oh yeah, I was under the impression this was building the whole engine. He said I'd get new rings and bearings. I talked to him about polishing the rocker covers ( he wanted another hour to do it) whats left? Valve job? I'll ask.

 

.

- new engine.

- better.

.

 

Wkrnman,

Just for ***** and giggles....you think you can get the mechanic to tell you all that he's doing to the engine for ~$1800. This way, we might be able to assist in not having you getting the shirt ripped off your back. Also, you've found a "decent" dealership, because most don't touch bikes older than 10 years...so anything older than 1997 is a maybe. Where are you from?

At this point, I just hope that you have some luck. Looks like your BUDDY might have sold the bike at the right time. Not saying that he meant it. Normal for the old bikes, like Shovels was 2 top end job, then you do the bottom end, if you were running it hard. I say it was about time for your bike to get top and bottom.

Again, I urge you to look into the reman or buying another engine. It will be 100% fresh parts together and you get a good warranty. I hate for you to drop aonther grand this spring/summer when the top end goes. Your choice.


good luck
dave

 

I'm in Greenville SC. The dealer is Spartanburg H-D.

Now you're scaring me with the top end business. I'll get a copy (he had estimated the cost on a print out) I left the service area and went in to the owner/managers office and he looked up a 90 model they had recently did and said it was 1700. I guess I just assumed I was getting a total rebuild which included the top end.

I want this motor to be right. The manager/owner said "you should get another 50k out of her when we finish" I'm planning on riding to Cherokee N.C. and then Myrtle Beach in the next few months and won't be able to afford more repairs. I like the idea of the reman. but 2200 and then the labor would be more than I can stand right now. And I don't have the time to do it myself. My buddies garage is 45 min away and I'm raising kids by myself. I've gotta deal with homework and girl scouts, gymnastics and tutoring......sorry about that. haha, single Dad business is tuff tho. You see my problem.

 

- is you want "no worries" , then a new/reman engine would
be great.

- and you can sell/part-out your old motor.

.

- or better still , get a HD manual and DIY it.

.

 

Wkrnman,

Don't mean to get you more worried than you already are.. it's only money, right! OK, get what the dealer will do on paper, so at least you know what you are paying for. You don't have the time right now towork on the bike, so letting them do it is a good plan. Movement in your crank bearing will affect your piston and cylinders. It's hard to say, since you don't know when it got loose and the dealer did say how much. The bike will get fixed, and your EVO will last you a very long time. You are riding a classic now. Good luck.

dave

 

You know with investments you have to worry about what their worth, but kids and harleys that's a different story. The guy I bought my ride from was a good friend was living at my place when he bought it new in 95 for 32 K (in Canada) then he proceeded to "personalize it" Total investment by him 70K it had 10,000 miles on it when I got it and looked brand new not a mark anywhere, price to me was 18K. I asked him at the time if it hurt to lose that much money on a sale, he said no I enjoyed every minute of owning it and I know it has a good home now. So what are things worth if that was really important then none of what we do would make sense. Once the money is spent and your back up and running you will forget all about it and concentrate on enjoying the ride. I think the main idea here is to get it running and not have to do it again. You said you know cars, well harleys are fairly simple and if you have a good manual take your time and think about what your doing for 1800 you can do a lot. Take things apart carefully use paper bags write on the outside with a felt pen where everything came from. Make sure you torque it all by the book and remember the only things that don't get blue locktite on them are the things that get red locktite. (except for the head bolts oil on those). Your value here will be the time you spend learning about your ride, every nut and bolt as when you do it you know all the bolts will be tight, fighting with a dealer over engine work is not worth it. Things you need some help with are splitting the cases, it's better to do it with a puller. Truing the flywheels if you change out the rod bearings. Boring the barrels if you don't have a sunnen SK70 get a good machine shop to do them. There are lots of guys on this forum that can help you but if you have built a car engine harleys may be different but simpler. It's not really about money but about Value don't miss an opportunity to learn.

 

Wrknman, I had a 91 flhs and I went through the motor at 40,000 the bill back then around 2001 was about $1500. I was like you agitated by the unscheduled expense.However when I got the bike back and babied it for 500 mi. like my mechanic told me to. I had the best bike ever built! I rode that bike for anothe 25,000mi. with no problems at all. I loved that bike! I wish I still had it. some cop in chicago rides it now (I live in Oregon)
You will in time be really glad you made the decision to have the work done right. The top end should be fine it's the bottom that goes after a fresh top. You are doing both. He is a pic of the old pig.
Good Luck and have fun with those kids while you can.
CK

 

Great looking old bike! You had a few more chrome pieces than I've got but I'm gettin' there.

 

Cowkiller,

Please explain the 93+"looking" saddlebags. Are they infact 93+ bags or are they modified 91 bags ? I am very interested in your response, I would like to do something like that but have not got it in my head how.I tried to mount 99 bagsbut as you know the battery is in the way on the right side and the holes do exactly line up on the left. could be fixed on the left but..........Thanks for any info .

later......................