While replacing lifters and pads found sticky rods on the crank of my 2007 FLH with 70k miles.
*edit* Cylinders still had cross hatching, and miced within service limit. I was tempted before discovering crank to do cams and rebuilding and porting heads. But if you are going to blow your budget go big like you are in congress

Spoke to Hoban brothers, and really liked what they had to say, they listened to what I wanted. They said their customers are from WI, looking for little more power, but want a bike they can ride to Sturgis. My concerns were it being older and chasing parts in drive train.

They recommended machine shop to bore to 103, about $250. Dark horse is doing crank, rods, and bearings. I decided to let them do case bearings, needle, balance and seal it up. I was going to do bearings myself and seal it. But I am using buddies shop, his schedule it tight with paying customers, and some other time constraints. I have done one. not an expert, but was a learning experience.


I told them I wanted low compression flat top pistons. I asked wiseco or CP, they said CP, so CP. They had them on hand and needed for balancing crank. So they weighed them and gave back to me for boring.

Cam they said go with S&S MR103. They did not like easy start, said noisey and somes times low compression creating hard starts and hard tuning. Fuel Moto recommended same cams but easy start. Funny thing about tech people they often have strong ideas of what they like. FM guy said he had them in two bikes. Though he also liked over 10 compression. I am sure they would have worked too.

These cams need adjustable rods, which I really didn't want to do, I wanted ease of just dropping stock in. Though I kept pads, so this will make easy to replace them. Going with kibbits spring kit. Never heard of them. Can use std lift but he high lift would be even better.

Also going with .040 head gasket rather than .030 which became popular the last 20 years.

Forgot to order, but going with S&S lifters. They liked them

I stopped in once, talked to other guy and was quoted the works for the crank. So emailed back asking more questions and talk to service manager, and not doing full blown dark horse crank. All these years I thought I would do a timken coversion, but at $550 I am not putting my money where my mouth is. If I was doing a bigger build I would think a lot more about it.

I spoke to Fuel Moto, but we are not connecting on what I wanted. They are speed shop. I have no doubt they their build would have been great. Also I am sure I am being over conservative on compression and power. They did also mention S&SMr103 but with easy start.

 

Talking to two different pros shops reminded me why so many technical people are gone. They both feel strongly and get in debates worse than POD, either that or they can argument with some customer who they couldn't make happy.

Gets to be 350 vs 351, when we all know the ______ is better.

 

Wow, First time I've ever heard of that..

 

CPs rattle less when the motor is cold. Have used both.. What about KB 4032 forged? WFO larry sells them.

 

Cylinders
I did CPs in 98" revperf, and then KBs when I went to 95". The circ clips sucked in KBs, and PIA getting in jug so tight. KBs stick is supposed to not flucuate with temp as much. I hope true. I worry being so tight, if it doesn't get warmed up enough.

 

I thought the same. I would probably use OEM cast 103 pistons for what he needs. Tight fit and quiet, and will last a long time. Chop the head to 82cc for compression. I would get the lifters from Larry.

 

I am curious if the product description is true on KBs, so tight. Seen few complaints on forums, but everything has that. The metal, I forget, supposedly is used in many applications because it transfer heat well and does not expand. But sure seemed tight putting in. They had their own gap specs.


They needed the pistons, to start work on my crank. I thought I could just give them a model number, but they wanted to weigh them, they had the CPs on hand.

 

I used OEM when doing a 103, Had to cut the piston reliefs because of bigger intakes. Pulled the motor apart at 80000 just cuz I wanted to go 107, got a super deal on 107 pistons from TweakmyTwin (rip).. 40000 on that build..

 

The pistons with issues were KB hypereutectic cast. They need proper ring gap setting for sure.

 

It was hyper something, I can't remember. The reading said they were not supposed to expand and they claimed better. Not sure I would have to took the chance. I was introduced to the shop doing the boring by someone who had been doing years of work with. It was during covid, took longer than expected. I alwasy wondered if that is what he liked or supply chain. I only got 2k miles on build, been more my solo bar hopper