Not feeling it
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,650
Likes: 2,051
From: Massachusetts
Just took it out again for a harder rip. There is something wrong. It runs fine, no leaks, no excess clattering or noise, nothing unusual or alarming, it might be running a little rough under hard acceleration but that's it. There is just no power. Hit it hard from a dead stop and it was just ****, went around the corner and did it again and it felt like it was pulling harder than normal, got to the next corner and did it again and it felt like **** again. It is inconsistent and even when it is pulling it's not pulling like it should.
I know the cam and cam/crank alignment are good. Brand new tappets pumped up like they should, pushrods are adjusted to 20.5 turns, new bearings, and O-rings. If I nicked the O-ring on the oil pump or it slipped, could it be filling the crank case and causing this kind of behavior? I didn't mess with the clutch basket, it came out and went back in in one piece and it's not slipping. What else could I have missed?
I know the cam and cam/crank alignment are good. Brand new tappets pumped up like they should, pushrods are adjusted to 20.5 turns, new bearings, and O-rings. If I nicked the O-ring on the oil pump or it slipped, could it be filling the crank case and causing this kind of behavior? I didn't mess with the clutch basket, it came out and went back in in one piece and it's not slipping. What else could I have missed?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,502
Likes: 7,806
From: Long Island, New York
No shame in bringing it to a pro with Dyno to get everything adjusted and dialed in. Might be the better course of action before you hurt something and have to go back into the motor. Just my $.02, I do wish you luck getting it sorted.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
Sorry for just repeating what's already been said, but you're right, something is wrong. My '15 RGS, cam + Pro Pipe, made 98/108 dynoed at the rubber, and it would yank your arms straight for sure.
Hopefully it's installation/adjustment related, and you can get it dialed in. Good luck.
Hopefully it's installation/adjustment related, and you can get it dialed in. Good luck.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
Rag or something in the exhaust?
Something limiting the throttle twist. New grips?
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,070
Likes: 1,867
From: Unreconstructed
Spoke more with FuelMoto and dug into some specs on my Feuling lifters and the S&S pushrods. They're a 32-thread pitch so Feuling says twenty flats. As mentioned, I was over twenty-seven so I'm guessing that's the issue. I'll readjust everything and throw a compression tester on it this weekend and see what happens.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,070
Likes: 1,867
From: Unreconstructed
That's a good idea. but it's already torn down and the tester won't be here till Sunday.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,070
Likes: 1,867
From: Unreconstructed
Just a quick follow up. Readjusted the pushrods to 20 flats and did just a quick test. Bike runs great, sounds great, valve train is even quieter now but still not feeling the power I expected. I'm going to try and do a proper compression test once it warms up and have an appointment to get it dyno'd in a week. I'll follow up again.
