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Shop called with bad news. The crankshaft pinion shaft is pitted beyond repair. He has a used crankshaft he can rebuild, but by the time he gets through all the red flags this motor is throwing, I'd be better off with an eBay motor. FL doesn't care if motor VIN matches.
<edit> Another thing to consider is a 100% rebuilt motor will be much better than a used motor in unknown condition. I asked him to put together an estimate so I can make an informed decision. He also told me the alternator ring is cracked, and that's something else to repair. Also four of the head bolts were less tight than the others, so he suspects the studs are pulling out and have to be addressed. A used 93-up or even 96-up late motor may be worth taking a chance.
Fix what you have, you are not in a rush and have other bikes to ride. Buying someone else's headache is not going to make this cheaper, my 2 cents. Good luck.
I have maybe late cases and evo flywheels will look in a day or so i even have early evo 86 engine flhtc stuff cases wheels heads and low size jugs already done
the issue is am jammed if you finish the bike how you want it by then i could have a motor up to install ready
i also believe those wheels have permanent pinion and or sprocket shafts - so that is junk its the threads not and not bearing locations that is the concern
you could take a ride and buy what i have someone else do it i dont need more work this year at all wont be done this time next year what is in the shop but some are my stuff as well
@Architect Yes, that is what I will be doing. I will have a totally rebuilt motor for just a few hundred more than unknown used. @johnjzjz Thank you, but I will be using parts from the shop here. He's been taking good care of me. As far as the studs, I'm not saying they are stripped, but the head bolts under the rockers were easier to remove than the ones on the spark plug side. Those ones took a cheater on the end of the wrench. So did the looser ones, but not as difficult. He advised me to leave them alone, and see if they torque up properly when I assemble the top end. Hopefully they have one last build in them the way they are.
Nothing left for me to do this season but clean the salt off what I am keeping. I cleaned and flushed the frame and forks, and the water came out clean, no orange at all But I will still soak them with pine-sol, and then PB Blaster when I get home.
Unfortunately the previous owner f-d up the fork's value. They are still usable, but who drills a hole for a bolt when the stud breaks off? Arrrggghhh.
Unfortunately the previous owner f-d up the fork's value. They are still usable, but who drills a hole for a bolt when the stud breaks off? Arrrggghhh.
I cant thumbs up your post. It was painful to see what some jacktard did
We all look so important and fancy with all these little trophies and glowing thumbs by our posts… I feel special and Elite. Something disturbing about tough biker dudes with little hearts next to our user names.
I'm just about done for this season. Today I cleaned 95% of the parts that I am keeping with pine-sol and water. I just have to clean and prep the oil pump and address the rust on the primary chain, and I'll be done.
This is the first batch:
I laid them in the sun to dry:
I'm pretty happy with the condition most of the parts are in. I will bring a few home to blast and powder coat. The rear brake bracket ^^^ and the front brake strut are in pretty bad shape.
I'll buy another bottle of pine-sol for the inside of the frame, swing arm and forks. Then I'll start spraying the insides with PB Blaster, but that's a job that has to continue when I'm home. When I bring those items back, they'll be ready for the start of the assembly phase. The HD parts manual came in today, too, so I'm confident I'll remember how it all goes together, LOL. Harley's website has them too, but I like having a paper copy with me when I'm working.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
But I will still soak them with pine-sol, and then PB Blaster when I get home.
