Engine Mechanical Topics Discussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.

Engine Identification

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 3, 2014 | 05:48 PM
  #1  
cavemansean's Avatar
cavemansean
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Default Engine Identification

I have a screamin eagle engine on my bike and I have severe engine vibration.
For all those engine genius folks I need some help.
I wanted to do a complete breakdown and replace all needed seal and gaskets
And necessary parts. The engine has 60000 on it and the build was done at
32000 miles. All help would be appreciated.i lost the build sheet.
2001 fxstd
 
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2014 | 06:28 PM
  #2  
Imold's Avatar
Imold
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Default

I'm guessing you feel it with the clutch pulled and sitting still? That would eliminate the transmission, belt, pulleys, wheel bearings, tires and balance as the problem.

Is it at all rpm? Worse at idle, or as it revs higher? If the build was done right, should have done 32,000 without problems. Even 60K isn't engine damage mileage for most of them. Other things could cause vibration, too, even something as simple as a misfiring plug - that could have a few different causes, too. Fuel injection problems could do it. A broken/worn motor mount could. I'd sure check out those other things before tearing the engine down. That said, yeah, there's plenty of things in the engine and drive train that could do it.

Post more detail, like how it is at different rpms, does having a load on make a difference, and is it the same just sitting in neutral as when riding? Any strange noises? If you're lucky, someone might recognize a problem that can be solved without tearing the engine down.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 08:57 AM
  #3  
cavemansean's Avatar
cavemansean
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Default

Problem is definitely engine. It vibrated so bad it broke the gas tank tab and also cracked the oil tank. It is in all rpms at any speed.no funny sounds at all.it has gotten worse over time.Im thinking something maybe wrong with the engine balance at the crank .I wanted to identify the engine and maybe re work it to have more ***.I want more power with a lot less vibration.
The mounts are all good,the wheels are balanced the trans has no effect in or out of gear.I changed the clutch a year ago also the primary chain tensioner.the tensioner was broken but it was vibrating way before that.I don't know if the tensioner being broken can harm the engine.Im not sure how long it was broken.It probably did.
since I don't have the build sheets anymore I wanted to get as much info on the engine so I can perform a new build.
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 10:26 AM
  #4  
Imold's Avatar
Imold
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Default

Originally Posted by cavemansean
Problem is definitely engine. It vibrated so bad it broke the gas tank tab and also cracked the oil tank. It is in all rpms at any speed.no funny sounds at all.it has gotten worse over time.Im thinking something maybe wrong with the engine balance at the crank .I wanted to identify the engine and maybe re work it to have more ***.I want more power with a lot less vibration.
The mounts are all good,the wheels are balanced the trans has no effect in or out of gear.I changed the clutch a year ago also the primary chain tensioner.the tensioner was broken but it was vibrating way before that.I don't know if the tensioner being broken can harm the engine.Im not sure how long it was broken.It probably did.
since I don't have the build sheets anymore I wanted to get as much info on the engine so I can perform a new build.
Couple things come to mind, a really worn or damaged compensator or a crankshaft flywheel shift. The twin cams have pressed together crank/flywheel assemblies, and if one of the two flywheels shifts/slips around the crank, you can imagine the vibration. Short of removing the crank assembly, I don't know how to check for this, maybe someone else on the forum knows. It would pretty much mean replacing the whole assembly. Some folks that build Harley engines have the crankpin welded so this slipping can't happen. Excessive engine vibration can also take out the oil pump and a number of bearings. Sounds like you've got really excessive engine vibration. If a bearing is coming apart, might find metal shavings in the oil. I sure wouldn't ride it anymore till I found out what's going on.

Here's a link that explains what goes on when a crank assembly gets out of true.
http://www.thunderpress.net/editoria...2013/08/21.htm
 
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2014 | 08:29 PM
  #5  
Wide N Low 13's Avatar
Wide N Low 13
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 153
Likes: 2
From: S. FL
Default

I'm thinking the sprocket for the balancers has moved / slipped (the sprocket is pressed on the shaft it has no splines or key way) and the timing is off causing your vibrations. Good time to make your engine mods, since the cases are going to be split have the bottom end trued and welded. Then work your engine mods up from there. Let us know what you find and the mods you make.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2014 | 06:13 PM
  #6  
cavemansean's Avatar
cavemansean
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Unhappy

Thanks for the article
It explains my problem
I guess I'll be changeling the crank assembly
Anyone have ideas of the best set up?
 
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2014 | 10:54 AM
  #7  
soft 02's Avatar
soft 02
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Default

Been down this road with a few of my motors. My balancer sprocket spun 25* and it didn't vibrate much. First thing I would do assuming you eliminated all primary drive issues and the tranny is good I would check the runout on the crank. After that I would pull the heads and check the rods for a bad bearing. My Darkhorse crank took a **** on my about 6 months ago. Also look at S&S crank. If the crank is bad you're almost at the $$$ of a S&S 124 kit. You cant beat having a Timken bearing on the crank. One time I took my whole motor apart because of a bad vibration only to find nothing wrong. It was a worn out tranny. Sorry bud. Your turn in the barrel.
 
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2014 | 05:44 PM
  #8  
Imold's Avatar
Imold
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Default

soft 02 is way ahead of me in this game, sounds like the one to listen to.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 6, 2015 | 07:28 PM
  #9  
cavemansean's Avatar
cavemansean
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Default

These are the numbers I've come up with:
Screaming Eagle Intake pn: 29632-00
Harley Carburetor pn: 27932-99
Screaming Eagle Tuner pn: 32719-01A (Set at 6200 RPM)
The numbers on the heads that I can read, but may not be accurate because I cannot see them very well are:
Front Head pn: 18901-89
Read Head pn: 10902-??
Engine # BSY1032015


Harley Carb turned out to be 44mm big bore. I know what the Screaming Eagle tuner and intake part numbers are, but I cannot identify the head numbers. Does anyone know what the numbers could possibly be? I've done a google search and a search on the Screaming Eagle website but have come up with nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would like to find out what they are before tearing down the motor to replace the crank and balance.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2015 | 08:31 PM
  #10  
soft 02's Avatar
soft 02
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Default

What was your runout on the crank?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:16 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE