reman motor
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 43
From: NJ
If I ever get to the point of needed a rebuild, the HD deal is the way I would go, I can't remember hearing any bad reports on one.
I don't know of an indy in my area I would trust with the bottom end, not sure I'd let them touch the upper for that matter. They want 750+ for cam and lifters around here so 2500 for the entire motor is a great deal.
Doug
I don't know of an indy in my area I would trust with the bottom end, not sure I'd let them touch the upper for that matter. They want 750+ for cam and lifters around here so 2500 for the entire motor is a great deal.
Doug
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 3
From: Collegeville, PA
I was just talking to the service manager at my dealership last week about this. He quoted 10 hrs for R&R of the motor. If I do it during the winter when they offer service discounts the whole job would cost around $3100. Not bad at all. I would just want to get more information on what upgrades are done during the process. It's an '86 Evo, so do they reman with all the upgrades that were done over the next 13 years ro just give me back a stock '86 spec motor?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 9
From: SoCal & West TN
One main thing to know about the 1989 BT motor. It was a "Transition Year" motor.
The crank was changed from the "5 Piece" crank in 1988/earlier to the "3 Piece" crank.
But in 1989, Harley didn't take into account the pinion shaft. They were a weak point.
If you look in any 1989 part catalog, all 1989 bottom end motor parts are obsolete.
Changed to 1990 parts. There was a "Service Bulletin" issued for that year motor.
If you use the Harley Re-manufacture Motor Program, your original motor will be upgraded, automatically.
So I would not think about trying to rebuild the original 1989 motor.
Look at the Harley program, or an aftermarket motor.
The crank was changed from the "5 Piece" crank in 1988/earlier to the "3 Piece" crank.
But in 1989, Harley didn't take into account the pinion shaft. They were a weak point.
If you look in any 1989 part catalog, all 1989 bottom end motor parts are obsolete.
Changed to 1990 parts. There was a "Service Bulletin" issued for that year motor.
If you use the Harley Re-manufacture Motor Program, your original motor will be upgraded, automatically.
So I would not think about trying to rebuild the original 1989 motor.
Look at the Harley program, or an aftermarket motor.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Wabash
What I did was take the bottom end to out Mechanic and had him do what needed to be does for the crank and replace whatever needed to be replaced and I had him send the heads and cylinders to be machined and I then did the rest putting it back together. I was thinking of doing the reman at the time but found out the motor had to be removed and installed by Harley but closest HD was 3 hours away.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 770
Likes: 3
From: Wabash
One main thing to know about the 1989 BT motor. It was a "Transition Year" motor.
The crank was changed from the "5 Piece" crank in 1988/earlier to the "3 Piece" crank.
But in 1989, Harley didn't take into account the pinion shaft. They were a weak point.
If you look in any 1989 part catalog, all 1989 bottom end motor parts are obsolete.
Changed to 1990 parts. There was a "Service Bulletin" issued for that year motor.
If you use the Harley Re-manufacture Motor Program, your original motor will be upgraded, automatically.
So I would not think about trying to rebuild the original 1989 motor.
Look at the Harley program, or an aftermarket motor.
The crank was changed from the "5 Piece" crank in 1988/earlier to the "3 Piece" crank.
But in 1989, Harley didn't take into account the pinion shaft. They were a weak point.
If you look in any 1989 part catalog, all 1989 bottom end motor parts are obsolete.
Changed to 1990 parts. There was a "Service Bulletin" issued for that year motor.
If you use the Harley Re-manufacture Motor Program, your original motor will be upgraded, automatically.
So I would not think about trying to rebuild the original 1989 motor.
Look at the Harley program, or an aftermarket motor.
This is 100% correct. Go reman or buy a new motor.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 264
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
I've posted this before but I think one more time wouldn't hurt. I had the reman done on my '93 ultra when I had it. The motor worked fine. But at the time it had 50k on it and there were some might as wells that were done at the time. Those "might as wells" included new motor mounts, new regulator and stator, plus every shop towel, and oil and filter, misc nut and bolt used during the change out ,they charge you for. And lets not forget Tax. The price for the reman jumped from around $2500 at the time to $3850. Like I said the motor ran fine but was 100% stock, and still needed a little more omph. So I decided to throw a big air filter, mufflers, and an ev-27 cam to liven it up. And it did, But now I had over $4k in the motor. If I had thought this all thru beforehand, I could have bought an bigger cu in aftermarket motor, with more torque and HP with a longer warranty, for about what I spent for a stock motor with a 1 yr warranty. Live and learn.,,
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: il
reman or heman
personally, i would opt for a little more. i have a reman at 95000. now at 115000 i am doing base gaskets.out of warranty and looking at what they did with zip ties everywhere i prefer to do it myself, make it right. you can get a crate motor for just a little more from jp, put it in yourself and have a little more cubes.not to mention tinkering on a bike and being able to tell others what you did gives a little satisfaction. i mean after all why do we ride harleys, they all have a personal touch. if you want reliability and the same old thing, get a goldenwing. Geez that came out like a poem,let me know if they use that for ads maybe i can get a little coin to upgrade with. but seriously when i was looking for a bike a friend of mine told me that when you find that bike itll let you know, and it did, 98 electra the look will stay the same but the heartbeat could always get better
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