So I just picked up my first HD, a '98 FLHR. The bike has had a ton of engine work done to it, and the dealer said it had a big bore kit on it, however none of the paperwork supports their claim.

From the paperwork, it looks like it has 9.5:1 pistons in it, its been bored .010 over, and a thinner head gasket, new cam, lifters, and a couple other goodies, but its doesn't mention the kit specifically.

Is there any way of telling if it has the kit without tearing the engine apart?

 

If it's an Evo, the cylinders are likely to be aftermarket and will have a brand name on them somewhere, such as Axtell. +.010 pistons does suggest they are close to stock bore size.

 

agree, if it has a big bore kit then the cylinders would have some kind of makers name on them. ofcourse you can always take the dealers word for it, we all know how honest they are.

 

I hear ya...

The guy I worked with was very accommodating considering all the grief I put him through, considering I bought the bike three states away and had some shipping issues too. I hate to not believe what he says, but the paperwork just doesn't add up.

When it finally gets here, I'll have to take a close look and see what I can find.

 

If your bike is EFI.....the dealer can check the ECM for upgrades through either the digi tech or scanalyzer. If the ECM is in stock format....then nothing has been done to the engine.

 

Evo big bore only kits come in Axtell which are steel and billboarded on the side of cylinder and Revolution Performance Nikasil garbage, both would require the engine to come out and have the spigots bored so I'm just going to sugar coat this " the bastard probaly lied to you! "
It should be a carb by the FLHR but if you left off the "I" a big bore EFI engine would require a tuner and red injectors so a tuner will be under your seat or left side cover and if they used a Race Tuner, it would be on your invoice for $325 as it is a programmer and not on the bike.

Good note is they already did the work that the Evo needs and welcome to our simple world

 

She's deffinately an FLHR, has a Mikuni carb with a Zipper on it.

Here's what I can pull from the shop records (handwriting is pretty bad)

-DM 581 w/cam brg
-V&H true duals
-Lifters Jims Big Axel
-KB 9.5:1 piston
-Zipper Air Filter Kit
-pushrod (the rest is un readable)
-oil cooler
-head gasket set .030
-perf manley valve springs

On the work done side of the bill, it looks like the did a 3 angel valve job, and bored the cylinders .010 over.

The more I look at this, the more its seems ya'll are right, no big bore kit. Either the guy selling the bike is an idiot, or I'm missing something big.

 

Defintley nothing wrong with that setup, 9.5-1 is an big improvement and nice items with it, I have a DME581 cam, it isn't commercialized but a good one and comparable to a Woods cam I run so don't worry about lack of power with the 80 incher but stay on your toes with the seller, he should know what a big bore is and Evo big bikes have to be really nice to go for over $8000 but I like what is in the engine

 

Sounds like a nice bike. However "Big Bore" implies a Big Bore, not 10 over. Regardless, ride it an enjoy it.