Afternoon all.
My 32,000 mile 2001 X1 was making a terrible scraping sound from primary cover area. It started quite suddenly while I was riding it. I took it easy for next few miles since i needed to get to work, The tick over had also increased to about 2000 rpm. I wonder if that was related.
Recently the weather has been very cold and starting has been a problem with the battery going flat. Maybe needs a new one but if left on charge over night seems fine.
I have a spare bike so put it to one side.
Today I got the Primary cover off, the trans oil was quite grey in colour. I pulled the clutch and alternator cover off and found that two of the alternator magnets have lost large chunks, maybe as much as a quarter of each. All the magnets are still in place. There are a few bits of magnet stuck to the surrounding steel. Not enough to fit back into the voids so I guess the rest has been ground to powder.
I cannot find anything on this site about alternator magnets failing other than the latest racers, but there seems to be a lot of reported problems in the harley groups. There are various modified sealed rotors and stators available on Ebay for Harley engines. Most are in USA but seem reasonable at around $150. I wonder if any of those is interchangeable with the Buell engine?

My query this afternoon is; can we buy replacement magnets anywhere?
What caused the magnets to break.
Where in UK can I buy a new rotor?

Thanks, I need to get the Buell back on the road My spare bike is a Moto Guzzi with dropped handlebars!

I've never heard of this happening before, but I really think you need to remove the clutch and open up the gearbox trapdoor for a good flushing out.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Nightmare ......I have seen this a few times, usually on the 4 bolt rotors which can shear a sprocket bolt but not on the 8 bolt rotor you have on a 2001.
Others have a magnet which has come 'unstuck'.......even though yours appear to be in place, have you tried pulling at them ?......ie. are they actually still glued in place or just held by 'magnetism' ?

Problem you now have is that it's impossible to clean magnet particles from the chain or bearings, so they will all need replacing

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Impossible or just really difficult?
I have washed and inspected the magnet housing and yes one of the magnets is mobile. The damage is limited to the sharp corners of the loose piece and the fixed magnets either side of it. Lots of the chunks are still captive in the flywheel.
I have the clutch apart at the same time looking for the source of a bit of a lurch it has now and again.
All the parts do feel a little gritty. I am hoping since I only rode it for a few miles I can carefully wash it all down.
I think the gearbox will come out for a good rinse too.
Am I kidding myself?

You cant wash magnetic particles from bearings and chains......it makes very good grinding paste

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Would a stronger magnet help collect the bits?

You will never ever know how many magnetic bits were still left in the motor grinding things to a slow death.

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

Never mind magnetic particles, when a very low miles XB motor grenaded on me (con rod broke and jammed a piston between the flywheels ) I insisted on all new bearings being fitted by the local HD Dealer - who was reluctant

A bit of a different scenario. As a lad, I holed a piston in a T500 Suzuki and after replacing it, I flushed the motor with gallons of petrol. A few hundred miles later, the bottom end went all rumbly and I was off the road for a good few months, saving for a crank

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Its all clean now. I have had everything apart and washed in the parts wash, blasted with air and washed again. I did get a lot of bigger chunks out easily and am hoping there isn't much grinding medium left.
Looking on the internet this certainly isn't a Buell issue, many other makes randomly suffer the same thing. my magnets are glue back in with JB weld with some packed between the magnets as well to prevent future movement.
It does seem now everything is back together that the real problem was the oil pump failing.
Ill take that to another thread.
Thanks everyone.

http://www.twinmotorcycles.nl/artikelen ... 20&aid=657

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The sound of a V-twin engine braking is music to my ears!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D45_poIzySQ
interesting youtube video related to the X1 stator.

What a crock !.......some people really talk shit

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

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Feros Ferio

I have 2 rotors where the magnets come off all together. Are they scrap now? Are the sprockets worth keeping?
My only thought is maybe someone has used a rattle gun on the nut that holds it to the crank?
Ones a 4 bolt ones an 8

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BUELL-Turning riders into mechanics since 1983!!!