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The 95 Dyna was advertised as a parts bike, and that's all it was. I was hoping to use the motor and trans, plus some minor parts like mufflers, to easily fix the Springer. The 95 motor also needs a rebuild, so I passed on buying it. First thing I did was pull the plugs, and they came out oily and caked with carbon. So I looked inside with a camera and this is the good cylinder! The front one was near TDC and the piston top was fully carboned. No idea how many miles, it's a digital odometer, and from the looks of it the LEDs are toast, a common problem. I didn't even bother to try and turn it over, thanked the guy and rode home. It was a nice day for a ride.
So my plan is to continue teardown, removing the entire drive train. A local shop owner that I have become friendly with says the trans probably just needs to be disassembled and cleaned up. Maybe change the main bearing while I am there. I'll see if I can get the jugs off the studs, and then assess the lower end damage. If need be, he can get me a good black and chrome motor from a shop for about the same as the Dyna would have cost.
For me, I would rather spend the time and money fixing the motor and transmission that came with the bike. Chances of finding a decent used motor, cheap are slim. Anything cheap will not be much better than what you have, anything good is going to be pricey. I think the bike is nice enough to invest the time, good luck.
I am in the process of bringing back a 78 that was flooded as well. Nose cone looked the same as yours and inside the cases, complete rebuild on the motor.
Crazy thing is my tranny was spot on clean. Still going to pull completely apart and replace bearings and main shaft.
The well keeps giving water. The transmission was almost completely water, with just a bit of oil floating on top.
The primary was better, but still not a lot of oil in there.
I will let it drain for a day or so, then pull the outer cover and start disassembly.
I've resigned myself to this being a major teardown and rebuild that I won't finish this season. On a positive note, I will have touched every part of the bike, so I will know what I am riding.
The well keeps giving water. The transmission was almost completely water, with just a bit of oil floating on top.
I've resigned myself to this being a major teardown and rebuild that I won't finish this season. On a positive note, I will have touched every part of the bike, so I will know what I am riding.
Not the Milkshake you want. But, it will bring your friends around to help. Good luck with the resurrection. Keep us in the loop.
Being an 89 the cases and head bolts may give you trouble. Google that. Maybe tare down and see if you get lucky. The fastest cheapest way is to get on market place and just buy a low mile evo. They can be had for $500-$1200. I’d look for a 1995+ for the better cases. Then I’d get it running and later do maybe a EV27 or EV46, new cam barring and just enjoy it. Rebuilding the original is cooler, but it’s a 50/50 on if you get the jugs off and don’t have stud issues.
If you have to do the primary with new parts.. look for 98-2003 compensator, chain, clutch hub. You’ll need a 98 starter, but the improvement is worth every penny.
The days of stroking an EVO are kinda over.. they run well and are cool but the cost to build one is the same as buying an unassembled big all new motor. Frankly with Ultima going under as of March 31st this year.. I don’t know what to say really.. not sure replacement parts will be available and now, no warranty. I frankly see S&S as not near as good quality as the Ultima… too many cracked heads with S&S.. too many issues with rods. The Ultima stuff was flat better.. and cheaper. I’d probably just do pistons and cam and call it a day in your shoes.
That’s been my opinion for years. I base it on working on several Ultima Shovels, several Ultima EL Bruto’s and building from scratch a few engines as well. S&S should have recalled their 113 evo motor. I saw at least 5 sets of 4” bore evo heads that were cracked. They didn’t warranty any of them.
The Ultima heads flow better, are thicker.. and I’ve never seen one cracked. I’ve seen more Ultima shovel heads than I’ve seen S&S and they are just flat better out of the box. The cases are better, thicker, support around the barrings is better. I honestly believe it’s better metal. The company was better to deal with. Stood behind their stiff better. Honestly.. I’m trying to buy up Ultima el Bruto’s as cheap as I can from marketvplace for parts years to come… zero interest in S&S motors. Especially their crate engines. They have nice lifters, blocks, their cranks are nice but I still prefer Ultima. And out of the box Ultima rods are nicer.
I also think S&S shifted from being a hot rod supplier of go fast hardcore parts to a bolt on for the masses bling company. I don’t think speed when I see or hear S&S.. I hear expensive. They seem to only care about profit not the blend of value for the customer. I personally think they cut corners in manufacturing at the cost of both performance and reliability. I never liked their shovel cams.. way too expensive and not half as good as so many other brands. The only thing they ever really did right was their carbs. And now when motors are finally abundant above 113” they stupidly discontinue the D carb… it’s finally the perfect carb… but instead of making a D with a accelerator pump and offering finally when people would want it… they discontinue it. Their too focused on quick sales of bolt on goofed lack performance exhaust and bling parts.
That’s my opinion. My loyalty to S&S ended years ago.
I have a two sets of S&S Shovel heads for my own 93” they are nice heads. I had one set ported and done up by a big name. The other set I ported myself. They run the exact same times lol. But after I made the investment back in the day I built for someone some STD heads.. better material but a must you do your own assembly, out of the box the STD was poor. Then… the Ultima came out. I assembled and blue printed a couple of their 96 inch shovels.. really nice stuff. I replaced others stock heads with ultimas. They were just super nice. Sorta in between or the best blend of what was nice about the STD and S&S in one head. Same was true when I assembled and blue printed a friends 127. In fact it was so nice I eventually did one of my own. Then I rebuilt a 113 crate off market for my road king. They are great motors.
S&S turned their back on the old guard. I don’t mind that they expand supporting the new fad of big heavy baggers with stage whatever… but they turned their back on their heritage and dropped everyone. They are not a race parts company anymore. They lost their way. I didn’t follow them.
All I have left of S&S is about 6 carbs, two sets of Shovel heads and the old style (before they ruined its shape) 1800 series pistons. Everything else I have is Truit & Osborne, OEM and Ultima. Some old sifton stuff too before they went under and somebody bought their name for marketing only.
Last edited by Rains2much; Mar 1, 2025 at 05:55 AM.
