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.

Top end

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 2, 2019 | 06:02 PM
  #1  
Cameron Jones's Avatar
Cameron Jones
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Waynesboro ga
Default Top end

How do I disassemble a 09 HD sporster 1200xl motor to where I can get in and check the piston cylinder was using a n Alan wrench to prop the intake butter fly valve open to spray carb cleaner and injector fluid in the air intake and it sucked in the wrench. And need to assess the damage/situation. Video is are the best for me but will take any help given.
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2019 | 06:18 PM
  #2  
CoolBreeze3646's Avatar
CoolBreeze3646
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,423
Likes: 30,642
From: Pennsylvania
Default

Pull the spark plugs and look in the holes with a flashlight. I doubt the allen wrench made it that far, it is probably stuck in the intake valve area. Was the bike running? Did it make any noise, did it stop running? If it was me I would remove the carb and the intake and look in the cylinder head intake area. If you do not have a manual, then You should take it to a professional who knows what they are doing. If it got stuck in the intake valve you will have some damage. Keep us informed and provide some pictures so others will not attempt to do what you did.

Why were you spraying carb cleaner and injector fluid into the intake? Good Luck!
 
Reply
Old Feb 2, 2019 | 09:17 PM
  #3  
ROCKOUT Rocker Products's Avatar
ROCKOUT Rocker Products
Sponsor
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 8,538
Likes: 1,646
From: SF Bay area
Default

Get a cheap cell phone endoscope
https://www.amazon.com/DEPSTECH-Semi-Rigid-Inspection-Megapixels-Waterproof/dp/B06WRNGYXY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1549163651&sr=8-7&keywords=endoscope https://www.amazon.com/DEPSTECH-Semi-Rigid-Inspection-Megapixels-Waterproof/dp/B06WRNGYXY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1549163651&sr=8-7&keywords=endoscope
take the plugs out & look in the cylinders, snake it through the intake, etc.

Bet it didn't go far

__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click HERE For all Twin Cams and Evo Big Twins & Sportsters
 
__________________
NO, they DON'T all do that!
ROCKOUT rocker shaft inserts... make the tapping STOP! From the guy that FOUND and CURED the problem NO ONE ELSE COULD, thank you for your support!
Ordering & info http://www.rockout.biz On ebay! ... CLICK HERE
Also on amazon.com...
Imitated, never equaled... ROCKOUTS!


Reply
Old Feb 3, 2019 | 02:19 PM
  #4  
bustert's Avatar
bustert
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,048
Likes: 990
Default

yep, borescope is cheap and even hf sells them
fly-by-wire? if not, hd used to have a thumbscrew on the throttle to act as a friction control or coon-*** cruise control
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2019 | 02:32 PM
  #5  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,298
Likes: 6,324
From: Honah Lee
Default

Get yourself a piece of #10 solid wire. Strip off insulation. Get a piece of pencil magnet and break off a section about 3/4".

Bend a 90 degree on end of wire and tape the magnet to wire with 90 catching magnet . Fish intake. Fish spark plug hole.

Just a thought...
 
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2019 | 11:11 PM
  #6  
Cameron Jones's Avatar
Cameron Jones
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Waynesboro ga
Default Update

Got a buddy coming tomorrow with a scope to check out the cylinders I believe I seen it in the rear cylinder I guess the next step is to make sure and tear down the jug to get it out and check the damage. What could I be looking at? (As far as damages go? I'll see what i can do to get pics of the cylinder and how everything happened. (Was just me no thinking and having **** luck that day.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2019 | 07:46 AM
  #7  
Mattbastard's Avatar
Mattbastard
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
Default

There's a chance the wrench is sitting on top of the valve or somewhere in the intake manifold because it was too long to make the appropriate bends to get all the way into the cylinder. Have you tried using a flash light to look into the manifold? Or a magnet on a stick to pull out the wrench?

You don't need to prop open the butterfly either, just crank the throttle grip and set the throttle friction screw up in the right handlebar switch housing.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2019 | 06:12 PM
  #8  
Cameron Jones's Avatar
Cameron Jones
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Waynesboro ga
Default

Originally Posted by Mattbastard
There's a chance the wrench is sitting on top of the valve or somewhere in the intake manifold because it was too long to make the appropriate bends to get all the way into the cylinder. Have you tried using a flash light to look into the manifold? Or a magnet on a stick to pull out the wrench?

You don't need to prop open the butterfly either, just crank the throttle grip and set the throttle friction screw up in the right handlebar switch housing.

my buddy came today with his endoscope(has a light on it.) From what we seen it's in the cylinder couldn't tell if it was lodged in there we didnt have a strong enough magnet to pull it out. Will probably pull the jug off sat night or Sunday some time.just depends on what work looks like. I'll keep you guys posted

p.s. didnt know about the friction screw till my buddy showed me today to feed the endoscope through the air intake. Definitely take that rought. Don't be a dumb *** and prop it open with a tool lol found that out the hard way.
 
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 Feb 5, 2019 | 07:02 PM
  #9  
Mattbastard's Avatar
Mattbastard
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
Default

If you're lucky you didn't roll the engine over with that thing stuck in the cylinder. Them post 04 heads have a large squish shelf.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2019 | 07:42 PM
  #10  
Cameron Jones's Avatar
Cameron Jones
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Waynesboro ga
Default

Originally Posted by Mattbastard
If you're lucky you didn't roll the engine over with that thing stuck in the cylinder. Them post 04 heads have a large squish shelf.

I rolled it down that way I had room to see in it.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:19 PM.

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