79 FLH-80 Pull the Engine?
#1
79 FLH-80 Pull the Engine?
I've had bikes all my life including a late-model Ironhead and an 84 FXSB shovel. However, none of them were real projects like this one.
I'm sure a lot of you have been at this crossroad. After pulling the top end off I'm staring at the bike and saying to myself "maybe I should keep going and go through everything?"
To this point I've accomplished everything I set out to with this project bike - I got the bike put together and engine running and I know the tranny works on the stand.
I have to find a machine shop/engine builder to do the required top-end work since I don't have the tools/skills. Considering the bike needs clutch work and the tranny is leaking, I started thinking maybe I should pull the engine and send it along for assembly. I could then go through the drive train on my bench.
I'm learning a lot and I feel like I have decent mechanical skills, but I've never done engine work like this so the assembly makes me a little nervous. Budget is always a concern.
Thoughts and advice appreciated.
I'm sure a lot of you have been at this crossroad. After pulling the top end off I'm staring at the bike and saying to myself "maybe I should keep going and go through everything?"
To this point I've accomplished everything I set out to with this project bike - I got the bike put together and engine running and I know the tranny works on the stand.
I have to find a machine shop/engine builder to do the required top-end work since I don't have the tools/skills. Considering the bike needs clutch work and the tranny is leaking, I started thinking maybe I should pull the engine and send it along for assembly. I could then go through the drive train on my bench.
I'm learning a lot and I feel like I have decent mechanical skills, but I've never done engine work like this so the assembly makes me a little nervous. Budget is always a concern.
Thoughts and advice appreciated.
#2
#3
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#4
I've had bikes all my life including a late-model Ironhead and an 84 FXSB shovel. However, none of them were real projects like this one.
I'm sure a lot of you have been at this crossroad. After pulling the top end off I'm staring at the bike and saying to myself "maybe I should keep going and go through everything?"
To this point I've accomplished everything I set out to with this project bike - I got the bike put together and engine running and I know the tranny works on the stand.
I have to find a machine shop/engine builder to do the required top-end work since I don't have the tools/skills. Considering the bike needs clutch work and the tranny is leaking, I started thinking maybe I should pull the engine and send it along for assembly. I could then go through the drive train on my bench.
I'm learning a lot and I feel like I have decent mechanical skills, but I've never done engine work like this so the assembly makes me a little nervous. Budget is always a concern.
Thoughts and advice appreciated.
I'm sure a lot of you have been at this crossroad. After pulling the top end off I'm staring at the bike and saying to myself "maybe I should keep going and go through everything?"
To this point I've accomplished everything I set out to with this project bike - I got the bike put together and engine running and I know the tranny works on the stand.
I have to find a machine shop/engine builder to do the required top-end work since I don't have the tools/skills. Considering the bike needs clutch work and the tranny is leaking, I started thinking maybe I should pull the engine and send it along for assembly. I could then go through the drive train on my bench.
I'm learning a lot and I feel like I have decent mechanical skills, but I've never done engine work like this so the assembly makes me a little nervous. Budget is always a concern.
Thoughts and advice appreciated.
Nick, you should probably find a reputable engine builder near to you and go and have a chat with him to see what you'd be looking at in terms of cost if you pull the bottom end.
However, if you are anything like me, rebuilding a motorcycle is a great learning experience and you just keep thinking "well, I might as well take THAT part off and fix it up, and while I'm doing that I should look at THIS as well.
Pretty soon you'll end up with a bare frame going out for powder coating (as mine is this week), while you draw circuit diagrams of what the new wiring loom will look like.....
#5
CT doesn't issue titles for older cars/bikes so all I have is assignment of ownership from the seller in this particular case. Speedo has around 16,000 but no way to know for sure. I'm going to persue a title search but it takes awhile.
My big concern is that I just want this done right and would hate to get fresh head/cylinders back and have me goof up installation of pistons/rings. Sometimes I overthink stuff.
My big concern is that I just want this done right and would hate to get fresh head/cylinders back and have me goof up installation of pistons/rings. Sometimes I overthink stuff.
#6
#8
Agreed, no need to do bottom end if no problems obvious. And if you do decide to do bottom you should at least consider "stroking".
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
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#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southeast Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Posts: 147,600
Received 47,779 Likes
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