Why maintenance is important
Just like an old tractor. Keeps running long after its worn out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
So I get a 1991 Evo softail come in with an oil leak....easy job I think to myself.
It has 57K miles on it and was leaking from the oil pump and the lifter blocks. The oil pump gaskets were not in stock so I started with the lifter blocks but upon removing the blocks I found that a lifter had shat itself a looong time ago and the lifter wheel was octagonal and blue....none of the needle rollers were present and the EV3 cam had had the hardening smashed off the corresponding lobe.
I needed to find the rollers and clean the motor out so I pulled it all apart and here is what I found:
No bits of roller but there were gouges in the oil pump where they had been through the rotors
The end of the short rotor shaft in the pump appears to have been peened over with a blunt object
The rear headgasket had gone in such a way as it had been firing down the right rear head stud and the whole thing was carboned up round the stud
It needed a rebore
Stator was shorting out on the inner primary (this is why it had a new starter and a new battery when it came in lol!)
One engine mounting stud was loose
Valve guides shot
A homemade gasket on cam cover with a ton of orange silicone blocking the tappet screen gallery
Gritty oil
Don't abuse your Harley boys and girls or Spanners will take all your money!
The owner came in and we showed him the carnage and he said it has always vibrated and he thought they all sounded like that....oh dear, I may have to hurt him....in his wallet!!!
It has 57K miles on it and was leaking from the oil pump and the lifter blocks. The oil pump gaskets were not in stock so I started with the lifter blocks but upon removing the blocks I found that a lifter had shat itself a looong time ago and the lifter wheel was octagonal and blue....none of the needle rollers were present and the EV3 cam had had the hardening smashed off the corresponding lobe.
I needed to find the rollers and clean the motor out so I pulled it all apart and here is what I found:
No bits of roller but there were gouges in the oil pump where they had been through the rotors
The end of the short rotor shaft in the pump appears to have been peened over with a blunt object
The rear headgasket had gone in such a way as it had been firing down the right rear head stud and the whole thing was carboned up round the stud
It needed a rebore
Stator was shorting out on the inner primary (this is why it had a new starter and a new battery when it came in lol!)
One engine mounting stud was loose
Valve guides shot
A homemade gasket on cam cover with a ton of orange silicone blocking the tappet screen gallery
Gritty oil
Don't abuse your Harley boys and girls or Spanners will take all your money!
The owner came in and we showed him the carnage and he said it has always vibrated and he thought they all sounded like that....oh dear, I may have to hurt him....in his wallet!!!
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Well thanks y'all for the welcome back....I am just very busy and travelling a lot (by plane) and usually in NZ we just rebuild motors as most of them are not stock so we rebuild to the pre-blow up spec.
I have had to rebuild two S&S motors lately, both very low mileage with knackered big ends.....so we won't be replacing it with one of those.
And yes, I cannot imagine how the owner kept riding it!!!!!
I have had to rebuild two S&S motors lately, both very low mileage with knackered big ends.....so we won't be replacing it with one of those.
And yes, I cannot imagine how the owner kept riding it!!!!!
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Well thanks y'all for the welcome back....I am just very busy and travelling a lot (by plane) and usually in NZ we just rebuild motors as most of them are not stock so we rebuild to the pre-blow up spec.
I have had to rebuild two S&S motors lately, both very low mileage with knackered big ends.....so we won't be replacing it with one of those.
And yes, I cannot imagine how the owner kept riding it!!!!!
I have had to rebuild two S&S motors lately, both very low mileage with knackered big ends.....so we won't be replacing it with one of those.
And yes, I cannot imagine how the owner kept riding it!!!!!
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,857
Likes: 17,908
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Originally Posted by texashillcountry
I understand the word knackered but what are big ends????
Alternatively it can refer to a certain part of a sheep's anatomy.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Thanks..
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
They are the opposite of little ends both conceptually and geographically...
