54K miles - lifter fail?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 987
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54K miles - lifter fail?
I've only owned my FXD for six months, and I'm trying to learn fast. But I didn't see this coming.
About three days ago, the 99 FXD started making a noise - only when hot - that sounded like an angry dwarf was beating on my front cylinder with his hammer.
Took it to the indy yesterday, and he THINKS is a lifter failure. "I can't see inside the engine" is his way of saying "I've been doing this for 35 years, and even though I know what the problem is, I'm not going to tell you I know because your motor might have something else, really bad, wrong with it."
Anyway ... looking for a reality check. What causes a lifter failure? (Is this MY fault?)
Is ~$400 reasonable to fix it (pushrod kit, new lifters, labor)?
If I'm dropping $400 anyway, should I go ahead and have him put in the gear cam drive kit (which is $1275 out the door)?
About three days ago, the 99 FXD started making a noise - only when hot - that sounded like an angry dwarf was beating on my front cylinder with his hammer.
Took it to the indy yesterday, and he THINKS is a lifter failure. "I can't see inside the engine" is his way of saying "I've been doing this for 35 years, and even though I know what the problem is, I'm not going to tell you I know because your motor might have something else, really bad, wrong with it."
Anyway ... looking for a reality check. What causes a lifter failure? (Is this MY fault?)
Is ~$400 reasonable to fix it (pushrod kit, new lifters, labor)?
If I'm dropping $400 anyway, should I go ahead and have him put in the gear cam drive kit (which is $1275 out the door)?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,250
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From: Montana
If you can afford it a gear drive cam is always a cool idea. Had one in my last twin cam 88 and it ran great! I was nice not having to worry about cam chain tensioner failures. As far as the lifters go they work good but do fail from time to time. I have personally had one go bad as soon as 15k. But thankfully at the time it was still under warranty.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
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From: Southwest Florida
Wasn't it in '99 that they had the problems with the new cam chain drives?
I think it was.
I wonder, was there a recall on those and, if so, how long the recall is good for? Prolly not for 12 years but.... You never know unless you try.
I think it was.
I wonder, was there a recall on those and, if so, how long the recall is good for? Prolly not for 12 years but.... You never know unless you try.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Home
They didn't do an actual recall, as only 1 in 100 failed.....says HD. I have a 99 and ran my vin at the dealership, guy couldn't believe that by now that hadn't been changed. Sure enough they hadn't. Did my conversion a few days ago and the original INA bearings were still in there!!! Luckily nothing went wrong or got destroyed by them.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,250
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From: Montana
Quad D you were lucky my friend. It may be only 1 in 100 failure but if it happens to you its 100%. I had a good friend lose a heritage softail (2004) when the cam chain tensioner literally hand grenaded her motor. She ended up buying a new bike and the dealer installed a re-built motor in the old one.
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From: Home
Hey I'm on your side!!! I think it's crap that HD didn't do an actual recall, or even just take a complete inventory of all bikes that didn't have it done. Someone could die from something like that. Imagine your camchest grenading when you are on an overpass with everyone around you doing 70....bad news.
I really recommend the Hyd. tension roller chain conversion. Be it all HD parts, which I am working on a list of parts to do the conversion, the Andrews kit (which is all HD parts except a sprocket in my case), the HD hybrid kit, or the kit that Herko at Flying W performance offers. Even gears would be better. I just didn't side with gears because just one bad emergency braking situation could cause enough run out to make gear useless. But then if you go real hi lift cams you can't get them any way other than gears some times. To each their own, just don't suggest staying stock morse chain and tensioners.
I really recommend the Hyd. tension roller chain conversion. Be it all HD parts, which I am working on a list of parts to do the conversion, the Andrews kit (which is all HD parts except a sprocket in my case), the HD hybrid kit, or the kit that Herko at Flying W performance offers. Even gears would be better. I just didn't side with gears because just one bad emergency braking situation could cause enough run out to make gear useless. But then if you go real hi lift cams you can't get them any way other than gears some times. To each their own, just don't suggest staying stock morse chain and tensioners.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
'99's had a cam bearing issue.From the factory there were ball bearing bearings front and rear, but the factory had a recall to replace the rear cam bearing with a roller bearing. If the cam chain tension shoes are coming apart a lifter may have picked up some trash. So an exploratory repair maybe in order.
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