Engine - Buell 2002 P3 Service Manual

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ENGINE

FUEL
Gasoline/alcohol Blends
The Buell Blast P3 motorcycle has been designed to obtain
the best performance and efficiency using unleaded gasoline
(87 pump octane or higher). Some fuel suppliers sell gaso-
line/alcohol blends as a fuel. The type and amount of alcohol
added to the fuel is important.
●
DO NOT USE GASOLINES CONTAINING METHANOL.
Using gasoline/methanol blends will result in starting and
driveability deterioration and damage to critical fuel sys-
tem components.
●
Gasolines containing
blends are mixture of 10% ethanol (Grain alcohol) and
90% unleaded gasoline. Gasoline/ethanol blends can be
used in your motorcycle if the ethanol content does not
exceed 10%.
●
Gasolines containing ETHER: Gasoline/ether blends are
a mixture of gasoline and as much as 15% ether. Gaso-
line/ether blends can be used in your motorcycle if the
ether content does not exceed 17%.
●
REFORMULATED OR OXYGENATED GASOLINES
(RFG): "Reformulated gasoline" is a term used to
describe gasoline blends that are specifically designed
to burn cleaner than other types of gasoline, leaving
fewer "tailpipe" emissions. They are also formulated to
evaporate less when you are filling your tank. Reformu-
lated gasolines use additives to "oxygenate" the gas.
Your motorcycle will run normally using this type of gas.
Buell recommends you use it when possible, as an aid to
cleaner air in our environment.
Because of their generally higher volatility, these blends may
adversely affect the starting, driveability and fuel efficiency of
your motorcycle. If you experience these problems, Buell rec-
ommends that you operate your motorcycle on straight,
unleaded gasoline.
LUBRICATION
The engine has a force-feed (pressure) type oiling system,
incorporating oil feed and return pumps in one pump body,
with one check valve on the oil feed side. The feed pump
forces oil to the engine, lubricating lower connecting rod bear-
ings, rocker arm bushings, valve stems, valve springs, push
rods and tappets. Cylinder wall, piston, piston pin, timing
gears, bushings and main bearings are lubricated by oil spray
thrown off connecting rods and crankshaft, and by oil draining
from each rocker box through an internal drain passage in
each cylinder and each tappet guide. Oil is transferred to the
teeth of all the cam gears by way of the gear meshing action.
The oil-scavenging section of the pump returns oil to the tank
from the engine. See 3.7 LUBRICATION SYSTEM
information.
ETHANOL: Gasoline/ethanol
for more
ADJUSTMENT/TESTING
General
When an engine needs repair, it is not always possible to
determine definitely beforehand whether repair is possible
with only cylinder head, cylinder and piston disassembled or
whether complete engine disassembly is required for crank-
case repair.
Most commonly, only cylinder head and cylinder repair is
needed (valves, rings, piston, etc.) and it is recommended
procedure to service these units first, allowing engine crank-
case to remain in frame.
See DISASSEMBLING ENGINE FOR CYLINDER HEAD
REPAIR/ENGINE REMOVAL.
MOTORCYCLE FOR ENGINE REPAIR/REMOVAL
motorcycle for removal of cylinder head, cylinder, and piston.
After disassembling "upper end" only, it may be found that
crankcase repair is necessary. In this situation, remove the
engine crankcase from the chassis.
CAUTION
If engine is removed from chassis, do not lay engine on
primary side. Placing engine on primary side will dam-
age clutch cable end fitting. If fitting is damaged, clutch
cable must be replaced.
See 1.24 TROUBLESHOOTING
ing a need for engine repair are often misleading, but gener-
ally, if more than one symptom is present, possible causes
can be narrowed down to make at least a partial diagnosis.
An above-normal consumption of oil, for example, could be
caused by several mechanical faults. However, when accom-
panied by blue-gray exhaust smoke and low engine compres-
sion, it indicates the piston rings need replacing. Low
compression by itself, however, may indicate improperly
seated valves, in addition to or in lieu of worn piston rings.
Most frequently, valves, rings, pins, bushings, and bearings
need attention at about the same time. If the possible causes
can be narrowed down through the process of elimination to
indicate any one of the above components is worn, it is best
to give attention to all of the cylinder head and cylinder parts.
Compression Test Procedure
Combustion chamber leakage can result in unsatisfactory
engine performance. A compression test can help determine
the source of cylinder leakage. Use CYLINDER COMPRES-
SION GAUGE (Part No. HD-33223-1).
A proper compression test should be performed with the
engine at normal operating temperature when possible. Pro-
ceed as follows:
3.2
under 3.3 STRIPPING
to strip
section. Symptoms indicat-
2002 Buell P3: Engine 3-5