mdm, the "slight noise" is the slippers gone off the tensioners and metal on metal grinding. new to Harley. not new to mechanics.

 

 

You bought the bike as an insurance rebuilder and are stunned that the "experience is going poorly" because you hear a "slight" engine noise?? wow, what a surprise that must have been.

The MoCo does have a "long block" program; a replacement for the "reman" program they used to offer. A 96" motor will not "drop in"; you need many different parts aside from the motor. I am betting all that is needed to put your "boat anchor" back in fighting condition is a cam chest and top end upgrade. If that motor is running, the cam chest damage is not catastrophic and that motor can be salvaged; much easier and cheaper than a replacement. Bore to 98", clean up the heads and deck about .025"-.030" ('06 heads flowed better than previous years), good SERDI valve job, new guide seals, use a .030" head gasket, keep the OEM cam plate, replace inner and outer cam bearings, replace the oil pump with a Daytona higher capacity pump, replace the tensioners with the CYCO shoes and throw in a set of S&S 583, Andrews 48 cams, S&S standard lifters and SE adjustable tapered pushrods, get her tuned and let her rip.

Have you opened the cam chest to take a look? Cut open an oil filter? Run a compression or leakdown test? These motors can actually take a lot of abuse; it might be worth saving; JMHO.....

 

 

its getting torn down tomorrow and we will decide which way to go. I apologise for my rant. I know lots of Harley guys and probably 70% are like the guy who owned this bike. no maintenance, ride it and be shocked when it breaks.
me buying it assuming it was in mint shape was a foolish move. I should have known better as this isn't the first insurance claim vehicle I have bought. lol live and learn


ill fix it properly and the new owner will have a good bike. no more harley rebuilders

 

Check it out good... You not knowing what the previous owner did or didn't do makes it a crapshoot. But the flip side is it might just be the tensioners...good luck with it. I hope you can salvage it and maybe boost up the power with a set of cams and enjoy...

 

took it to a really good Harley machanic and he tore it down. jumped to conclusions. oil pump is good, crank good, one cam has a tiny bit of the Parkerizing failing. filter cut open and is ok for metal. so the slipper failure is minimal and must have just occured. replacing cams, chain, pushrods, lifters adjusters ect and run it.
I can sell it knowing its not a pos.

 

Good, that will save you a lot of headhaches.