How to tell if used bike had engine work done?
Thread Starter
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Stage II
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: San Jose. CA
How to tell if used bike had engine work done?
Hi guys, this is my first post and am looking for any information. I purchased a 2004 RK Custom last year. The guy I bought it from wasn't the original owner and didn't know any history on the bike. Is there an easy way to tel if the engine was upgraded? It has the Rineheart true duals, K&N air cleaner, PC3. No obvious enough signs like SE heads. Is there an easy way to tell if it was upgraded from 88 - 95"?
any info or ideas would be appreciated
any info or ideas would be appreciated
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
Have the dealer run the VIN; if the upgrades were dealer installed they will be in the system. Test compression; if 170 psi or above, the motor is likely a 95" but could also be 88" with domed pistons or cammed or both. Compression will tell you if the motor has been worked, just might not know what the work was but with hi-flow intake, exhaust and a tuner and higher than stock compression is a pretty good indicator that the motor is not stock.
Thread Starter
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Stage II
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: San Jose. CA
Thanks guys for your help.
Im in California unfortunately- born here but the state changed without asking me... My last bike a 2003 Road Glide, I had a Zippers Performance Muscle 95 installed. Unfortunately they now won't ship to California. Any suggestions on a 95" kit I can get here?
Im in California unfortunately- born here but the state changed without asking me... My last bike a 2003 Road Glide, I had a Zippers Performance Muscle 95 installed. Unfortunately they now won't ship to California. Any suggestions on a 95" kit I can get here?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
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From: Toronto Canada
Thanks guys for your help.
Im in California unfortunately- born here but the state changed without asking me... My last bike a 2003 Road Glide, I had a Zippers Performance Muscle 95 installed. Unfortunately they now won't ship to California. Any suggestions on a 95" kit I can get here?
Im in California unfortunately- born here but the state changed without asking me... My last bike a 2003 Road Glide, I had a Zippers Performance Muscle 95 installed. Unfortunately they now won't ship to California. Any suggestions on a 95" kit I can get here?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
That might work if it was stroked but what if it was just bored? Be very careful sticking anything inside the cyliders...you might break it off. Op take a look where the head meets the cylinder and look for a little tab sticking off the gasket...look at the front and back both sides. If the heads were ever off and they used a cometic head gasket it has a tab on it that some people don't cut off...a tell tale sign of some engine work being done
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
Compression test! 
Pull cam cover and read cams ID on the end of the shaft face. Wooden dowels in the cylinder to measure stroke; really.?? A tab on the head gasket tells you that the heads have been off but nothing else.
Lots of machine shops in Cali that can bore to 98", fit new pistons, etc., etc., etc. Two builders that frequent this forum can bore cylinders, fit pistons, etc. and send to the OP along with cams and other hardware to complete a build. Going from 88" to 98" is not a problem; many ways to get that done.
Pull cam cover and read cams ID on the end of the shaft face. Wooden dowels in the cylinder to measure stroke; really.?? A tab on the head gasket tells you that the heads have been off but nothing else.Lots of machine shops in Cali that can bore to 98", fit new pistons, etc., etc., etc. Two builders that frequent this forum can bore cylinders, fit pistons, etc. and send to the OP along with cams and other hardware to complete a build. Going from 88" to 98" is not a problem; many ways to get that done.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 236
Likes: 113
From: Georgia
That might work if it was stroked but what if it was just bored? Be very careful sticking anything inside the cyliders...you might break it off. Op take a look where the head meets the cylinder and look for a little tab sticking off the gasket...look at the front and back both sides. If the heads were ever off and they used a cometic head gasket it has a tab on it that some people don't cut off...a tell tale sign of some engine work being done
But if the engine has been stroked, it definitely tells you the engine has been modified.
