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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion 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.
Having a Dyna 2006, (bored to 98 ci), I just installed a new belt, stator, rotor and SE Compensator.
As the primary is open, I thought I might as well check the crankshaft runout on the primary side.
(I should here mention that my bike has 200 psi cold cranking compression and that the crankshaft runout is a bit of concern.)
I know runout is much more crucial on the right side, which was 0.0021 (+ gap 0.0007 = 0.0028) three years ago, but I will not open it there right now, and I thought measuring on the left side would give me an idea about the health of the crank, as well as an indication of how much runout there may be on the right side.
Anyway, the runout on the primary side is today 0.0028 as measured on the picture below:
So what is normal runout on the primary side? Well, have googled and found a text saying that the Harley service limits for crankshaft runout is 0.012 for the right side.
Now, if the service limits are 0.012 for the left and 0.003 for the right side, (the latter according to the Harley manual), can I then breath easily assuming the runout will not be more on the right side than it is on the left side? In my world, if the crank scissors, this will affect the runouts on both sides. Or do they live independent lifes?
Last edited by OakMountainRider; Feb 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM.
I understand. Just wanted to get an idea about the state of the crank, thinking the compensator part would not make the reading completely inaccurate. If the crankshaft was out of specification (+0.012") that would have shown. Now I measured only 0.0028", which I believe is low, and probably it is even lower measured directly on the crankshaft.
Last edited by OakMountainRider; Feb 17, 2025 at 06:57 AM.
Asked this question last year, maybe wrong on numbers from memory. But they changed the runnout on pinion side. Maybe they didn't do it on 2006 yet. I think they just making it bigger and bigger to avoid warranty issues. And maybe with chains not as critical.
I too wondered why you could not measure on the sprocket side, left. I never considered measuring the nut, that seems a waste of time. First it is a nut, second, lots of parts between it and the shaft.
Asked this question last year, maybe wrong on numbers from memory. But they changed the runnout on pinion side. Maybe they didn't do it on 2006 yet. I think they just making it bigger and bigger to avoid warranty issues. And maybe with chains not as critical.
I too wondered why you could not measure on the sprocket side, left. I never considered measuring the nut, that seems a waste of time. First it is a nut, second, lots of parts between it and the shaft.
My manual says max 0.003 on the pinion side, but nothing about the primary side.
Yes, then they had not changed it 2006. I believe I read they changed the pinion side to max 0.012" at a later point.
My thinking goes like this: If the crank has scissored it would have created major runouts on both sides. But I have no experience, so that is why I ask.
Last edited by OakMountainRider; Feb 17, 2025 at 07:22 AM.
You say your measured runout is 2.8 thousand's, and the service limit is 12 thousand's.
I'm not seeing the problem?
The question I had in mind was into which extent the runout on the left was related to the runout on the right side, which is the important side. If they are related, I can stop worrying about it.
It would be good for anyone who has opened the primary to know if he could get a hint about the state of his crank and the runout situation on the pinion side by measuring the primary side.
Last edited by OakMountainRider; Feb 17, 2025 at 11:37 AM.
The pinion runout spec for warranty purposes in 2006 is .003" but that was changed to .012" in a later year, IIRC, it was the '07 model year when the MoCo outsourced the crank supply. I agree that checking runout on the primary side on the compensator is not an accurate read out but at .0028" from the compensator, I would not be losing any sleep. Additionally, the new pinion runout spec of .012" is ridiculous and a CYA move by the MoCo.
The question I had in mind was into which extent the runout on the left was related to the runout on the right side, which is the important side. If they are related, I can stop worrying about it.
It would be good for anyone who has opened the primary to know if he could get a hint about the state of his crank and the runout situation on the pinion side by measuring the primary side.
If you're really worried about it and want to know, open up your cam chest and measure it. Theres only one way to know.
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Runout Primary Side
