lowering engine
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: NY
lowering engine
My rear rocker cover touches frame and the vibration is annoying, can I lower the engine by modifying front engine mount without harming anything or messing up an alignment? Would that put stress on rear motor mount?
Joe
Joe
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Joe,
First observation is that the motor shouldn't be touching the frame anywhere, which suggests something isn't quite right. I followed your other thread, about fixing the rocker box, so just how much did you disturb the engine in the frame? It might be that the rear and /or front mounts are not assembled correctly. Before you change anything we need to be sure what you have is correctly set up!
Do you have a factory service manual?
First observation is that the motor shouldn't be touching the frame anywhere, which suggests something isn't quite right. I followed your other thread, about fixing the rocker box, so just how much did you disturb the engine in the frame? It might be that the rear and /or front mounts are not assembled correctly. Before you change anything we need to be sure what you have is correctly set up!
Do you have a factory service manual?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
The rocker box as stated by others previously should not hit the frame. What year and model is the bike?? Is this a stock motor and rocker boxes?? There is some varience in frame measurements, but you should not be hitting. It could be there is something not assembled right, you might have longer cylinders installed for a stroker motor. Do you have teh ability to contact the previous owner to get some questions answered??? Where are you in NY??
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: NY
I'm in orange county , NY. The rocker has been hitting frame since I bought it used last year. What I did actually got it away from frame just a hair. It seems as if engine wants to go forward, which would mean shortening front mount and shimming rear mount. I have looked at frame and it seems like it was never bent, no paint chipping at welds, no creases, ...the frame (to me) looks fine. My air cleaner cover also rubs on bottom of gas tank and from looking at all the dyna pics, it shouldn't be this way. I can ask previous owner if engine has been altered or changed. But he bought it used also. Its a 97 FXDS-conv / dyna wide glide.
Joe
Joe
Last edited by j.m.s.; Sep 5, 2010 at 05:44 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Joe,
Looks to me, peering across the Atlantic, as if you are remarkably close to John at Mia Cycles. Could be worth contacting him by PM to see if he can help sort your bike out!
Looks to me, peering across the Atlantic, as if you are remarkably close to John at Mia Cycles. Could be worth contacting him by PM to see if he can help sort your bike out!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
I'm in orange county , NY. The rocker has been hitting frame since I bought it used last year. What I did actually got it away from frame just a hair. It seems as if engine wants to go forward, which would mean shortening front mount and shimming rear mount. I have looked at frame and it seems like it was never bent, no paint chipping at welds, no creases, ...the frame (to me) looks fine. My air cleaner cover also rubs on bottom of gas tank and from looking at all the dyna pics, it shouldn't be this way. I can ask previous owner if engine has been altered or changed. But he bought it used also. Its a 97 FXDS-conv / dyna wide glide.
Joe
Joe
Last edited by miacycles; Sep 5, 2010 at 07:41 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Sounds like you have some longer cylinders/taller deck height on that engine, that would explain the valve cover/air cleaner issues. It is very possible that it may have a stroker in there. Are you sure it's an original HD engine?? Look at the numbers on the cases. Try measuring your cylinders lengths against a known 80" engine
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
People build strokers in a couple of ways. Stroker pistons have the wristpins moved up in them allowing the use of stock length cylinders, but some afficionados feel that raising the wrist pin can cost you HP and other problems down the road. Another way to go is to use pistons with stock wrist pin location and go with either longer cylinders or "Stroker Plates" under the cylinder to make up for the longer stroke. Yes he should have a knowledgeable mechanic look it over to find out what's up.