shown you some people getting a new swingarm, but I actually called HD customer service and was flat-out told that the torque specs are correct and that if I did it myself then the warranty does not apply. I reminded the rep that I can service my own bike if I choose and that the warranty should still apply. He politely disagreed. I figured the $100 for the kit would be money well spent and I could loan it out to others with the same problem.

 

[RuiP]

After exchanging messages with frankrizzo, I sent Francis (12redline) a message a few days back and didn't receive a reply so I decided to try the sealant. If it didn't hold up, I was prepared to go the time-sert route. About 100 bucks on ebay.

So far so good. [up]

 

[TheNewGuy]

Wow... I stripped mine today... Danm 26-29 ft-lbs spec. I knew it didn't feel right. By the way, someone should mention that the DIY video on this site for oil changes suggests the 26-29 ft-lbs torque. That should be corrected.

But this thread puts my mind at ease. I thought this was gonna be a major headache and it turns out there's a bunch of great solutions. You guys are awesome. This may be the greatest community I've ever been a part of. Over the last few days I've had every problem I've run into solved in these conversations.

Anyhow, I'm gonna probably go the time-sert route. Its pretty much a permanent solution. By the way, what kind of oil do you guys use and how often should it be changed? I use full synthetic 15W50. What do you guys suggest?

 

[TheNewGuy]

FYI I no longer have the time-sert kit to lend out or sell. The first guy I leant it to (Francis Gonzalez, 12redline on the forum) disappeared without a trace. Amusingly, I picked up the shipping to help a fellow bueller out and only asked that he send it back when he was done. No good deed goes unpunished...

In regards to getting HD to cover it under warranty: I'm sure google has shown you some people getting a new swingarm, but I actually called HD customer service and was flat-out told that the torque specs are correct and that if I did it myself then the warranty does not apply. I reminded the rep that I can service my own bike if I choose and that the warranty should still apply. He politely disagreed. I figured the $100 for the kit would be money well spent and I could loan it out to others with the same problem.

That sucks. I can't believe that dude did something like that to you over a 100 dollar kit that you went out of your way to lend him. I'm sorry to hear that there's douches like that on these boards. Anyhow, just thought I'd voice my opinion. I still think most of the people around this forum are more helpful than I could of ever asked for. It's made owning a Buell so much more fun, and it's taken almost all the pressure away from owning my first bike. I love doing my own maintenance and modifications but was super intimidated by motorcycles, so for me this site is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[Hooker]

I bought my 2003 XB9S from Fox River HD in St. Charles, IL, and never looked back. They have great mechanics AND salesmen who actually aren't exactly anti-buell like most HD guys are. Before i bought my bike (14k miles when i bought it) they did a $400 "road service" preventative maintenance check on it where they changed all the fluids, replaced brake pads, bled the brakes, adjusted the clutch, changed the plugs, changed the air filter, replaced tires (if needed) and anything else. This $400 is usually automatically added onto their bikes at the time of the sale because they do it to all of their bikes before they even put them up for sale (so everything is top notch for test rides) and after i explained to them that i was a medically discharged vet, full time student, worked full time, and i was going back into service to our country (this time as a police officer), they slashed the 400$ and gave me the road service for free. My salesman's name was "Jimmy Mauro." He even got me a new set of keys for free (in case they were worn out, which they weren't). If you need a reliable place to get work done, i highly recommend going to these guys if they are within reason. I live right outside aurora, illinois, (big rock) and this place is probably a half hour from me, but it's well worth the travel.

 

[tacklejunkie]

I will have to order/try the time-sert kit here shortly.
I listened to the manual and stripped my drain plug last night. Last time I listen to a manual.
I've done this before on a 2003 GSXR 600 oil pan, $100 to replace, figured I'd learned my lesson and to always follow the manual torque specs. Now I follow the manual torque specs on the XB12R and strip my swingarm.
Can't win I guess. =P

Will let you guys know if the time-sert kit works for me! I figure I'll go this route because the threads will be stronger than new when done. I see used swingarms on ebay at +-$100 if this doesn't work.

That really sucks that the manual has this misprint. I knew that sounded way too high but followed the manual anyway. [down]