120R Head Stress cracks
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: missouri
120R Head Stress cracks
Bought this bike, has the 120R. Also had a busted head gasket. (Front)... tore it down. The cylinder head has some stress cracks right where the head gasket was blown. Not deep or long or big. but surface cracking in that area none the less. What is my best option? And where to find it fast.? It’s ridin season.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,692
Likes: 8,297
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I'm not a Motorcycle mechanic, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Best option, replace it
Fastest option, get it from the dealer
Just my
Congrats on your first post and welcome to the Forum
Best option, replace it
Fastest option, get it from the dealer
Just my
Congrats on your first post and welcome to the Forum
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
If you posted some pictures it would help. Not me, I don't know much, but it would help the many great people who do know. Did you buy it knowing it had issues or was it one of those "it ran great when I parked it "
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,187
Likes: 2,228
From: College Station, TX
Yeah, it's difficult to tell much without some photos, but the damage you describe is typically from the hot gasses passing through the small cavity left from the blown head gasket. Aluminum can be repaired, but will it ever have the strength it once did? And, actual cracks can be tricky to properly repair because the material at the end of the crack has to be removed and then built back up, and then properly machined. All processes that require specialized skills and equipment.
You might take the heads to a really good machine shop that has experience with Harley performance engines, not a general automotive machine shop, and get an estimate and go from there. But I'd tend to go with a new seat of heads. And, the cylinder should be checked to verify the the gasket sealing surface of true to be sure a new gasket will properly seal. Otherwise you could have the same problem again.
There are several on here that are well qualified.
Paul
You might take the heads to a really good machine shop that has experience with Harley performance engines, not a general automotive machine shop, and get an estimate and go from there. But I'd tend to go with a new seat of heads. And, the cylinder should be checked to verify the the gasket sealing surface of true to be sure a new gasket will properly seal. Otherwise you could have the same problem again.
There are several on here that are well qualified.
Paul
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 648
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
Find out who fixes race car engines in your area, aluminum heads are an easy fix for a good welder that does aluminum welding. To do it properly, the aluminum needs to be heated and keep hot while the welding is done, then cooled slowly. Then it can be machined flat again.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
